Patents Assigned to Kenton Utilities and Developments LTD
  • Patent number: 6382877
    Abstract: The invention concerns the replacement of underground pipes (52) wherein a former/cutting blade device (10) is pulled along the line of the existing pipe (52) by a cable fed (30) previously into the existing pipe (52). As the device (10) is so pulled it cuts and spreads the existing pipe (52). At the same time a new pipe (26) attached to the rear of the former (12) is pulled into place. The invention is of particular use in the replacement of small size lead water pipes which lead to consumer dwellings, and provides that the cable (30) which must be as large a diameter as possible to take the loads involved, is connected to the former (12) by having a ferrule (28) at one end which is located in a recess (27) in the former (12) so as not to interfere with the former profile. Also, the recess (27) is to the rear of the cutting blade (40) so that the ferrule (28) does not to cause an obstruction to the cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Kenton Utilities and Developments LTD
    Inventor: Alistair Hodgson
  • Patent number: 6092553
    Abstract: The invention provides that an existing underground pipe (52) is replaced by pulling a cutting device (10) through the existing pipe (52) by means of a strong steel stranded cable, and at the same time pulling the replacement pipe (26) along behind the cutting device (10). The invention, which has particular application in the replacement of small diameter pipes (52), provides that the method is made practical by paring down the cable (30) over a length (90) to provide a pilot section (90) which can be fed through the existing pipe (52) easier that the full diameter cable (30) and be paring down the strands of the cable (30), no joint [which could end up of a size larger than the diameter of the cable (30)] is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Kenton Utilities and Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Alistair Hodgson