Apparatus for laying pipe
First Claim
1. Apparatus for laying pipe in a trench and joining successive sections of said pipe as laid, comprising:
- an elongated carriage of a length sufficient to straddle said trench;
propelling means mounted at each end portion of said carriage for engaging the surface outward from respective upper sides of said trench and moving said carriage along said trench;
means for driving said propelling means steerably along the length of said trench;
a crane arising from a central portion of said carriage and including an adjustably articulated arm of adjustable length and having an outer end portion controllably movable both laterally with respect to said trench and between respective positions effectively above the upper level of said trench and within said trench below the level of said carriage;
mounting means for securing said crane with respect to said carriage and permitting adjustable tilting of said crane relatively toward and away from the sidewalls of said trench;
and a controllable grapple mounted at said other end portion of said arm and engageable with said pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus lays pipe in a trench and joins successive sections thereof. An elongated carriage is of a length sufficient to straddle the trench and includes propelling means for engaging the surface outward from the respective upper sides of the trench and moving the carriage therealong. The propelling means is steerably driven. A crane arises from the carriage and includes an adjustably articulated arm of adjustable length and which has an outer end portion controllably movable both laterally with respect to the trench and between respective positions above and within the trench. The crane is mounted upon the carriage so as to permit tilting relative thereto and, thus, relative to the sidewalls of the trench. A controllable grapple is mounted on the outer end of the arm and is controlled to engage and disengage the pipe.
53 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Apparatus for laying pipe in a trench and joining successive sections of said pipe as laid, comprising:
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an elongated carriage of a length sufficient to straddle said trench; propelling means mounted at each end portion of said carriage for engaging the surface outward from respective upper sides of said trench and moving said carriage along said trench; means for driving said propelling means steerably along the length of said trench; a crane arising from a central portion of said carriage and including an adjustably articulated arm of adjustable length and having an outer end portion controllably movable both laterally with respect to said trench and between respective positions effectively above the upper level of said trench and within said trench below the level of said carriage; mounting means for securing said crane with respect to said carriage and permitting adjustable tilting of said crane relatively toward and away from the sidewalls of said trench; and a controllable grapple mounted at said other end portion of said arm and engageable with said pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Pipe handling apparatus comprising:
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an elongated and laterally projecting finger having opposed ends and of a shape enabling its disposition longitudinally along the outside of a length of pipe of predetermined length; coupling means for pivotally suspending one end portion of said finger; an elongated jaw which defines a flat upwardly facing surface engageable with the interior wall of said pipe as said pipe is resting on said surface and having a length enabling its insertion distance inside said length of pipe at least approximately half of said predetermined length, pivotally coupled at one end to the other end of said finger and swingable to a location spaced beneath said finger to hold a sector of the wall of a section of said pipe between said jaw and said finger when said jaw is inserted within said pipe; and adjustably powered means for swinging said jaw toward and away from said finger. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification