Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2Q74415
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO HANDLING OR LAYING PIPES
This invention relates to improvements in or relating
to handling or laying pipes and is more particularly but
not exclusively concerned with apparatus and method for
aligning and/or joining pipes in end to end relationship
or simply in reliably handling or moving pipes from one
place to another.
Handling and laying of pipes, more particularly large
diameter (e.g. 2.4 m) concrete pipes (e.g. 2.5 m long)
into the ground, tends to be a time consuming and
laborious task. In order to manoeuvre one length of
concrete piping in relation to another pipe already laid
in the ground the first pipe may be lifted by mechanical
grab/s to be man-handled into an appropriately aligned
end-to-end position with the fixed pipe, the grab/s
usually being supported on ropes or cables perhaps by
hydraulic lifting apparatus. Once the first pipe is
manoeuvred into end to end relationship with the fixed
pipe a difficulty then arises in securing the two pipes
together. This may be accomplished by hydraulic pipe-
pulling means arranged on the outside of the pipes. Such
pipe-pulling equipment tends to be disadvantageous because
trenches which accommodate the pipes have to be wider to
accommodate the pipe pulling gear, the gear is applicable
to a limited range of pipe diameters (400 to 750 mm
diameter); tends to interfere with the shoring-up system,
and is relatively heavy, cumbersome and costly. The heavy
weight of pipe pulling equipment means that the weight of
pipes which can be handled is less than might otherwise be
the case. Clearly, the task of laying pipes or even in
reliably and securely handling pipes (i.e. moving pipes
from one place to another) tends to be awkward and
monotonous but, nevertheless, forms an essential process
in the construction industry.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
2 2~7~
apparatus and method to at least alleviate some of the
aforementioned or other problems involved with the laying
or handling of pipes, or to more easily and/or reliably
handle and/or join pipes together.
According to a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided pipe handling apparatus comprising pipe
holding and supporting means to hold and support a first
length of piping as it is lifted and introduced towards a
second length of piping, and comprising ext~nd;ble and
retractable grip means connected to said pipe holding and
supporting means and adapted in use to grip onto the
interior of the second length of piping as the first pipe
is moved into the correct alignment therewith.
By this aspect of the present invention the first
length of piping which is held and supported by said
apparatus can be brought into correct alignment with the
second length of piping in a controlled manner and joined
thereto by using the extendible and retractable grip
means, usually virtually completely automatically.
Thus the pipe handling apparatus including said grip
means may comprise a single (portable) unit.
Preferably, the apparatus is adapted for handling
pipes of varying length and/or varying size of diameter or
cross-section. Advantageously, said apparatus may be
designed to handle pipes of a range of diameters from
about 300 mm up to about 1200 mm.
Preferably the apparatus is self-aligning so that as
the first pipe is moved or pulled towards the second it is
automatically aligned therewith.
The grip means may be hydraulic or pneumatic in
operation, and actuation of the grip means preferably
moves the pipe lengths together.
2~37441~
.
Advantageously, therefore, the first length of piping
may be lifted and introduced towards the second length of
pipe and joined thereto in one operation, rather than
lifting the first length into position and joining the
pipes (moving or pulling the pipes towards one another
into interlocking, sealing relationship) by a second
operation, perhaps with the aid of additional,
independently-operable pipe-pulling equipment.
In one embodiment of the present invention the grip
means is in an extended state while said first pipe is
introduced towards said second length and is retracted, to
thereby expand the diametrical dimension of a gripper head
thereof to grip the interior of the second pipe.
Preferably, the pipe-holding and supporting means of
the apparatus comprises a lower support beam (locatable in
use within the first length of piping) having an
extendible leg or legs which hold onto the interior of the
first length of piping during handling of said length.
The apparatus may comprise an upper beam arranged
generally parallel with the lower beam and said upper beam
may include a block provided with adjustable connection
points or eyes for locating cables of lifting apparatus
(e.g. a hydraulically operated excavator) according to the
length of pipe carried. Said lower beam may house the
exten~;hle and retractable grip means which may comprise a
hydraulic/pneumatic cylinder with ram piston extending
generally axially or generally axially parallel to the
beam (and first pipe when in use). A, or the, gripper
head of the grip means may be located on said ram piston,
said head preferably being arranged at a distance beyond
the lower beam, at least when the grip means is in the
extended state.
The gripper head may be provided with one or more
retractable legs which extend (at least radially) to
increase the diametrical extent of the gripper head as the
- ~ 207~
grip means is retracted generally axially of the lower
beam and first pipe, in use. Preferably, the gripper head
legs are provided with hard rubber feet to grip securely
onto the interior walling of the second length of piping
to fix the position of the gripper head axially of the
CPcon~ length, so that continued retraction of the grip
means causes the first length of piping to be pulled
towards the second length.
Further advantageous features of the apparatus will
be evident from the following description and drawings.
Further according to this first aspect of the present
invention there is provided a method of laying a first
length of piping and joining it to a second length of
piping comprising:-
holding and supporting the first length of pipingwhile it is lifted and introduced towards said second
length of piping by pipe handling apparatus including
extendible and retractable grip means;
introducing said grip means into the second length of
piping and actuating said grip means to grip onto the
interior of said second length of piping,
moving the first length of piping into correct
relative alignment with said second length of piping,
preferably, by further actuation of said extendible and
retractable grip means.
Many other advantageous method features will be
evident from the following description and drawings.
According to a second aspect of the present invention
there is provided pipe handling apparatus comprising pipe
holding and supporting means to hold and support a first
length of piping as it is lifted and introduced towards a
second length of piping, and comprising:-
2 0 7 ~ 4 1 ~
1. retaining means for securely locating a sealing ringrelative to one end of said first length of piping as said
length of piping is introduced towards a second length of
piping, said retaining means acting to hold the sealing
ring in place while the first length of piping is joined
to said second length of piping, and/or
2. spring loaded safety catches which securely locate
the first length of piping on said apparatus during
handling, and/or
3. a portable unit including grip means which is adapted
to grip the interior of the second length of piping as the
first length of piping is joined to said second length.
Advantageously, the weight of the apparatus in
accordance with the present invention may be as little as
350 kg in comparison with weights of a ton for other pipe
laying apparatus. The apparatus may also be produced at
about one quarter of the cost.
Further according to the present invention there is
provided a vehicle adapted for lifting, laying and joining
pipes in end to end relationship, said vehicle having pipe
handling apparatus comprising pipe holding and supporting
means to hold and support a first length of piping as it
is lifted and introduced towards a second length of
piping, and comprising extendible and retractable grip
means connected to said pipe holding and supporting means
and adapted in use to grip on to the interior of the
second length of piping as the first pipe is moved into
correct alignment therewith.
Preferably, the pipe handling apparatus is provided
with sensor means or camera means in order to relay
information regarding the pipes being joined together to
an operator in the driver's cab of the vehicle.
Additionally, the pipe handling apparatus may provide an
6 2Q7~@~ 1~
alignment guidance signal usually in the form of a laser
beam directed along one of the pipes, which may be picked
up by said sensor or camera means and relayed to an
operator in the driver's cab.
Preferably the pipe handling apparatus can be
controlled through a universal type motion by an in~x~ng
means and/or preferably the pipe handling apparatus is
powered by the same power source as the control vehicle.
Still further according to the present invention
there is provided a system for handling, laying and
joining pipes, said system comprising a pipe holding and
supporting means to hold and support a first length of
piping as it is lifted and introduced towards a second
length of piping said system including means to relay
information regarding alignment of said two lengths of
piping as they are joined together, to an operator remote
from the pipework.
It is an advantage of apparatus in accordance with
the present invention that a first pipe can be lifted by
the pipe holding and supporting means from a location
remote from a laid pipe to be joined thereto, said
apparatus thus being utilised to carry said first pipe and
the same apparatus being used to join the pipes together.
Thus, pipes can be lifted, layed and joined together
effectively all in one smooth continuous operation or
process using the same apparatus. Additionally, it is
desired that information regarding alignment of the pipes
is conveyed to an operator remote from the pipework and
preferably to an operator in the driver's cab of a vehicle
fitted with said pipe handling apparatus. This avoids the
need for further personnel close to the pipes being joined
together continually assessing the alignment of the pipes
while they are being joined together. In previous systems
for joining pipes, lifting gear is required to lift the
first pipe from a remote location to a laid pipe to be
1~ 2 0 7 4 4 ~ 9
- 7 -
joined thereto, the first pipe is set down on the ground and a
separate hand-operated pipe puller might be introduced into
said first pipe and used to drag same into joining
relationship with the laid pipe adjacent thereto.
Thus, it will be appreciated that apparatus in accordance
with the present invention may offer dramatic improvements
over such known apparatus and should dramatically ease the
peformance of such operations which may be performed within a
vastly reduced time period and require less personnel.
In the Drawings:
FIGURE 1 shows a pictorial representation of a first
embodiment of said apparatus;
FIGURE 2 shows a similar pictorial representation of a
second embodiment;
FIGURE 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a
production version;
FIGURES 4 and 5 show sectional views taken on lines IV-IV
and V-V of FIGURE 3 and drawn on an enlarged scale;
FIGURE 6 shows a view similar to FIGURE 3 incorporating
further modifications; and
FIGURE 7 shows a simplified partially cut-away
perspective view of said apparatus.
Two embodiments of apparatus for handling and laying
pipes and method of handling and laying pipes in accordance
with the present invention will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 which are much
simplified diagrammatic drawings, not drawn to scale.
, ~
~ ~, 207441 9
7a
FIGURE 1 of the drawings shows a pipe handling and
laying apparatus 1 which, in use, will be suspended by
cables from a hydraulic excavator (not shown). Distance X
as marked in the drawing will be about 2.5 metres, in
practice, and, in use, a first length of piping which is
to be handled or moved from one place to another will be
held and supported on the holding and support means 2 and
3 of the apparatus 1. A pipe (not shown) may be located
on the holding and support means 2,3 by the introduction
of said pipe means in the direction of arrow Y over
gripping head 4a of extendible and retractable gripping
means 4. Thus the gripping head 4a is firstly arranged
within the pipe with the hydraulic ram H of the extendible
2 0 ~
_ ,
and retractable gripper means extending substantially
axially of the pipe. The pipe will then be brought
generally into the area A defined by the chain dotted
lines in FIGURE 1, beyond the gripper head 4a.
As shown in FIGURE 1 the gripper head 4a is in its
fully extended position with its three legs L fully
retracted such that they will be well within the diameter
of the pipe carried by the apparatus 1 to enable the pipe
to be introduced onto the holding and support means 2,3.
In order to lay the pipe in correct alignment in end to
end relationship with a second pipe (not shown) the first
pipe, when correctly located on the apparatus 1, is lifted
and carried into position and the gripper head 4a
introduced into the open end of the second pipe. The ram
piston P of the hydraulic ram H is then retracted causing
the legs L of the gripper head 4 to pivot into extended
positions (increasing the diametrical extent of the
gripper head) to thereby grip the interior wall of the
cecon~ pipe by means of the gripper feet F at the ends of
the legs L. This fixes the position of the gripper head
4a relative to the second pipe so that any further
retraction of the ram piston P necessarily pulls or draws
the lower beam 2 of the holding and support means 2,3, and
thus the first pipe, generally axially towards the second
pipe and into close relationship therewith. The ram
piston P can now be extended again in order to move the
gripper head 4a axially further into the second pipe
thereby retracting the legs L and releasing the grip of
the gripper feet F on the inside of the second pipe. In
this position the whole apparatus 1 can be withdrawn from
the first and second pipe leaving the first pipe laid in
correct relationship to the second.
The apparatus 1 is adapted to hold and support pipes
of varying length and diameter. In this instance the
apparatus can be used to handle and join concrete pipes of
diameters from 37.5 cm up to 120 cm and varying lengths
9 2 Q 7 '~
-
from 2.5 metres down to .5 metres. The upper limit on the
diameter of pipe which can be handled by the apparatus
will be determined by the safe working load and the design
of the apparatus may be varied to suit. The holding and
support means 2,3 includes two adjustable lower legs 3 so
that varying diameter of pipes can be catered for by
adjusting the length of these legs 3. The two legs 3 may
be made adjustable by any suitable means and could be
ad;ustable together or independently and, for example,
they could be telescopic.
The apparatus 1 comprises an upper beam 5 on top of
which is mounted a block 6 having adjustable lifting
points or eyes 7 to cater for pipes of different lengths
carried by the apparatus (in order to balance the load
through the centre of gravity). The lower beam 2 is
provided with a number (6 as shown) of holes 2a for
receiving a stop (not shown) in use, so that a pipe can be
located on the locating support means 2,3 with the back
upper edge of the pipe resting against said stop located
in one of the pair of locating holes 2a (or against the
vertical rear stop wall S depending upon the length of the
pipe) with three spring loaded safety catches C (only one
safety catch shown in FIGURE 1) overlapping the front edge
of said pipe. Advantageously, the safety catches C will
be located generally equiangularly around the pipe firmly
securing the pipe onto the apparatus 1. Each of the two
lower, adjustable, legs 3 is attached to an inwardly
curved guide rail G which is in firm contact with the
inner wall of the pipe. The pipe will also be seated on
an upper guide rail G' resting on the interior of the
pipe. This upper guide rail G' runs centrally parallel to
the upper portion of the beam 2 in which the holes 2a are
located, along an upper one of the legs 3 which is, in
this example non-adjustable, and guide rail G' then curves
radially inwardly as shown in the FIGURE. Thus the pipe
can be securely held and supported on the apparatus in the
aforedescribed manner with the safety locking catches C
lo 2 Q 7 ~
.. .
operative. In itself, this method of holding and
supporting a pipe for movement by, for example, a
hydraulic excavator may be a more reliable and secure
method than previous methods more because of the provision
of the safety locking catches.
Advantageously, a sealing ring (not shown) can also
be held by the apparatus on the front end of the pipe by
spring steel strips C' (only one shown in FIGURE 1) on the
safety catches C in a manner which it is believed to be
self-evident. In this way the pipe with the rubber
sealing ring already positioned in front thereof can be
introduced successfully to a second pipe and joined
thereto with seemingly the minimum amount of fuss. The
safety catches C are each provided with pivotable
operating arms 0 attached to their associated catches C by
operating rods or wires R.
With the pipe in secure location on the lower beam 2
and the sealing ring located in place by the curved spring
steel strips C' on the catches C, the apparatus can be
lifted by a hydraulic excavator with the upper beam being
suspended therefrom at connector point/s 7 on the block 6.
The apparatus 1 and pipe and sealing ring can now be swung
and lowered into position immediately in front of (in end
to end relationship) a second pipe already laid in the
ground. The pipe and sealing ring can be moved forwards
by the excavator until the gripping head 4a (in its
extended state with its three legs L retracted) is
introduced inside the second pipe. The second, previously
laid pipe, will be surrounded by bedding material and,
therefore, unable to move so that a firm anchor point can
be created when the ram piston 3 is retracted. The
gripping head 4a will be inserted into said second pipe
until the curved portions of the guide rails G,G' are
about to make contact with the second pipe and at this
point the ram piston P is retracted. Retraction of the
ram piston releases tension on two steel cables 8 (which
11 2~7'~ 13
-
cables attach the three legs L of the gripper head to the
ram piston P), thereby allowing the legs L to expand
outwardly and contact the inner wall of the second pipe.
One cable a is attached to the upper leg L and another
cable b controls the pair of lower legs in unison. In the
example shown, the lower two gripping legs L are of
variable length (they may be telescopic) and as should be
apparent all three legs L are spring loaded to return to
the position as shown in FIGURE 1. The feet F would
usually have a hard rubber outer face to provide a secure
grip on the interior walling of the pipe. Further
retraction of the ram piston P pulls or draws the front
end of the first pipe and the rubber sealing ring towards
the open end of the laid pipe, with the gripper head 4a
providing a firm anchor point on the second pipe. As the
first pipe is drawn generally axially towards the second
(said guide rails G,G' helping to maintain good alignment)
the outer edge or rim of the second pipe contacts the
operating arms O thereby pivotting them inwardly and
rearwardly to operate rods or wires R to swing the safety
catches C inwardly and forwardly (as represented by arrow
Z in the FIGURE) to release their hold on the sealing ring
just as the edge of the second pipe is about to make
contact therewith. Thus, the first pipe is drawn into the
correct relative alignment with the second, laid pipe with
the sealing ring sealing the joint therebetween. The two
pipes can be firmly drawn together and sealed by the
sealing ring in this manner. The ram piston may then be
extended again in order to retract the legs L and push the
gripper head 4A further into the second pipe. Once the
steel cables a,b have moved the legs L into the fully
closed up or retracted position the whole apparatus can
then be withdrawn from the two pipes with the hydraulic
ram H and beam 2 being drawn axially out of the jointed
pipe arrangement. The hydraulic ram H may be a two and a
half inch cylinder with a three foot stroke (63mm
cylinder, 900 mm stroke and the guide rails G,G' may be
made from 50 mm round bar). Advantageously the hydraulic
- - 12 - ~ 2~744~ 5
ram H may be powered from the hydraulic excavator itself and
the controls for the ram may also be located on the excavator
and/or on the apparatus 1 itself.
FIGURE 2 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus 1' in
which legs 3 are now replaced by larger telescopic inclined
legs 3', connected to the rear of beam 2. Legs 3' are
connected to the beam 2 at the front end thereof by retaining
wires W as shown (only one wire is shown). Legs 3' are spring
loaded downwards against the retaining wires W, which are also
of adjustable length. The remainder of the apparatus is in
accordance with that already described in relation to FIGURE 1
of the apparatus.
The applicant has developed a production version of
apparatus for laying pipes and this version will now be
described by way of example only with reference to FIGURES 3,
4, 5 and 6.
FIGURE 3 shows a production version of pipe handling
and laying apparatus 101 which, in use, will be suspended
by cables from a hydraulic excavator (not shown). The
cables will be connected by eyes (not shown in lifting
block L). A section of a first pipe P1 is shown located
on holding and support means 102 ,103 said pipe being
introduced onto the holding and support means in the
direction of arrow Y over the gripping head 104 of
extendible and retractable gripping means 105. The
retractable and extendible gripping means 105 includes a
2 0 7 ~ ~,?~ ~ ~
13
hydraulic ram 106 extending parallel to the axis of pipe
Pl. In this embodiment, a sealing ring 107 is shown on
the front end of the pipe P1 and is retained onto said
front end by safety catches 108 (only one shown), in a
manner which should be generally self-evident. In this
way, the pipe P1 with rubber sealing ring 107 already
positioned in front thereof can be introduced successfully
to the second pipe P2 and joined thereto. The hydraulic
ram 106 is fully extended before introduction of the
gripper head 104 into the pipe P2. When the hydraulic ram
106 is fully extended upper and lower actuating rods
llO,llOa are moved outwardly to the left from the position
as shown in FIGURE 3 until the nut 111 (threaded onto the
righthand end of the upper actuating rod llOa) engages
guide block 112 fixed to the top of the cylinder 106a of
the hydraulic ram 106. Further outward movement of the
hydraulic ram piston 106b allows connector block 113 to
slide along the upper actuating rod llOa against spring
biassing provided by spring 114 in a manner which should
be generally self-evident, with further movement of the
upper actuating rod to the left being prevented by the
engagement of the nut 111 with guide block 112. Thus, the
upper actuating rod remains stationary as the lower
actuating rod 110 moves with the connector block 113 and a
head block 115 of the gripper head 104 slides on the upper
actuating rod. This relative movement causes links 116
(see also FIGURE 4) to pull on the two opposed legs 117
(to which the links 116 are articulated respectively),
thereby causing the legs 117 to close up into a retracted
position. The length of the legs 117 is adjustable.
The gripper head 104 is now introduced into the open
end of pipe P2 until the guide rails 109 locate into the
pipe P2. In FIGURE 3, the retaining wires W of FIGURE 2
have been replaced by spring-loaded leg stays LS which are
pivotally connected to inclined legs 118 in the manner
shown by way of respective leg clamps 119, adjustment of
the length of the lower legs 118 and leg clamps 119 allows
14
the guide rails 109 and safety catches 108 to be brought
to bear on the open end of the pipe P2. It is
advantageous that the adjustment operation, once completed
for a particular nominal pipe diameter, need not be
repeated until another different nominal diameter pipe is
to be handled. The pipe-laying apparatus 101-with the pipe
P1 is positioned immediately in front of the pipe P2 with
the rubber sealing ring 107 being retained in position by
way of the safety catches 108 and manoeuvred until the
gripper head 104 is inside the pipe P2. The hydaulic ram
106 can now be operated to its retracted position i.e.
piston 106b can now be retracted further within the
cylinder 106a causing the spring 114 to push on the links
116 and force the adjustable length legs 117 radially
outwards to cause gripper pads 120 and 121 (located at the
end of the legs 117 and on the head block llS) into
contact with the inside wall of the pipe P2. Further
retraction of the hydraulic ram 106 increases the grip on
the inside wall of the pipe P2 and pulls the pipe Pl
axially towards the pipe P2. The guide rails 109 ensure
accurate alignment of the pipes P1 and P2 and the safety
catches 108 bear on the pipe P2 moving the lower legs 118
up against the spring loaded leg stays LS and the pipe P1
is securely joined to the pipe P2 in sealed manner. The
hydraulic ram 106 is then operated to a fully extended
position in which the gripper pads 120 and 121 are moved
radially inwardly to release the grip on the inside wall
of the pipe P2 to allow the pipe handling apparatus 101 to
be withdrawn axially from the pipe P1 in a direction to
the right as shown in FIGURE 3. The piston 106b is
threadably connected to the connector block 113 and the
guide block 112 is welded to the top of the cylinder 106a.
A petrol or diesel self-contained power pack and control
valves with pressure regulating valve and pressure gauge
(not shown) is to be mounted on the main lifting beam M
(comprising an upper and lower beam) and it is envisaged
that the maximum operating pressure will be about 3,000
p.s.i.
2~7~
FIGURE 6 shows a view similar to FIGURE 3 of the
production version of the apparatus 101 but incorporating
two further modifications. The first modification allows
additional support to be given to the gripping head 104 by
way of additional support means in the form of a solid
rectangular section steel bar 140 slidably received in a
square tube welded to the underside of the holding means
(lower support beam) 102. A carriage 141 is provided
consisting of two plates 142 (only one shown) and a roller
143, and the carriage is welded to the head block 115.
The steel bar 140 passes through the carriage 141 and is
held in place by two retaining pins 144 as shown. In
operation, the head block 115 is free to move up and down
vertically (allowable movement shown on the FIGURE) to
allow gripping of the pipe P2 even where the pipes P1 and
P2 are not in perfect alignment, such movement being
limited by the lower roller 143 in an upwards direction
and by the head block itself in a downwards direction.
The head block assembly is restrained from rotating
20 relative to the support means 102 ensuring the correct
positioning of the gripping head within the pipe P3.
The second modification is the replacement of
actuating rod llOA and spring 114 by a hydraulic ram 145.
In some situations it may be advantageous to be able to
close up the gripping head 104 when a main hydraulic ram
106 is in a retracted position, for example in areas of
limited operating space, as this allows for easier
positioning of the gripping head 104 inside the pipe.
30 Replacement of the actuating rod and spring with the
hydraulic ram allows the gripper head 104 to be operated
independently of the position of the head block 115
(whether fully extended or retracted). It is envisaged
that both the arrangements shown in FIGURE 3 and in FIGURE
35 6 may be utilised depending upon varying conditions.
The Applicant has made some further major
developments in apparatus and method for handling and
~ - 16 ~ 744~9
laying pipes in accordance with the present invention which
will now be described, by way of example only, with reference
to FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 7 shows pipe handling and laying apparatus 200
which functions generally similarly to previously described
embodiments. However, the apparatus 200 is no longer
suspended by cables from a hydraulic excavator vehicle (not
shown). Instead, the apparatus 200 has an angled pivoting arm
201, the pivoting movement of which is controlled by an
indexing head 202 driven by an indexing motor 203 controlled
by a joystick control (not shown) located in the driver's cab
of an excavator vehicle (not shown). The indexing head 202
has been located in the position on the excavator at which an
excavator bucket is usually located. The bucket would
normally be arranged to pivot about axis X-X shown on the
indexing head 202. As shown in FIGURE 7, indexing head 202 is
a circular platform driven by chain 204 about vertical axis Y-
Y by way of an indexing sprocket 205 offset to one side of the
platform 202 and in meshing engagement with the chain 204.
Sprocket 205 is driven about a vertical axis Y~-Y~ by the
indexing motor 203. In addition to the arm 201 being pivoted
about axis Y-Y, one end of the arm 201 is connected to the
underside of the indexing head and arranged to pivot about
horizontal axis Z-Z, upon actuation of hydraulic piston and
cylinder means 206 which is in the form of a tilt control.
Thus the arm 201 may be subjected to a universal type indexing
movement. As shown the piston 206A is pivotally connected
at one end to a pivoting mounting location 207 fixed on the
top of the beam 201. It is envisaged that the hydraulic power
source used to power the excavator will be the same source as
that used for powering the arm 201 and hydraulic ram 208
controlling the gripper head 209. Hydraulic feed pipe
connections are denoted at H, gripper cylinder hydraulic
17 2~7 ~ i5
feed pipe connections are denoted at H' and main ram
hydraulic feed pipe connections are noted at H''. For
ease of illustration one of the gripper head legs 210 of
the advantageous self centering gripper head is shown in
exploded form and the apparatus 200 is provided with
vertically adjustable support legs 211 which can be used
to support a pipe whilst carried on the apparatus 200. A
further vertically adjustable bracket 212 carrying rubber
end pad or stop 213 is provided on the lower end of the
vertical portion 201A of arm 201 (and carries U-shaped
support member 214) and is arranged below vertically
adjustable bracket member 215 which limits the upper
movement of the pipe. Support legs 211 and bracket 212
ensure that the pipe seats centrally on the lower support
beam 215.
Additionally, it is envisaged that close-circuit
television cameras or sensor means will be provided on
either side of the arm 201. One of the cameras will be
trained on the gripper head so that the operator inside
the cab will be able to monitor progress of the pipe
laying operation and the other camera will be trained on a
laser sighting line or the like in order to assist in
guidance when joining pipes together. Thus, information
regarding alignment of the pipes being joined can be
relayed to a location remote from the pipes e.g. to an
operation in a driver's cab of an excavator vehicle.
Therefore, further according to the present invention
there is provided pipe handling apparatus comprising pipe
holding and supporting means to hold and support a first
length of piping as it is lifted into use towards the
second length of piping, and comprising one or more of the
following fea~ures.
(1) Indexing means to pivot the pipe holding and
supporting means, preferably about two transverse
axes;
18 2 ~
(2) An angled pivoting beam which is hydraulically
actuated via control means in a driver's cab of an
excavator vehicle;
(3) Camera means arranged to convey pictures of various
parts of the apparatus in relation to pipe work
during the pipe handling apparatus to an operator
and/or to pick up on a guidance or alignment laser
beam or the like to assist in laying of the pipework,
said pictures preferably being relayed to an operator
inside a driver's cab of the excavator vehicle;
(4) The pipe holding and support apparatus being powered
from the same hydraulic power source as an excavator
vehicle fitted with said apparatus;
(5) Any advantageous feature that may be gleamed from
FIGURE 6 or FIGURE 7 of this application in
particular relating to adjustment of pipe support
means, hydraulic power supply or gripper head or
motor driven indexing means.
It is to be understood that the scope of the present
invention is not to be unduly limited to the particular
choice of terminology and that a specific term may be
replaced by any e~uivalent or generic term where sensible.
Further it is to be understood that individual features,
methods, uses or functions related to the pipe handling
apparatus might be individually patentably inventive. The
singular may include the plural where sensible and vice
versa. Additionally, any range mentioned herein for any
variable or parameter shall be taken to include a
disclosure of any derivable sub-range within that range or
of any particular value of the variable or parameter
arranged within, or at an end of, the range or sub-range.
