System to align and install large pipe fittings
OwnerJohn C. Kolbinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system to suspend, move, place, align and clamp upper and lower pipe fitting portions of a pipe fitting to each other around an existing pipe. The system includes an upper lift assembly configured to attach to an upper pipe fitting portion and a lower lift assembly configured to attach to a lower pipe fitting portion. The upper lift assembly is connectable to the lower lift assembly by a suspension arrangement such that when the suspension is attached to both the lower lift assembly and the upper lift assembly the upper and lower pipe fitting sections of a pipe fitting become aligned and pressed together.
Claims14
A system for moving, placing, aligning and clamping upper and lower pipe fitting portions of a pipe fitting around an exterior surface of an existing pipe of a type used for transporting fluid such as water, oil and gas, the existing pipe having a central longitudinal axis, and the upper and lower pipe fitting portions each include an interior surface having a semicircular cross section and two parallel longitudinal edges spaced apart by a distance corresponding to an outside diameter of the existing pipe around which they are to be installed, wherein the upper pipe fitting portion has a planar top surface, the system comprising:
- an upper lift assembly comprising:
- a first sub-assembly constructed to be releasably fixed to the planar top surface of the upper pipe fitting portion;
- and
- a second sub-assembly arranged to be releasably slidable in a direction perpendicular to the planar top surface of the upper pipe fitting portion and having a connector to connect the second sub-assembly to an external lifting device for moving and placing the upper lift assembly together with the upper pipe fitting portion above the existing pipe;
- and
- a lower lift assembly configured to form a cradle system to receive and releasably hold a bottom region of the lower pipe fitting portion;
- and
- a suspension arrangement connected between the upper lift assembly and the lower lift assembly to permit vertically suspending the cradle system from the second sub-assembly;
- wherein when the second sub-assembly is released to slide relative to the first sub-assembly in the upper lift assembly, an upward force applied to the second sub-assembly causes an upward movement of the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly and the upper pipe fitting portion which, because of the suspension arrangement moves the lower lift assembly with the lower pipe fitting portion upwards to bring the horizontal edges of the lower pipe fitting portion into contact with the horizontal edges of the upper fitting portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.