Device and method for trenchless replacement of underground pipe
First Claim
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1. A device for the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising:
- a mole;
a length of cable, said cable being engagable to said mole;
a cable pulling device being releasably engagable to said cable;
a cable pulling device mounting frame being releasably engagable to said cable pulling device; and
wherein said cable pulling device is a post tensioning ram (PTR).
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Abstract
The basic features of the invention include a pipe parting mole, a length of cable that is engagable to the mole, a cable pulling device and a cable pulling device engagement means that provides a mounting structure for the cable pulling device. The cable pulling device engagement means generally includes a reaction plate and a structure for removably engaging the cable pulling device therewithin. A cable pulling frame may be advantageously used to facilitate the removal of the cable from a relatively small hole that is created at the pulling end of the pipe.
53 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A device for the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising:
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a mole;
a length of cable, said cable being engagable to said mole;
a cable pulling device being releasably engagable to said cable;
a cable pulling device mounting frame being releasably engagable to said cable pulling device; and
wherein said cable pulling device is a post tensioning ram (PTR). - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7)
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14. A device for the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising:
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a mole;
a length of cable, said cable being engagable to said mole;
a cable pulling device;
a cable pulling device mounting frame being releasably engagable to said cable pulling device wherein said cable pulling device mounting frame includes an annulus member including a cable passage bore formed therethrough and a cable insertion slot formed through portions of said annulus member for the sideways insertion of said cable within said cable passage bore of said annulus member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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26. A device for the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising:
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a mole;
a length of cable, said cable being engagable to said mole;
a cable pulling device including a cable engagement mechanism and a cable pulling device engagement means functioning to provide a mounting structure for said cable pulling device;
said cable pulling device engagement means further including a reaction plate having an enlarged surface for disbursing a reaction force against a cable pulling force generated by said cable pulling device, and a cable pulling frame, said cable pulling frame being mountable to said reaction plate and said cable pulling device being mountable to said cable pulling frame.
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30. A mole for use in the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising, a nose portion being engagable to a cable, a tapered body portion and a replacement pipe engagement portion, said mole further including at least one blade, said tapered body portion acting to expand said in-situ pipe for the replacement thereof with a length of replacement pipe, and said blade acting to cut pipe engagement devices encountered by said mole after said pipe has been expanded by said tapered body portion.
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33. A mole as described in claim 31 wherein a threaded bore is formed within said mole, and wherein a mole engagement fixture is fixedly engaged to an end of said cable, said fixture including a threaded end portion that is threadably engagable with said threaded bore.
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34. A mole as described in claim 34 wherein said fixture further includes a hex nut portion integrally formed therewith and provided for the tightening of said threaded portion within said threaded bore.
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36. A cable pulling device engagement frame comprising:
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an annulus member including a cable passage bore formed therethrough and a cable insertion slot formed through portions of said annulus member for the sideways insertion of a cable within said cable passage bore of said annulus member;
a reaction plate having an enlarged surface for disbursing a reaction force against a cable pulling force generated through said annulus member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for the trenchless replacement of in-situ pipe, comprising the steps of:
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exposing a first end of said pipe;
exposing a second end of said pipe;
disposing a pulling cable through said pipe between said first end and said second end;
engaging a mole to said cable at said first end;
engaging a cable pulling device to said cable at said second end; and
installing a reaction plate at said second end after said cable is disposed through said pipe, and pulling said mole through said pipe utilizing said cable pulling device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification