Apparatus for lateral cable pulling and pipe replacement

A device for pulling cable horizontally through space, comprising:

• (a) a cable pulling component comprising
• a pair of juxtaposed piston cylinders linked at the rod end of said cylinders and disposed about a cable gripping mechanism engaged with said rod end linkage, said linked cylinders having free terminal piston ends, and
• a second cable gripping mechanism vertically aligned with said rod end linkage cable gripping mechanism, each said mechanism having a laterally accessible, open and closable central cable passage bore for laterally inserting a cable into each said bore;
• (b) a chassis component comprising
• a frame having a front and back end, a floor plate, and a back plate having an opening for receiving a cable to be pulled horizontally through space and, extending up from said floor plate, a pair of parallel side walls defining a channel centrally disposed between said frame front and back ends, said channel dimensioned to receive said cable from said back plate opening and comprising a mechanism for converting the direction of said cable from horizontal to vertical;
• said chassis component dimensioned to receive and releasably engage said cable pulling component such that said piston cylinders are positioned perpendicular to said floor plate and the floor, said free terminal piston ends straddling said chassis component side walls and said channel, and said cable gripping mechanisms are aligned with said channel;
• such that,
• when said cable pulling component is engaged with said chassis component, said cable is in said channel and engaged with said aligned cable gripping mechanisms through said cable passage bores, extension of said cable pulling component piston cylinders pulls said engaged cable horizontally through space by pulling said cable vertically.