Method and apparatus for inserting a tube into a pipe

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR LINING A PIPE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A TUBULAR MEMBER FOR INSERTION ONTO SAID PIPE TO PROVIDE A FLOW PATH OTHER THAN SAID PIPE; AND AN ASSEMBLY FOR ESTABLISHING A SEAL BETWEEN ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID PIPE, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN EXPANSIBLE METAL SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID SLEEVE HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED IN THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF TO ESTABLISH A REGION OF REDUCED WALL THICKNESS, AN ANNULAR SEALING MEMBER POSITIONED ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE AND OVERLYING SAID REGION OF REDUCED WALL THICKNESS, AN EXPANDER TOOL POSITIONED WITHIN THE BORE OF SAID SLEEVE AND BEING IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID GROOVE, SAID EXPANDER TOOL HAVING A PASSAGEWAY THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ANNULAR GROOVE, MEANS FOR PREVENTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND SAID TOOL UNTIL A PREDETERMINED FORCE IS EXERTED ON SAID TOOL, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO THE PASSAGEWAY IN SAID TOOL.