Pipeline padding machine with a debris-resistant escalator assembly
First Claim
1. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:
- an escalator assembly including multiple flight sections attached to a track, wherein each flight section includes a flat leading edge and a trailing end with respect to a direction of travel, the trailing end including a flat trailing edge and a flat angled portion, and wherein the trailing end of each flight section is positioned overlying the leading edge of a next adjacent flight section as the flight sections ascend in the escalator assembly.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pipeline padding machine includes a debris-resistant escalator flight. A pipeline padding machine includes an escalator assembly with multiple flight sections attached to a track. A gap between leading and trailing edges of respective adjacent flight sections may be substantially the same when the track is substantially straight, and when the track is at its maximum curvature. Leading and trailing edge portions of each flight section may be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding track section by a same angle as that between adjacent track sections when the track is at its maximum curvature. The edge portions of respective adjacent flight sections may be substantially parallel to each other when the track is at its maximum curvature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:
an escalator assembly including multiple flight sections attached to a track, wherein each flight section includes a flat leading edge and a trailing end with respect to a direction of travel, the trailing end including a flat trailing edge and a flat angled portion, and wherein the trailing end of each flight section is positioned overlying the leading edge of a next adjacent flight section as the flight sections ascend in the escalator assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pipeline padding machine, comprising:
an escalator assembly including multiple flight sections attached to a track having multiple corresponding track sections, each track section being angled relative to an adjacent track section by a selected angle when the track is at its maximum curvature, each flight section including a leading edge, with respect to a direction of travel, which is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding track section by substantially the same selected angle, and each flight section including a trailing end, with respect to the direction of travel, the trailing end including a trailing edge and an angled portion, wherein the angled portion is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding track section by substantially the same selected angle and the trailing edge is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding track section. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification