Pipe laying apparatus and method for laying a pipeline
OwnerJT Lewelleninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for laying pipe in a ditch. The apparatus comprises a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis. A support extends from the mobile platform and includes a cradle. The cradle supports a weight of a pipe segment in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the mobile platform as the pipe laying apparatus transports the pipe segment to a location where the pipe segment is to be placed and as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment at the location where the pipe segment is to be placed in the ditch.
Claims19
A pipe laying apparatus for laying a pipeline comprised of pipe segments, comprising:
- a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis;
- a set of wheels or a tank track;
- an engine or motor configured to drive said set of wheels or a tank track;
- a support extending from the mobile platform;
- a gantry connected to the support extending from the mobile platform and said gantry extending at least in part above and over at least a part of said longitudinal central axis;
- a cradle attached to the gantry, the cradle configured to support a pipe segment of the pipe segments;
- a ramp attachable at said mobile platform;
- wherein said mobile platform receives said pipe segment into said cradle for transport of said pipe segment and wherein the pipe segment is free to move within the cradle relative to the support;
- wherein the cradle is configured to align a weight of the pipe segment with the longitudinal central axis as the pipe laying apparatus transports the pipe segment to a location and maintain the position of the weight of the pipe segment aligned with the longitudinal central axis as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment at the location, either to another mobile platform or down said ramp for laying the pipe segment.
A system for laying a pipeline in a ditch, the system comprising:
- pipe delivery equipment configured to feed a pipe segment to a pipe laying apparatus, the pipe laying apparatus positioned in the ditch;
- and
- the pipe laying apparatus comprising:
- a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis;
- a set of wheels or a tank track;
- an engine or motor configured to drive said set of wheels or a tank track;
- a gantry extending at least in part above and over at least a part of said longitudinal central axis;
- a plurality of supports extending from the mobile platform and connected to said gantry;
- a cradle attached to each support of the plurality of supports;
- wherein each said cradle is configured to support the pipe segment and align a weight of the pipe segment with the longitudinal central axis of the mobile platform;
- and
- wherein the pipe laying apparatus is configured to transport the pipe segment to a location within the ditch and further configured to offload the pipe segment at said location while maintaining the position of the weight of the pipe segment aligned with the longitudinal central axis as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment either to another mobile platform or into the ditch.
A pipe laying apparatus for laying a pipeline comprised of pipe segments for transporting oil, gas, or chemical derivatives of oil or gas, comprising:
- a mobile platform having a longitudinal central axis;
- a support extending from the mobile platform;
- a gantry connected to the support extending from the mobile platform and said gantry extending over said longitudinal central axis;
- a cradle attached to and underlying the gantry, the cradle configured to support a pipe segment of the pipe segments, wherein the cradle is configured to align a weight of the pipe segment with the longitudinal central axis as the pipe laying apparatus transports the pipe segment to a location and to maintain the position of the weight of the pipe segment aligned with the longitudinal central axis as the pipe laying apparatus offloads the pipe segment at the location;
- a set of wheels or a tank track;
- a fuel or battery powered engine or motor configured to drive the set of wheels or a tank track;
- and
- a programmable controller for controlling movement of the pipe laying apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.