Pig launch and recovery apparatus and pig therefor

Abstract

A pig launch and recovery apparatus independently mountable to and removable from a water supply system including at least one water main and valve. The pig launch and recovery apparatus comprises a flow tube and a launch and recovery tube. The flow tube includes first and second flow ends and a main flow valve located between the first and second flow ends. The first flow end is removably mounted to a recirculating unit including a pump. The second flow end is removably mounted to a first point in the system. A launch and recovery tube further includes first and second launch ends, wherein the first launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the first flow end and the main flow valve, and wherein the second launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the main flow valve and the second flow end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pig launch and recovery apparatus independently mountable to and removable from a water supply system, the water supply system including at least one water main and at least one valve, the pig launch and recovery apparatus comprising:
 a flow tube having a first flow end, a second flow end, and a main flow valve located between the first flow end and the second flow end, wherein the first flow end is removably mounted to and fluidly connected with a recirculating unit including a pump, wherein the second flow end is removably mounted to and fluidly connected with a first point in the water supply system; and   a launch and recovery tube having a first launch end and a second launch end, wherein the first launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the first flow end and the main flow valve, and wherein the second launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the main flow valve and the second flow end.   
     
     
         2 . The pig launch and recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply system includes a hydrant, and wherein the first point in the water supply system is the hydrant. 
     
     
         3 . A high pressure jetting system for use with a water supply system having a plurality of sections including water mains, pipes, hydrants and valves, the high pressure jetting system comprising:
 a) a recirculating unit configured to connect to a section of the water supply system between a first point and a second point while the section remains under water supply system pressure, wherein the recirculating unit includes at least one filter unit defining a circuit that includes the section and at least one pump unit capable of generating a circulating flow of water;   b) a first pig launch and recovery apparatus configured to couple the first point to the recirculating unit;   c) a second pig launch and recovery apparatus configured to couple the second point to the recirculating unit; and   d) a jetting unit including a jetting head coupled to a jetting hose, wherein the jetting unit is configured to enter the circuit through the second pig launch and recovery apparatus and travel within the section, wherein the jetting head is configured to emit a plurality of water jets to assist removal of material from an inner surface of the water mains and pipes defining at least a portion of the section.   
     
     
         4 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  wherein the jetting unit moves in a counter-current flow direction from the second point to the first point which is opposite to a normal flushing flow direction of the circulating flow of water from the first point to the second point. 
     
     
         5 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 4  wherein the removed material moves in the normal flushing flow direction to the at least one filter unit, wherein the removed material is filtered out of the circulating flow of water before the water returns to the first pig launch and recovery apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a camera unit including a camera, wherein the camera is configured to enter the circuit through the first pig launch and recovery apparatus, and wherein the camera is configured to travel in the normal flushing flow direction. 
 
     
     
         7 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of water jets are emitted at an angle relative to the jetting hose. 
     
     
         8 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 7  wherein the angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  wherein the recirculating unit and jetting unit are mounted on a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 9  wherein the recirculating unit is mounted on a first vehicle and the jetting unit is mounted on a second vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 6  wherein the recirculating unit, jetting unit and camera unit are mounted on one or more vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 11  wherein the recirculating unit is mounted on a first vehicle, the jetting unit is mounted on a second vehicle and the camera unit is mounted on a third vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  wherein the first point is a first hydrant and the second point is a second hydrant, and wherein each pig launch and recovery apparatus comprises:
 a) a flow tube having a first flow end, a second flow end, and a main flow valve located between the first flow end and the second flow end, wherein the first flow end is configured to be fluidly connected with the recirculating unit, and wherein the second flow end is configured to be fluidly connected with its respective hydrant; and 
 b) a launch and recovery tube having a first launch end and a second launch end, wherein the first launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the first flow end and the main flow valve, and wherein the second launch end is fluidly connected to the flow tube between the main flow valve and the second flow end, 
 wherein the jetting unit enters the circuit through the second launch end of the second pig launch and recovery apparatus. 
 
     
     
         14 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 6  wherein the first point is a first hydrant and the second point is a second hydrant, and wherein each pig launch and recovery apparatus comprises:
 a) a flow tube having a first flow end, a second flow end, and a main flow valve located between the first flow end and the second flow end, wherein the first flow end is configured to be fluidly connected with the recirculating unit, and wherein the second flow end is configured to be fluidly connected with its respective hydrant; and 
 b) a launch and recovery tube having a first launch end and a second launch end, 
 wherein the camera enters the closed circuit through the second launch end of the first pig launch and recovery apparatus, and wherein the jetting unit enters the circuit through the second launch end of the second pig launch and recovery apparatus. 
 
     
     
         15 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  further including one or more rough filter units placed inline the circuit between the second pig launch and recovery apparatus and the at least one filter unit. 
     
     
         16 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 15  wherein the recirculating unit is mounted on a first vehicle and the jetting unit is mounted on a second vehicle, and wherein the one or more additional rough filter units are mounted on the first vehicle, the second vehicle, or on a third vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 16  wherein the third vehicle is a trailer towed by either the first vehicle or the second vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 3  further comprising a camera unit including a drogue chute and cord configured to enter the closed circuit through the first pig launch and recovery apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The high pressure jetting system of  claim 18  wherein the cord couples to the jetting head when travelling in the counter-current flow direction.