Granted Patent B2

US 8,667,925 · App. 12/918,583 · Granted Mar 11, 2014

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus for locating an instrument within a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

a. a housing portion defining a housing cavity therein;

b. a pipe engagement region for slideable engagement with a pipe such that the housing cavity is contiguous with the pipe; and

c. an instrument retention portion within an instrument cavity in slideable engagement with the housing portion, and in which said instrument retention portion is arranged to receive at least a portion of an instrument therein so as to retain the instrument in position relative to the instrument cavity;

wherein, in use with a pipe defining a pipe cavity therethrough, the instrument retention portion is slideable relative to the housing portion between a first configuration where the instrument cavity is external to the housing cavity and a second configuration where the instrument cavity is located within the housing cavity and the instrument cavity and housing cavity are aligned with the pipe cavity.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an instrument received within the instrument retention portion and extending at least in part into the instrument cavity.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises a spray head to deliver a coating material for the pipe.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the first configuration the whole of the instrument cavity is located outside of the housing cavity.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the second configuration the whole of the instrument cavity is located within the housing cavity.

6. A spray head shuttle for locating a spray head within a pipe, comprising:

a. a housing portion having pipe engagement portions to sealably engage the shuttle with a pipe, the housing defining a housing cavity; and

b. an instrument retention portion within an instrument cavity in slideable engagement within the housing portion, and in which said instrument retention portion is arranged to receive at least a portion of a spray head therein and to retain the spray head in position relative to the instrument cavity,

wherein, in use with a pipe defining a pipe cavity therethrough, the instrument retention portion is slideable relative to the housing portion between a first configuration where the instrument cavity is external to the housing cavity and a second configuration where the instrument cavity is located within the housing cavity and the instrument cavity and housing cavity are aligned with the pipe cavity.

7. The spray head shuttle according to claim 6 , further comprising a spray head received within the instrument retention portion and extending at least in part into the instrument cavity.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the instrument comprises a spray head.

9. The spray head shuttle according to claim 6 , wherein in the first configuration the whole of the instrument cavity is located outside of the housing cavity.

10. The spray head shuttle according to claim 6 , wherein in the second configuration, the whole of the instrument cavity is located within the housing cavity.

11. A method of locating an instrument within a pipe, the pipe defining a pipe cavity, the method comprising:

providing one of an apparatus for locating an instrument within a pipe or a spray head shuttle for locating a spray head within a pipe, in which

the apparatus includes a housing portion defining a housing cavity therein, a pipe engagement portion for slideable engagement with an end of a pipe such that the housing cavity is contiguous with the pipe, and an instrument retention portion within an instrument cavity in slideable engagement with the housing portion, and in which said instrument retention portion is arranged to receive at least a portion of an instrument therein so as to retain the instrument in position relative to the instrument cavity,

the spray head includes a housing portion having pipe engagement portions to sealably engage the shuttle with a pipe, the housing defining a housing cavity, and an instrument retention portion within an instrument cavity in slideable engagement within the housing portion, and in which said instrument retention portion is arranged to receive at least a portion of a spray head therein and to retain the spray head in position relative to the instrument cavity;

sealing engaging the apparatus or spray head shuttle with the end of a pipe using the pipe engagement portions;

providing an instrument;

bringing the instrument into engagement with the instrument retention portion; and

sliding the instrument retention portion relative to the housing portion to bring at least a portion of the instrument into the housing cavity and in line with said pipe.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the housing cavity is contiguous with the pipe cavity following engagement of at least one of the apparatus or spray head shuttle with the pipe.

Assignments (6)