SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWAB TRANSPORT IN PIPELINE REHABILITATION

1 . A method for transporting a swab through a pipeline, the method comprising:

coupling a swab launcher to a pipeline, the swab launcher having a launch chamber with a first inner diameter large enough to receive a swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed and a narrowing portion configured to compress the swab to fit within the pipeline;

inserting the swab into the launch chamber;

pressurizing the launch chamber with a compressed fluid behind the swab; and

advancing the swab with the compressed fluid through the narrowing portion and into the pipeline.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting a tubular liner along an inside of the pipeline, wherein advancing the swab into the pipeline comprises advancing the swab into the tubular liner in the pipeline.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the swab is a first swab, and wherein advancing the first swab into the pipeline comprises advancing the first swab into a first end of the pipeline, the method further comprising:

inserting a second swab into a second end of the pipeline, the second swab comprising an axial aperture.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

visually indicating when the first swab has traveled from the first end to the second end of the pipeline.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein visually indicating when the first swab has traveled from the first end to the second end of the pipeline comprises placing a stick through the axial aperture such that the first swab displaces the stick as the first swab approaches the second swab.

6 . A swab launcher comprising:

a pipeline end configured for coupling to a pipeline;

an insertion end configured to receive a swab;

a launch chamber at the insertion end, the launch chamber having a first inner diameter large enough to receive the swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed; and

a narrowing portion between the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the narrowing portion having a second inner diameter decreasing between the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the second inner diameter at the launch chamber substantially the same as the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter at the pipeline end substantially the same as a third inner diameter of the pipeline, the first inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter.

7 . The swab launcher of claim 6 , wherein the second inner diameter decreases between the launch chamber and the pipeline end in a substantially linear fashion.

8 . The swab launcher of claim 6 , further comprising:

an end plate operable to cover and hermetically seal with the insertion end; and

a compressed fluid inlet formed in the end plate.

9 . The swab launcher of claim 6 , wherein the launch chamber and the narrowing portion are formed integrally of a continuous piece of metal.

10 . The swab launcher of claim 6 , wherein the launch chamber is approximately twice as long as the narrowing portion.

11 . The swab launcher of claim 6 , wherein the first inner diameter is approximately twenty-five millimeters larger than the third inner diameter.

12 . A system for swab transport, comprising:

a swab constructed substantially of foam, the swab configured to apply a radial pressure to a pipeline when the swab is compressed within the pipeline; and

a swab launcher having a pipeline end configured for coupling to the pipeline, an insertion end configured to receive the swab, a launch chamber at the insertion end, the launch chamber having a first inner diameter large enough to receive the swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed, and a narrowing portion having a second inner diameter decreasing between the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the second inner diameter at the launch chamber substantially the same as the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter at the pipeline end substantially the same as a third inner diameter of the pipeline, the first inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

an end plate operable to cover and hermetically seal with the insertion end, wherein a compressed fluid inlet is formed in the end plate.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a swab catcher coupled to the pipeline, the swab catcher having a back wall operable to halt the swab as the swab exits the pipeline and a removal aperture for removal of the swab from the swab catcher.

15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a launch box coupled with the swab launcher, the launch box comprising:

an insertion chamber large enough to enclose the swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed,

an insertion opening through which the swab is inserted into the insertion chamber, and

a door movable between an open position permitting insertion of the swab into the insertion chamber and a closed position in which the door substantially hermetically seals the insertion opening.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the door opens inwardly into the insertion chamber and is biased in the closed position.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the door opens inwardly into the insertion chamber, and wherein pressurizing the insertion chamber substantially maintains the door in the closed position when the door is closed.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the launch chamber further comprises:

an insertion opening configured to receive the swab into the launch chamber, and

a door movable between an open position permitting insertion of the swab through the insertion opening into the launch chamber and a closed position in which the door substantially hermetically seals the insertion opening.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the door opens inwardly into the launch chamber and is biased in the closed position.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the door opens inwardly into the launch chamber, and wherein pressurizing the launch chamber substantially maintains the door in the closed position when the door is closed.