TriTrax™ 200 Vertical Crawler
Document: UMDT017749.docm
Revision: A02
Created by: JS
Date: 13 Apr 2021
IPN: 3094329-A02
Source Location: C:\ePDM\ISLEng\Products\DT-VersaTrax100MkII\Manuals\UMDT017749.docm
Page 28 of 36
User Ma
nual
•
Animals and their nests
If the operator is unsure about pipe navigability, he or she should consult with the site supervisor before
moving forward.
Inspection Guidelines
The objective of an inspection is to obtain a recording of video and other data for review by the customer
or pipe owner. If a recording is lost, fails to record, or is of poor quality the inspection will likely have to be
re-done at t
he operator’s expense. Therefore, it is in the operator’s best interest to verify vehicle operation,
video quality and recorder function before beginning each inspection.
A set of video overlay comments and data are usually required depending on the contract or client. Initial
comments will usually include the location, pipe number and date. During the inspection the contractor
may require certain pipe features or faults to be pointed out along with the distance from the pipe entry.
Conduct a complete inspection of pipe features and faults. For any feature or situation of interest, stop the
vehicle and make a complete video survey using the continuous pan feature of the camera. Ultimately, the
inspection is conducted for the benefit of the client who is reviewing the footage later on.
Vehicle Recovery
In the event the vehicle becomes disabled while on a mission in a pipe, provision has been made for re-
covery of the vehicle by pulling it out with the tether. Recovering the vehicle by pulling is a serious operation
and can put great demand on the tether system. Listed below are three scenarios where the vehicle may
need to be recovered. Loading the tether beyond its maximum safe capacity should be considered only as
a last resort.
Note:
Prevention is always the best policy. When traveling through a pipe or in any unknown area, carefully
watch your monitor.
The vehicle may become stuck if it is traveling through a damaged pipe section or improperly steered
around a corner. If the vehicle does become stuck:
1. Determine if it is the vehicle or the tether that is stuck. Look back at the tether with the camera if
possible. If the vehicle can back up but the tether will not reel in, the tether is caught on something.
Try to look for and fix the cause of the catch
before
putting any more strain on the tether. The
operator should use any dexterity available first to free the vehicle without resorting to force.
2. If the vehicle cannot work itself free from a snag, try using
light
tether tension and tractor power
simultaneously.
3. If still stuck, try a stronger tether tension.
4. If the vehicle seems to be permanently stuck in the pipe, the supervisor must decide whether to
sacrifice the tether in order to pull harder, or to dig the vehicle out.
