Apparatus for installing pipeline fill
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for depositing fill material over a pipeline, said apparatus comprising:
- a carriage for straddling a trench in which a pipeline has been placed;
a hopper mounted to said carriage for receiving a fill material;
a conveyor for conveying said fill material from said hopper to a discharge end which is positioned over said pipeline in said trench, said conveyor being mounted for pivoting movement relative to said carriage; and
means for controllably pivoting said discharge end of said conveyor to selected discharge locations over said pipeline in said trench;
wherein said means for controllably pivoting said discharge end of said conveyor comprises;
a selectively extensible and pivotable boom having a first end mounted to said carriage and a second end mounted to said conveyor.
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Abstract
An apparatus for depositing fill material over a pipeline. A wide-track carriage is provided for straddling the pipeline trench, and this includes a shaker screen mechanism for screening aggregate fill material, such as excavated native spoils. The screened fill material is fed into the trench via a pivoting conveyor which is controlled by means of a pivotable and extensible boom. A mix auger is also provided for mixing water and cement with the fill material to form a cementitious Controlled Low Strength Material fill in those installations where this is needed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for depositing fill material over a pipeline, said apparatus comprising:
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a carriage for straddling a trench in which a pipeline has been placed; a hopper mounted to said carriage for receiving a fill material; a conveyor for conveying said fill material from said hopper to a discharge end which is positioned over said pipeline in said trench, said conveyor being mounted for pivoting movement relative to said carriage; and means for controllably pivoting said discharge end of said conveyor to selected discharge locations over said pipeline in said trench; wherein said means for controllably pivoting said discharge end of said conveyor comprises; a selectively extensible and pivotable boom having a first end mounted to said carriage and a second end mounted to said conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for mixing and depositing a CLSM fill material over a pipeline, said apparatus comprising:
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a mobile carriage; a hopper mounted to said carriage for receiving a fill material; means for mixing a cement slurry with said fill material so as to form a CLSM fill material; and means for depositing said CLSM material on said pipeline in said trench. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for depositing fill material over a pipeline, said apparatus comprising:
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a carriage for straddling a trench in which a pipeline has been placed, said carriage comprising first and second tracks for being positioned on opposite sides of said trench so as to propel said apparatus longitudinally along said trench; an operator station mounted on said carriage so as to be positioned above said trench which is straddled by said carriage, so as to afford an operator therein a downward, direct-line view of said pipeline in said trench; a hopper mounted to said carriage for receiving a fill material, said hopper comprising a shaker screen mechanism for separating and discarding oversize objects from said fill material; a conveyor for conveying said fill material from said hopper, said conveyor being mounted for pivoting movement relative to said carriage; a mixing auger for receiving said fill material from said conveyor, said mixing auger being mounted in an auger trough for holding said fill material in contact with said auger during mixing, said auger trough having a first end which is mounted to a discharge end of said conveyor and a second end for discharging said fill material onto said pipeline in said trench; means for adding a cement slurry to said fill material in said auger trough so that said fill material and cement slurry are mixed by said auger to form a CLSM material; and a selectively extensible and pivotable boom having a first end mounted to said carriage and a second end mounted to said auger trough for controllably pivoting said second end of said auger trough to selected discharge locations over said pipeline in said trench.
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Specification