Method and system for preparing a trench and laying pipe in a trench
First Claim
1. A pipe joining system comprising:
- a transport assembly;
a first gripper unit supported to said transport assembly;
a second gripper unit supported to said transport assembly coaxially aligned with and axially movable with respect to said first gripper unit, each said gripper unit selectively engaging or being disengaged from a workpiece;
a coupling unit coupling said transport assembly to a movable support unit, said coupling unit being settable to determine spatial orientation of said transport assembly;
said first and second gripper units being disposable to respectively engage first and second pipe sections; and
an axial translator to move said second gripper unit with respect to said first gripper unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for laying a pipe in a trench includes subsystems and performs a method. Grading is done on pipe bed material in a trench by a remotely controlled earth mover included in a first subsystem. Pipe sections are joined to a pipe by remote control by an operator or operators outside of the trench using the second subsystem. A pipe section is lifted by a first gripper on a transport assembly and lowered into the trench in alignment with the pipe. A second gripper on the transport assembly grasps an end of the pipe, and the first gripper moves axially to insert the pipe section into the pipe. The earth mover has a material-pushing blade mounted to the pivot arms in a manner to enable a single hydraulic actuator for each pivot arm to determine height and tilt of the blade.
34 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A pipe joining system comprising:
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a transport assembly;
a first gripper unit supported to said transport assembly;
a second gripper unit supported to said transport assembly coaxially aligned with and axially movable with respect to said first gripper unit, each said gripper unit selectively engaging or being disengaged from a workpiece;
a coupling unit coupling said transport assembly to a movable support unit, said coupling unit being settable to determine spatial orientation of said transport assembly;
said first and second gripper units being disposable to respectively engage first and second pipe sections; and
an axial translator to move said second gripper unit with respect to said first gripper unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for pipe joining below grade comprising:
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providing a transport assembly comprising first and second gripper units;
gripping a pipe section with the second gripper unit;
moving said transport assembly to a position in axial registration with a pipe at a preselected axial distance therefrom;
gripping an end of the pipe with said first gripper unit;
moving the second gripper with respect to the transport assembly to insert an end of the pipe section into the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a pipe joining system comprising a remote control earth mover operated below grade and comprising a blade mounted on pushrods, each said pushrod being pivoted to a chassis at a distal end of said pushrod, the improvement wherein said earth mover comprises:
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a pivot mount mounting said blade on each said pushrod at a proximal end thereof;
a pivot mount pivotally mounting said blade to said chassis;
an actuator having a lower end connected to each said pushrod adjacent the proximal end, each said actuator determining placement of a respective pushrod in a vertical degree of freedom to determine height and inclination of said blade with respect to said chassis. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification