PIPELINE INSERTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A pipeline insertion system (100) comprising:
- at least one controller (126),an insertion device (102) operative to receive a portion of a pipeline (112), wherein the insertion device includes;
an insertion device frame (104);
a movable clamp device (106) in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame, wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the movable clamp device is operative to clamp at least one portion of the pipeline and prevent relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline, wherein in the second state the movable clamp device is operative to release the at least one portion of the pipeline and permit relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline;
at least one drive (114), wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device between a first position (108) and a second position (110) along the insertion device frame; and
a plurality of housing segments (122), wherein each housing segment includes at least one bore (124) therethrough for receiving portions of the pipeline;
a plurality of support frames (116), wherein each support frame includes a channel (118) therethrough with at least one bearing mounted therein for receiving portions of the pipeline in operatively sliding connection with the at least one bearing (120), wherein the support frames are respectively positioned between the bores of adjacent housing segments, such that the bores of the housing segments and the channels of the support frames are aligned to receive the pipeline extending in a substantially straight line therethrough; and
wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change to the first state and to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the first position to the second position in order to move portions of the pipeline within the housing segments and support frames, wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change to the second state and to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the second position to the first position without moving the pipeline relative to the housing segments and support frames.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pipeline insertion system (100) may include an insertion device (102) outside a tunnel that includes an insertion device frame (104) and a movable clamp device (106) in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame. A drive may cause the movable clamp device engaged with a pipeline to move between a first position (108) and a second position (110) along the frame. Inside the tunnel, the system may also include a plurality of support frames (118) remote from the insertion device and remote from each other which support the pipeline on bearings as the pipeline is pushed (or pulled) by the insertion device through the bores of a plurality of housing segments (122) mounted in the tunnel. A controller (126) is operative to control the drive and the movable clamp device responsive to transducers which measure pipeline slippage, thrust force, and clamping pressure.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pipeline insertion system (100) comprising:
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at least one controller (126), an insertion device (102) operative to receive a portion of a pipeline (112), wherein the insertion device includes; an insertion device frame (104); a movable clamp device (106) in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame, wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the movable clamp device is operative to clamp at least one portion of the pipeline and prevent relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline, wherein in the second state the movable clamp device is operative to release the at least one portion of the pipeline and permit relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline; at least one drive (114), wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device between a first position (108) and a second position (110) along the insertion device frame; and a plurality of housing segments (122), wherein each housing segment includes at least one bore (124) therethrough for receiving portions of the pipeline; a plurality of support frames (116), wherein each support frame includes a channel (118) therethrough with at least one bearing mounted therein for receiving portions of the pipeline in operatively sliding connection with the at least one bearing (120), wherein the support frames are respectively positioned between the bores of adjacent housing segments, such that the bores of the housing segments and the channels of the support frames are aligned to receive the pipeline extending in a substantially straight line therethrough; and wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change to the first state and to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the first position to the second position in order to move portions of the pipeline within the housing segments and support frames, wherein the at least one controller is operatively configured to cause the movable clamp device to change to the second state and to cause the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the second position to the first position without moving the pipeline relative to the housing segments and support frames. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of moving a pipeline comprising:
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a) clamping at least one portion of a pipeline with a movable clamp device included in a pipeline insertion device, wherein the pipeline insertion device includes an insertion device frame, the movable clamp device in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame, and at least one drive, wherein the movable clamp device is operative to move between a first position and a second position along the insertion device frame, wherein the movable clamp device is operatively configured to change between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the movable clamp device is operative to clamp the at least one portion of the pipeline and prevent relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline in at least one direction, wherein in the second state the movable clamp device is operative to release the at least one portion of the pipeline and permit relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline; and b) moving the movable clamp device with the at least one drive from the first position to the second position in a first direction along the insertion device frame, which causes portions of the pipeline to move within at least one bore in at last one of a plurality of housing segments and within at least one channel in at least one of a plurality of spaced apart support frames, wherein each channel of each support frame includes at least one bearing mounted therein for receiving portions of the pipeline in operatively sliding connection with the at least one bearing, wherein the support frames are respectively positioned between the bores of adjacent housing segments, such that the bores of the housing segments and the channels of the support frames are aligned to receive the pipeline extending in a substantially straight line therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions operative to cause at least one controller in operative connection with a pipeline insertion device to carry out a method comprising:
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a) through operation of the at least one controller, causing a movable clamp device included in the pipeline insertion device to clamp at least one portion of a pipeline, wherein the pipeline insertion device includes an insertion device frame, the movable clamp device in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame, and at least one drive, wherein the movable clamp device is operative to move between a first position and a second position along the insertion device frame, wherein the movable clamp device is operatively configured to change between the first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the movable clamp device is operative to clamp the at least one portion of the pipeline and prevent relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline, wherein in the second state the movable clamp device is operative to release the at least one portion of the pipeline and permit relative movement between the movable clamp device and the pipeline; and b) through operation of the at least one controller causing the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the first position to the second position in a first direction along the frame, which causes portions of the pipeline to move within at least one bore in at least one of a plurality of housing segments and within at least one channel in at least one of a plurality of spaced apart support frames, wherein each channel of each support frame includes at least one bearing mounted therein for receiving portions of the pipeline in operatively sliding connection with the at least one bearing, wherein the support frames are respectively positioned between the bores of adjacent housing segments, such that the bores of the housing segments and the channels of the support frames are aligned to receive the pipeline extending in a substantially straight line therethrough; c) through operation of the at least one controller, causing the movable clamp device to release the at least one portion of the pipeline; and d) through operation of the at least one controller, causing the at least one drive to move the movable clamp device from the second position to the first position in a second direction that is opposite the first direction without moving the pipeline relative to the housing segments and the support frames.
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Specification