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US 12,281,726 B2Granted
Pipe extraction assisted by pre-stressed strand
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsRobert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa, Steven W. Wentworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for extracting a ductile pipe. The machine has a vise which can grip the pipe, and a wire clamp. Each of the wire clamp and vise are supported on a carriage which is movable relative to a frame. This enables the vise to grip and pull the ductile pipe. Additionally, a wire strand may be disposed through the pipe from a far end to the end at which the machine is placed. The wire clamp allows the machine to pre-stress the strand to improve the extraction of the ductile pipe.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- disposing a wire strand through an existing pipe, the existing pipe having first and second ends and an underground section disposed between the first and second ends;
- securing the wire strand to a pipe puller at the second end of the existing pipe;
- gripping the wire strand with a first wire clamp at the first end of the existing pipe;
- while the first wire clamp is gripping the wire strand, moving the first wire clamp away from the first end of the existing pipe;
- after the step of moving the first wire clamp away from the first end of the existing pipe, securing the wire strand with a second wire clamp;
- thereafter, releasing the grip of the first wire clamp and moving the first wire clamp toward the first end of the existing pipe;
- thereafter, gripping the wire strand with the first wire clamp;
- thereafter, moving the first wire clamp away from the first end of the existing pipe with the wire strand gripped by the first wire clamp;
- subsequently, while continuing to grip the wire strand with the first wire clamp gripping the existing pipe with a pipe clamp;
- and
- pulling the existing pipe with the pipe clamp and the first wire clamp.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- disposing a wire through an existing pipe, the existing pipe having first and second ends and an underground section disposed between the first and second ends, wherein a first direction is defined as being from the second end toward the first end;
- anchoring the wire to the existing pipe at the second end;
- thereafter, pulling the wire in the first direction from the first end without moving the existing pipe, thereby stretching the wire;
- and
- thereafter, while maintaining the wire in tension, pulling the existing pipe and the wire in the first direction from the first end, using the steps of:
- gripping the wire with a first wire clamp;
- gripping the existing pipe with a pipe vise;
- and
- thereafter, while the wire and the existing pipe are gripped, extending an actuator to move the first wire clamp and the pipe vise in the first direction.
6 more elements
A method of tensioning a wire prior to extraction of a pipe, comprising:
- placing a wire within a pipe, the pipe having a first end and a second end;
- at the second end, securing the wire to the pipe;
- at the first end, pulling the wire without moving the pipe until the wire is at a desired tension, wherein the desired tension is less than the force required to overcome an adhering bond between the pipe and an underground environment;
- gripping the wire with a first wire clamp;
- with a carriage, movable relative to a stationary frame, pulling the first wire clamp away from the pipe;
- supporting a second wire clamp on the stationary frame such that the second wire clamp is not permitted to move toward the pipe;
- gripping the wire with the second wire clamp;
- thereafter, releasing the wire with the first wire clamp;
- after the step of pulling the first wire clamp away from the pipe, crushing a section of the pipe around the wire in one or more crushed sections;
- and
- thereafter, with a pipe vise, pulling the pipe.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.