By Means Advancing Along Terrain And Guiding Pipe Or Cable Into Subterranean Position Patents (Class 405/174)
  • Patent number: 5743676
    Abstract: In a method for keeping outfall drainage in service whilst constructing sewerage, wherein a main drain is laid in the position of an old drain or in a new line by pipe or shield tunnelling under closed or semi-open construction using a working pipe or shield (1) at the tunnelling end (9), at essentially the same time as the working pipe or shield (1) is tunnelling, at least one outfall drain (30) is laid below ground through at least one working orifice (20) in the working pipe or shield (1), so that the outfall drain (30) lies alongside the main drain. A device suitable for implementing the method has a working pipe or a shield (1) with at least one working orifice (20) for laying at least one underground outfall drain (30) alongside the main drain from the interior of the working pipe or shield (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Meyer & John GmbH & Co Tief- und Rohrleitungsbau
    Inventors: John Hans-Juergen, Guenter Geschke, Gerhard Rade
  • Patent number: 5741088
    Abstract: An excavation apparatus comprising: a wedge member for driving through the ground and for slidingly contacting and lifting an overburden located beneath the surface of the ground substantially toward the surface of the ground; a driving attachment member for driving the wedge member below and substantially parallel to the surface of the ground; and a lateral support member attached to the wedge member for guiding the overburden across the wedge member. The apparatus may remove an existing utility line, install a new utility line, apply bedding material beneath a new utility line, or form a trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Environment 2000, Inc.
    Inventor: Gennady Kleyman
  • Patent number: 5707175
    Abstract: A pipe laying machine comprises a vehicle carrying a trench excavator followed by a pipe laying box running in the trench. Pipe lengths are stored in the pipe laying box one above another and the lowermost pipe length is periodically released by movement of bars into the bottom of the pipe laying box and is pressed by a ram into the mouth of the last laid pipe length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: J. Mastenbroek & Company Limited
    Inventor: Jack Geelhoed
  • Patent number: 5645784
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for lining a tubular member with an elastomeric liner having an outside diameter which is initially greater than the inside diameter of the tubular member. A series of downsizing rollers reduce the outside diameter of the liner a preselected amount. A series of shaping rollers form the downsized liner into an ellipse, thereby allowing the downsized liner to be guided around bends and turns into the interior of the tubular member. After insertion, the liner is allowed to expand to substantially its original outside diameter to secure the liner within the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Pipe Rehab International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim S. McMillan, Simon Tarsha
  • Patent number: 5641246
    Abstract: A method of laying cable such as fiber optic cable which cannot be twisted past an obstacle includes rewinding the cable from the inner end through an excavation under the obstacle from a first reel onto a second reel downstream of the obstacle. Both the first and second reels are of a type having first and second end flanges both of which are removable from the reel and a radially collapsible hub. During the rewinding step, the supply reel from the plough is positioned on end and the cable withdrawn from the inner turns of the winding and pulled off over end thus introducing a turn of twist. The key to the system is that when the second reel is unwound at the obstacle it is inverted relative to the first reel so that the second end is uppermost thus causing the twist to be subtracted and cancelled rather than summated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: David Edward Rinas
  • Patent number: 5632574
    Abstract: A ditch backfilling device and apparatus therefor are disclosed. In particular, the ditch backfilling device includes a mainframe for supporting a compartment for storing the backfill material and a screening system for sorting and directing the backfill material into a ditch. The backfilling device includes a support for holding a roll of warning tape and an application roller for placing the unrolled portion of the warning tape above a uniform structure, such as a pipeline, within a layer of backfill material in the ditch. The warning tape is thereafter buried in subsequent layers of backfill material poured by the backfilling device. The backfilling device also includes a guide structure which is configured to follow the surface of the uniform structure. The guide structure positions a conduit adjacent the uniform structure for burial in the backfill material. The conduit may contain cables for the transmission of communication information or operating instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: KNI Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward J. Klaymar, Alain Lebaigue, Jean M. Meteye
  • Patent number: 5464308
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for laying a product of great length (40) in the ground. As a furrow is formed by breaking up the ground a tube is laid in the furrow and, at the same time, the product is pulled inside the tube, at one end by means of a magnetic pulling device including a yoke and a core received in the tube and the yoke. The yoke and core produce a radial magnetic field between them capable of axially immobilizing the core in relation to the yoke. The tube is in the air gap between the yoke and the core and the product is fixed to the core. The pulling force applied to the product is produced by displacing the yoke as the tube is laid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Cables Pirelli S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Missout
  • Patent number: 5340524
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for lining a tubular member with an elastomeric liner having an outside diameter which is initially greater than the inside diameter of the tubular member. A series of downsizing rollers reduce the outside diameter of the liner a preselected amount. A series of shaping rollers form the downsized liner into an ellipse, thereby allowing the downsized liner to be guided around bends and turns into the interior of the tubular member. After insertion, the liner is allowed to expand to substantially its original outside diameter to secure the liner within the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Pipe Rehab International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim S. McMillan, Simon Tarsha
  • Patent number: 5320451
    Abstract: A cable laying attachment for an engine driven tiller has a cutter wheel with a plurality of countersunk carbide tips in the teeth of the cutter wheel; the cutter wheel being connected to a tine drive shaft connected to a transmission for transferring power from the engine for automatically cutting a trench to a desired depth as the tiller is driven forwardly by a pair of engine driven wheels and a trailing arm and feed tube are connected to a protective cowl on the transmission housing that guards the cutter wheel; the trailing arm and feed tube receiving and placing wire from a spool into the trench; the trailing arm serves to displace the cut trench material while positioning the outlet end of the feed tube so as to locate a wire or cable at the bottom of the trench formed by the cutter wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventors: John R. Garvey, Robert J. DeCelle, Jr., James C. Veale
  • Patent number: 5240352
    Abstract: A method for mounting pipelines (8) or outer walls of a tunnel in the ground where one after another joined polygon or round cylinders are forced to penetrate into the ground when the soil cut by the front edge of the first cylinder (2) moves into the said cylinders during tunnelling. The cylinders (2, 3, 4, 15) containing soil are replaced by the final pipe/piping (8) meant for the ground, by forcing and/or pulling said pipe/piping in the place of said cylinders and the soil excavated from the tunnel is removed from the tunnel inside the said cylinders when said cylinders are forced out of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: Valto Ilomaki
  • Patent number: 5224797
    Abstract: A rotatable apparatus for placing lengths of flexible pipe and cable a distance beneath the surface of the ground leaving the soil substantially intact. The pipe laying apparatus includes a shaft having an exterior, a plurality of cutting bits removably mounted on the shaft and a device for securing the cutting bits on the shaft. The cutting bits each have a base, a tool bit, and an attachment device to prevent any rotation by the cutting bits relative to the shaft. The tool bits have a leading cutting edge, a cutting surface extending from the leading cutting edge, and an inclined surface separating the cutting surface and the base. As the shaft rotates, the leading cutting edge and the cutting surface cut through the soil and push it in towards the inclined surface, which in turn displaces the soil in an axial direction. The pipe laying apparatus also includes a plurality of spacers removably mounted to the shaft separating the cutting bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: Donald R. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 5214868
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for laying an underground member such as a service wire, tubing or the like. The apparatus includes a frame having a plurality of wheels with a rotatable cutting blade and a fixed cutting blade mounted to the frame for extending below the surface of the ground. The underground member is secured to the fixed cutting blade. An operating handle is pivotably mounted to the frame for rotating the rotatable cutting blade upon a pivoting of the operating handle. A propelling arm is pivotably mounted relative to the operating handle for moving the apparatus over the surface of the ground concomitantly with the rotatable cutting blade and the fixed cutting blade cutting a trench and laying the underground member therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Richard H. Persbacker
  • Patent number: 5207533
    Abstract: In order to replace a first underground pipe such as a metal pipe by a second pipe of mean diameter substantially equal to or greater than that of the first pipe, the first pipe is cut longitudinally by a localized projection of a flow of matter, particles or radiation thanks to a localized projection means which are displaced inside the first pipe in order to divide the first pipe longitudinally into at least two segments. Cutting by localized projection avoids in particular the creation of vibrations during fragmentation of the pipe to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Gaz de France
    Inventors: Eric Federspiel, Richard Godefroy
  • Patent number: 5190409
    Abstract: Conventional cable-laying apparatus has been adapted for the removal of cable. A trenching plow blade is towed behind a bulldozer or the like. Mounted above the area of the blade is a powered cable-pulling assembly. Once an initial length of cable is excavated and routed to the cable pulling assembly, the equipment is advanced along the line of the cable to dig the trench, preferably just a small distance above the cable, such as about a foot, and the cable pulling assembly is driven to pull the cable from the ground behind the advanced blade. The cable may be routed to lie on the ground behind the advancing apparatus, or alternatively may be routed forward over the cab of the bulldozer onto a powered rewind reel. The cable pulling assembly includes a pulling wheel rotatably mounted to the blade support assembly, rotated by a hydraulic motor through a reduction gearbox. A series of rollers are mounted between two roller support arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald H. Hall
  • Patent number: 5174686
    Abstract: A pipe laying apparatus comprising a frame mounted on two or more wheels, with a motor and a cutting disk for cutting a narrow slit in the ground. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a blade following the disk and having a conduit on the end with a nozzle on one end of the conduit that issues a jet of water into the bottom of the slit to form a channel. The pipe is attached to the other end of the conduit and is pulled into position in the channel as the apparatus advances. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus has a winch and pulley used to deploy a wire into the slit as the apparatus is moved forward. The other end of the wire is attached to a nozzle and conduit with the pipe attached in turn to the conduit. When the apparatus is stoppped, the winch rewinds the wire while the nozzle sprays a jet of water in the direction of movement to form the channel and allow the pipe to be easily pulled into position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Gene Raymond
  • Patent number: 5174685
    Abstract: Apparatus for laying flexible pipe within a trench and for embedding the flexible pipe within a bed of gravel in a single operation. The apparatus includes a gravel hopper and a guide sleeve for guiding a pipe to be laid within the trench. The hopper includes a skid or sled arrangement to permit it to be pulled along the trench bottom, and has a width to permit it to be completely positioned within the trench and thereby accommodate a wide variety of trench depths. A feed guide support stanchion extends from the front portion of the hopper for facilitating the feeding of a flexible pipe into a pipe guide inlet positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the front wall of the hopper. The hopper interior is divided into a main, narrow portion, and a rear, enlarged portion, the side walls of which are adapted to engage the side walls of the trench. The hopper rear portion side walls have a small surface area to minimize sliding friction with the trench walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Luther B. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 5156355
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for unwinding a flexible cable (C) from a storage reel (S) on which the cable is wound. The cable is wound onto a take-up drum (50). An arm mechanism (60) engages the cable and wraps it about the drum. A mechanism (64) is provided for continuously rotating the arm mechanism, this rotation unwinding a length of cable from the storage reel at the same time another length of cable is wound onto the take-up drum. In addition, a mechanism (66) is provided for simultaneously moving the arm mechanism longitudinally with respect to the drum for the cable to be wound onto the drum along the entire length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Ron Wadle
  • Patent number: 5145290
    Abstract: Apparatus for laying pipe in a trench includes a housing with a bottom, side walls, a leading end wall and a trailing end wall, with a tapered nose at the leading end, the nose being designed to be pulled along a trench by a backhoe. The nose is hinged to the leading end wall and can be pivoted up and down when the housing is moved along the trench. The housing includes a trough which receives and orients a pipe and a pusher which moves the pipe along the trough and into assembled relationship with an end of a previously-laid pipe. A hopper near the trailing end of the housing has a chute which deposits fill material around the pipe. The trailing end wall has an opening with a slidable door to strike off the top of the fill material. Mechanism is connected to the trough and door to simultaneously move them up and down to maintain the pipe on grade and to maintain the depth of fill material constant relative to the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Kokosing Construction Company Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene E. Wise
  • Patent number: 5087153
    Abstract: A duct for transmission cable including a polymeric tubing having an inner and an outer wall. Spiral ribs having peaks and valleys are located on the inner wall. The valleys are adapted to receive lubrication and the peaks form a surface over which cable may travel at reduced friction. The spiral makes one revolution from about one to six linear feet, at rib heights from about 0.005 to 0.125 inch, and the spacing between the ribs is about 0.025 to 0.500 inch. The duct may be located in an outer duct which is normally buried underground, or directly buried or plowed. There may be a plurality of ducts placed in the ground with an outer duct. Longitudinal ribbing on the external walls prevents rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Arnco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert B. Washburn
  • Patent number: 5067853
    Abstract: An apparatus wherein a platform mounts a drive motor that directs rotary motion to an eccentrically arranged crank pin to effect oscillating motion to a blade member directed downwardly relative to the platform. The blade includes a foot member that is formed with a conically tapered forward end and a reduced cylindrical rear end to permit securement of a conduit hose to the rear end to pull the conduit hose in a conduit laying procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Bernard Radnis
  • Patent number: 4969677
    Abstract: A pipe pulling grip for use, for example, in pulling irrigation pipe underground includes a chain, a tapered nose cone, a hollow pipe, and a pipe grip. The chain is affixed to the tapered portion of the nose cone and the other end of the nose cone is affixed to one end of the pipe. Lastly, one end of the pipe grip is affixed inside the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Inventor: Douglas M. Melegari
  • Patent number: 4949909
    Abstract: To provide an improved pipe coil rack for dispensing pipe from a coil, the pipe coil dispensing rack comprising: (1) a frame having a turntable bearing, a cross bar, legs, wheels and a tongue; (2) a turntable rotatably mounted to the turntable bearing; and (3) a pipe guide ring secured to the frame. The turntable includes a pipe reel hold down assembly secured to the turntable with a resilient rubber strap and spacers removably secured to the turntable and to the pipe reel hold down assembly. The pipe coil dispensing rack may be positioned for use horizontally by positioning the wheels and the tongue on the ground; or the pipe coil dispensing rack may be positioned for storage vertically by positioning wheels and the cross bar on the ground. The pipe coil dispensing rack is suitable for one-man use and provides for the uncoiling of pipe from the pipe coil directly at the site to eliminate errors in cutting the pipe prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Steven D. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 4948299
    Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a pipeline padding machine which comprises a first rearwardly inclined conveyor mounted on a vehicle adapted to be moved along a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over a row of spoil which has been removed from the ditch, and a scoop on the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and deliverying it onto the first conveyor as the vehicle moves over the row of spoil. The first conveyor is arranged to move the spoil rearwardly and thus onto a second screen at its rearward end having means for moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass it in a rearward direction. A second conveyor mounted on the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes it and moving the spoil toward one end of the second conveyor, and a third conveyor is mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving that spoil into the ditch and over the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventors: Thomas J. Cronk, Jr., Ronnie C. Burrows
  • Patent number: 4927292
    Abstract: Water is removed from an underground perforated pipe by a submersible pump inserted into an imperforate pipe extending from above ground to below ground level for communication with the perforated pipe. An inflatable bladder seals the submersible pump to the inner wall of the imperforate pipe for facilitating suction of water from the perforated pipe into the imperforate pipe. Water is drawn into a proximal end of the pump and expelled out of a distal end of a pump, and out of the imperforate pipe above ground level. By sealing the pump to the inner wall of the imperforate pipe, the pump is capable of drawing water from an underground perforated pipe located at a depth greater than the pumping capacity of the pump for drawing up water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Inventor: Donald R. Justice
  • Patent number: 4927294
    Abstract: In mobile laying apparatus for laying an elongated element, such as a cable, in a trench, especially a trench in a sea bed, which apparatus is advanced in a predetermined direction and includes apparatus for digging the trench and ways along which the element slides as it is deposited in the trench, tension control apparatus and a method for preventing the accumulation of such element upstream of the laying apparatus as the element is laid. In the method, a tension force is applied to the element so that the tension thereon upstream of the laying apparatus is at least equal to the tension on the element downstream of the laying apparatus. The tension control apparatus includes motor driven rollers or tracks at the ways which engage the element. The torque which the driving motors apply or alternatively, the energization of the driving motors and the advance of the laying apparatus is controlled by the position of a portion of the element upstream of the laying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Societa' Cavi Pirelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Magnani, Paolo Minardi
  • Patent number: 4914840
    Abstract: A trench digging apparatus which is provided with a safety shield shaped to direct dug dirt back into the trench. The trench digger is also provided with a cable laying device which lays the cable in the dug trench ahead of the refilling dirt. A pipe pulling attachment may also be provided for laying a pipe while digging and refilling the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Roger D. Porter
  • Patent number: 4906131
    Abstract: A method for attaching a sprinkler head to the free end of a length of pipe which has been laid within a trench. The method includes the step of excavating about the immediate region beyond projection of the free end of the pipe from the ground. This step is followed by the step of cutting the free end of the pipe which projects above ground level, such that a resulting new end of the pipe terminates several inches below ground level. Then a conduit is connected at a first end to the newly created end of the entrenched pipe and an opposite end of the conduit is positioned below first end within the trench at about the same depth as the rest of the pipe. At the opposite end of the conduit the sprinkler or related device is then attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Inventor: George Savoka
  • Patent number: 4904116
    Abstract: An apparatus for making tunnels and for laying supply lines in the ground comprises an earth displacing machine which is guided by a sword projecting out of the ground to allow the attachment of a power drive engaging the free end of the sword, and makes it possible to lay the supply lines accurately over long stretches, in particular along walls or the line of roadways or paths or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Paul Schmidt
    Inventor: Alfons Hesse
  • Patent number: 4896997
    Abstract: The apparatus of the instant invention includes a surface traversing mobile frame which, in the preferred embodiment, transports the elements of the invention. Means for dispensing a continuous length of hollow sheath and for dispensing a continuous length of signal-transmitting cable are provided. An assembly table for inserting the cable into the interior of the sheath includes a device for dividing a side of the sheath. Devices for forming a subsurface trench and for training the assembly produced by the assembly are mounted on the frame.The method of the invention includes opening the side of a hollow sheath along its length, and directing a cable into the opening to produce an elongate, continuous assembly of sheath having the cable inside of it. The wall of the plastimer sheath is permitted to assume a non-joined, closed condition along the region previously opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Inventor: Wayne L. Gaylin
  • Patent number: 4892443
    Abstract: A cable plow having a chassis with a pivot arm having a first end pivotably connected to the chassis and a second end pivotably connected to a plow element characterized by an arrangement extending between the plow element and the pivot arm to resist pivoting of the plow element from a desired or rated plowing position in response to increased forces applied on the element. Preferably, the chassis is constructed as a sled which is adapted for plowing or laying cable on either land or beneath the water's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Kunze, Peter Lancier
  • Patent number: 4890957
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying cable at an obstruction comprises a collapsible reel, an unwind guide and a rewinding device. The reel is removable from the laying vehicle when it reaches the obstruction and has an end flange which can be removed and radially collapsible surface segments which allow the inner end of the cable to be found and withdrawn, passed through an excavation under the obstruction and rewound onto a new reel. In one arrangement, the rewind device is arranged to introduce a twist into the cable in a direction opposite to that inserted by the unwinding. In this case the rewind device includes an arm rotatable around a stationary reel with traverse means for wrapping the cable onto the reel in similar manner from that which it is withdrawn from the first reel. In a second arrangement the twisted cable is wound onto the new reel and then is withdrawn from the reel in a manner which ensures it is laid without twist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: David E. Rinas
  • Patent number: 4871127
    Abstract: A portable trailer supports a long horizontal tube on which is mounted a rotatable and reciprocable drum and a fixed storage reel. The center tube, reel, and drum contain alignable longitudinally extending radial slots therethrough. Attached to the drum and extending over the reel is a bail and a series of snatch blocks. A slack cable is inserted transversely through the aligned slots in the drum, center tube, and reel such that it lays in the interior of the center tube. The cable is looped inside the reel and then transversely inserted into the bail and snatch blocks. Rotating and reciprocating the drum neatly winds the cable onto the storage reel from a supply reel, although there is no access to the cable ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventor: Albert L. Clark
  • Patent number: 4871281
    Abstract: A highly mobile and accurately positionable trenching tool approaches the surface below which the trench is to be dug at an angle of substantially 90.degree., enters the earth while maintaining the angle of substantially 90.degree., and continues its path of travel into the earth while maintaining the angle of substantially 90.degree., until the trenching tool reaches the intended depth of digging operation. Further, the horizontal or width displacement of the trenching tool is limited so that the entry point of the trenching tool occupies a small surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventor: Donald R. Justice
  • Patent number: 4861195
    Abstract: A cable guiding chute assembly suitable for attachment to a vibratory plow blade to dispense a cable at a selected drop radius. The cable chute assembly includes a pair of generally vertical side wall members joined by a forward wall to define a cable passageway and interchangeable gate members extending the length of the passageway to define cable guiding conduits having different radii. Each gate member is releasably secured to the side walls of the chute to permit expeditious removal and replacement. Further, the chute assembly is constructed with minimal surface area to reduce drag and a leading edge to reduce the build-up of material between the chute and plow blade. Moreoever, the chute assembly includes a downwardly directed bottom opening which permits pulling of the cable when the plow blade is removed from the ground without damaging the cable exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: Randy H. Hillard, Robert G. Draney, Joseph J. Lesher
  • Patent number: 4832531
    Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously laying plastic tape and plastic pipe in an underground widened slit, wherein an earth slitting tool and wing type hollow laying head are attached to a frame for providing and underground widening a slit in the ground, means for dispensing plastic tape and plastic pipe, means for folding the plastic tape, and means for unfolding the plastic tape in the underground widened slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Ferenc Paulovits
    Inventor: Ferenc Paulovits
  • Patent number: 4830539
    Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a plurality of pipes arranged in series comprises basic thrusting means for generating a thrust to be applied to the pipes and intermediate thrusting means for receiving the thrust from the basic thrusting means and applying the received thrust to one of the pipes. The intermediate thrusting means includes a press head provided with a portion displaceable to a position where the portion is capable of abutting against the rear end face of one of the pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is advanced while displaceable to another position where the portion does not interfere with the advance of the following pipes when the intermediate thrusting means is removed and an intermediate body extending rearward from the press head such as to receive the thrust from the basic thrusting means and apply the received thrust to the press head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Iseki Kaihatsu Koki
    Inventor: Toshio Akesaka
  • Patent number: 4825569
    Abstract: A trench digging apparatus which is provided with a safety shield shaped to direct dug dirt back into the trench. The trench digger is also provided with a cable laying device which lays the cable in the dug trench ahead of the refilling dirt. A pipe pulling attachment may also be provided for laying a pipe while digging and refilling the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Roger D. Porter
  • Patent number: 4812078
    Abstract: A mechanized unit is provided for digging a trench in the ground and laying elongate objects in the trench, including a motor driven vehicle, a digging wheel connected to the rear of the vehicle, and a reserve connected to the front of the vehicle and containing said elongate objects, and a guide device for laying said objects in the vicinity of the bottom of the trench, the device being connected to the vehicle, said mechanized unit further including a receptacle connected to the vehicle and containing a fine powdery material and means for feeding said material from the receptacle to the guide device so that, during formation of the trench by the digging wheel, said elongate objects are buried in the fine powdery material deposited in said trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: ETS. Rivard S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Rivard
  • Patent number: 4799823
    Abstract: A replaceable wear parts assembly for attachment to the plow shank of a cable laying machine is disclosed that is particularly effective in the environment of vibratory plowing action. The replaceable wear parts are preferably in the form of a shank guard and a plow point which are adapted for attachment either directly to a plow shank, or indirectly to a nose/shank weldment that is welded to the plow shank. The shank guard and plow point are compressively forced against the plow shank or the nose/shank weldment by studs that pass longitudinally through the nose/shank weldment or plow shank in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the impact forces generated by the vibratory plowing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas D. Williams
  • Patent number: 4790687
    Abstract: A tamper attachment for a vibrator plow vehicle of the type wherein a vibrator imparts vibrations to a plow which is used to plow a narrow, relatively shallow furrow to receive a line or cable. The tamper attachment comprises attachment means for attaching the tamper to the vibrating means of the plow and a housing fixedly secured to the attachment means. A tamper foot is positioned below the housing in ground contacting relation for rapidly impacting the ground in response to vibrations transmitted by the vibratory means for closing and tamping the furrow opened by the vibratory plow. A pair of spaced apart, spring loaded tamper foot guide arms are connected to the tamper foot and are slidably mounted in the housing for transmitting rapid up and down movement from the vibrating means through the housing to the tamper foot. A tamper adjustment arm is connected to the tamper foot and mounted in the housing for limiting reciprocatory movement of the tamper foot guide arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Alvin K. Wright
  • Patent number: 4784524
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding the plow blade of a railroad car-mounted cable laying device which includes support means on the railroad car for supporting the plow blade thereon and stop means on the support means for prohibiting the plow blade from sliding off the support means. When more than one plow blade is provided, tethering means is also provided between the plow blades for constraining the plow blades and prohibiting the plow blades from sliding off the support means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Henkels & McCoy, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman Stine
  • Patent number: 4758115
    Abstract: The claimed pipeline is made of coaxially arranged envelopes rigidly connected to each other, in which case the internal envelope is made of nonhermetic layers and hermetically sealed layers (3, 4) and the whole set of envelopes is impregnated with a binder (5) and forms a monolithic structure, the external envelope (1) being made of a ground (2).The method consists in forming hole (11) in the ground and insertion into the ground of the nonhermetic layers and hermetically sealed layers (3, 4) of the internal envelope, impregnation of its ground (2) with a binder (5) and followed by expansion and densing of the envelopes by producing an excess pressure of the working medium in the pipeline (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Trest "Juzhvodoprovod"
    Inventors: Viktor V. Shishkin, Nikolai F. Kryazhevskikh, Viktor N. Oleinik, Alexei V. Andrianov, Yaroslav P. Sushkov
  • Patent number: 4744696
    Abstract: Optical fibre cable laying apparatus comprising a mobile carrier for paying out cable from a reel and laying the cable in a trench formed by a tyne on the carrier. The reel is rotated, to effect paying out, in a fashion such as to control the tension in the cable. A slack loop is formed in the cable during paying out and the amount of cable in that slack loop is monitored. When the amount of cable in the slack loop decreases, the rate of paying out is increased, and when there is a greater amount of cable in the slack loop, the rate of paying out is decreased. Tension rollers are employed to further minimize tension in the cable as laid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Australian Telecommunications Commission
    Inventor: Ross A. Vidler
  • Patent number: 4661019
    Abstract: An apparatus for laying and burying wire underground having a cutter unit, a tow bar affixed to the front of the cutter unit and a drag plate affixed to the rear of the cutter unit. The cutter unit includes a blade which cuts a slit in the ground into which the wire is layed as the cutter unit is moved over the ground. The drag plate contains a weight and is utilized to repack earth over the slit made by the cutter unit thereby completely burying the wire underground. Motive power for the wire laying/burying apparatus is provided by any suitable vehicle to which the tow bar is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Inventor: Christopher M. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 4655639
    Abstract: A plough for burying cable or pipe comprises at least two cutters laterally spaced apart, one being offset at an angle relative to the other for making two spaced apart cuts in a substrate to form a wedge of material. Means are provided for lifting and moving the wedge upwards and sideways to form a trench and for guiding the cable or pipe into the trench under the lifted wedge.The plough cuts an improved furrow shape, lifts the furrow slice through the minimum height in order to permit the cable or pipe to be inserted below it and allows the material to be replaced with minimun disturbence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventor: Alan R. Reece
  • Patent number: 4647252
    Abstract: Laying of tile underground in a trench involves great care in maintaining a uniform grade and to lay the tile aligned uniformly. It is a purpose of this invention to disclose apparatus for laying of pipe and tile in an underground trench wherein a grade is maintained by means of a grade control shoe joined on the front end of a tile laying box and the tile laying box with the grade control shoe attached is pulled forward by the trench digging back hoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Melco Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Floy
  • Patent number: 4637755
    Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously burying multiple strands of tubing in a plowed field. The plowed field includes spaced, elongate, generally parallel upstanding beds. A furrow lies in between each adjacent pair of beds. The apparatus buries tubing in the beds. The conduit has an oblong cross sectional area. The apparatus is designed to prevent the tubing from twisting while being buried in the beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventors: Scott Tollefson, Howard A. Wuertz, Charles R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 4585372
    Abstract: The plough has a front and a rear lifting assembly (60, 62) each including an arm (64, 80) which is extensible and angularly adjustable by hydraulic rams (65, 68; 81, 84). The arms carry rollers (74, 76, 78; 94, 96, 98) upon which the pipeline (110) is lifted by the arms. The plough can be positioned beneath the pipeline as the arms retract while supporting the pipeline as the plough approaches the pipeline from one side. Having been positioned, the plough advances to cut a trench, the pipeline being supported in yielding manner by the two arms, having their lifting rams (68, 84) connected to hydraulic accumulators. Pressurized gas in the accumulators maintains the rollers (74, 76; 94, 96) in contact with the pipeline as the plough moves up and down and pitches relatively to the pipeline, during ploughing. The plough requires no structure over the pipeline. The plough body (12) is not required to comprise parts which separate to allow positioning of the plough in relation to the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Timothy W. Grinstead, Alan R. Reece
  • Patent number: 4558971
    Abstract: A filament or tape winding machine equipped with an automatically retractable mandrel for constructing in place the wall of a pipeline in a continuous and uninterrupted manner. The winding and the building up of the pipeline wall progress at a velocity equal to that of the extraction of the mandrel from inside of the completed pipeline. The filament or tape reinforcing material is bonded in place with a resin system applied and cured at fabrication stations, during the pipeline manufacturing process, located where the mandrel is supporting the pipeline wall. This mandrel supporting function ceases at a point where the pipeline wall has enough strength to support itself. The reinforcement material winding mechanism, the mandrel extracting mechanism and the resin curing equipment are all mounted on a vehicle or train of vehicles propelled to move forward and leave in place behind the finished fabricated pipeline ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Inventor: Constant V. David
  • Patent number: RE34488
    Abstract: A portable trailer supports a long horizontal tube on which is mounted a rotatable and reciprocable drum and a fixed storage reel. The center tube, reel, and drum contain alignable longitudinally extending radial slots therethrough. Attached to the drum and extending over the reel is a bail and a series of snatch blocks. A slack cable is inserted transversely through the aligned slots in the drum, center tube, and reel such that it lays in the interior of the center tube. The cable is looped inside the reel and then transversely inserted into the bail and snatch blocks. Rotating and reciprocating the drum neatly winds the cable onto the storage reel from a supply reel, although there is no access to the cable ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Stockbridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert L. Clark