Liner inserting machine for pipelines

Claim 2

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, a pusher head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and pushinserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof, the mounting means for the pusher head including longitudinally extending endless chains supported by the frame, a power mechanism connected to the chains to simultaneously actuate them at like speed, and a cross bar secured to and spanning between corresponding courses of such chains; the pusher head being attached to the cross bar and including a circular, forwardly facing plate, a plurality of circumferentially spaced thrust arms connected to the plate adjacent Its periphery and extending rearwardly in converging relation, a disc to which the thrust arms are connected at their rear ends, and means securing the disc to the cross bar.

Claim 3

A machine, as in claim 1, in which the circular plate is disposed forwardly of the cross bar and the disc rearwardly thereof; and the disc-securing means including a pivotal connection.

Claim 4

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, a pusher head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof, the mounting means for the pusher head including longitudinally extending endless chains supported by the frame, a power mechanism connected to the chains to simultaneously actuate them at like speed, and a cross bar secured to and spanning between corresponding courses of such chains; the pusher head being attached to the cross bar; the frame including transversely spaced frame beams, and the chains being supported between their ends by corresponding beams.

Claim 5

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, a pusher head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof, the mounting means for the pusher head including longitudinally extending endless chains supported by the frame, a power mechanism connected to the chains to simultaneously actuate them at like speed, and a cross bar secured to and spanning between corresponding courses of such chains; the pusher head being attached to the cross bar; the frame including transversely spaced frame beams, and the chains being supported between their ends by corresponding beams.

Claim 6

A machine, as in claim 3, in which the frame beams include laterally inwardly extending flanges, and the latter supporting the courses of the chains between which the cross bar spans.

Claim 7

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, a pusher head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof; the machine being adapted for use in a trench-like excavation which exposes a portion of the pipeline and the top half of which portion is cut away to form said open end of the run and define a longitudinal cradle therebeyond, the frame being disposed in the excavation longitudinally of and adjacent the cradle, said frame including transversely spaced longitudinal frame beams located on opposite sides of the cradle, the section of liner pipe being prepositioned in the cradle between said frame beams, the pusher head being disposed in part in the cradle for advance therein, an arch affixedly connected between the frame beams at the forward end thereof, said arch being adapted to span over a trailing and exposed portion of the section of liner pipe as so push-inserted, and an initially raised clamp mounted in the arch for powered lowering movement into engagement with said trailing and exposed portion of the push-inserted section of liner pipe.

Claim 8

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, a pusher head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof; the machine being adapted for use in a trench-like excavation which exposes a portion of the pipeline and the top half of which portion is cut away to form said open end of the run and define a longitudinal cradle therebeyond, the frame being disposed in the excavation longitudinally of and adjacent the cradle, said frame including transversely spaced longitudinal frame beams located on opposite sides of the cradle, the section of liner pipe being prepositioned in the cradle between said frame beams, the pusher head being disposed in part in the cradle for advance therein, an arch affixedly connected between the frame beams at the forward end thereof, said arch being adapted to span over a trailing and exposed portion of the section of liner pipe as so push-inserted, and an initially raised clamp mounted in the arch for powered lowering movement into engagement with said trailing and exposed portion of the push-inserted section of liner pipe.

Claim 9

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, said frame having transversely spaced longitudinal frame beams, a pusHer head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof, the mounting means for the pusher head including longitudinally extending endless chains supported by the frame, a power mechanism connected to the chains to simultaneously actuate them at like speed, a cross bar secured to and spanning between corresponding courses of such chains, the pusher head being attached to the cross bar, a rigid arch connecting the frame beams at their forward ends, a clamp vertically slidably mounted in the arch and operative upon lowering from an initially raised position to engage a trailing portion of the push-inserted section remaining exposed beyond the open end of said run, the clamp as so engaged preventing forward movement of said push-inserted section during end-coupling thereto of the next prepositioned section of liner pipe when first advanced by the pusher head, and power means between the arch and clamp operative to so lower the latter.

Claim 10

A machine for push-inserting liner pipe sections into a straight run of an existing pipeline from an open end of such run; the machine including a longitudinal frame adapted to be positioned adjacent and extending lengthwise away from the open end of the run, said frame having transversely spaced longitudinal frame beams, a pusHer head adapted for engagement with an end of a section of liner pipe, means mounting the pusher head on the frame for powered advancing movement from an initially retracted position toward the open end of the run, there being a section of liner pipe prepositioned lengthwise adjacent the frame forwardly of the pusher head in its retracted position and in alinement with the open end of the run, the pusher head as power-advanced engaging the adjacent end of said section of liner pipe and push-inserting the same for a substantial part of its length into the run from said open end thereof, the mounting means for the pusher head including longitudinally extending endless chains supported by the frame, a power mechanism connected to the chains to simultaneously actuate them at like speed, a cross bar secured to and spanning between corresponding courses of such chains, the pusher head being attached to the cross bar, a rigid arch connecting the frame beams at their forward ends, a clamp vertically slidably mounted in the arch and operative upon lowering from an initially raised position to engage a trailing portion of the push-inserted section remaining exposed beyond the open end of said run, the clamp as so engaged preventing forward movement of said push-inserted section during end-coupling thereto of the next prepositioned section of liner pipe when first advanced by the pusher head, and power means between the arch and clamp operative to so lower the latter.

Claim 11

A machine, as in claim 6, adapted for use in a trench-like excavation which exposes a portion of the pipeline and the top half of which portion is cut away to form said open end of the run and define a longitudinal cradle therebeyond; the frame being disposed in the excavation longitudinally of and adjacent the cradle, and the pusher head being circular and disposed so that the lower part thereof is received in and moves forwardly in the cradle when said pusher head is advanced; the section of liner pipe being prepositioned in the cradle.

Claim 12

A machine, as in claim 6, in which the transversely spaced frame beams rest on the bottom of the excavation on opposite sides of the cradle; there being frame-mounted power-operated sling means adapted to receive a section of liner pipe in an elevated position and to then lower such section between the frame beams and thence into said cradle to so preposition such section forwardly of the initially retracted pusher head.