# US 2022/0090723 A1 · Lubrication system for pipe bursting

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- Number: US 2022/0090723 A1
- Document ID: US20220090723A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/540,806
- Filed: 2021-12-02
- Published: 2022-03-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-05
- Assignees: TT Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: TT Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael Tjader
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220090723A1

## CPC

- F16L 55/1658: {the old pipe being ruptured prior to insertion of a new pipe}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A pipe pulling lubrication apparatus includes a pipe anchor having an anchor body. The anchor body includes a first coupling feature near an anchor body proximal portion and a distal pipe coupling feature near an anchor body distal portion. The distal pipe coupling feature is configured to couple and position a replacement pipe exterior surface near an anchor body exterior surface. The lubrication apparatus further includes a lubrication system including a lubricant conduit extending within the anchor body from the distal pipe coupling feature toward an anchor body intermediate portion between the first coupling feature and the distal pipe coupling feature. The lubrication system includes a lubricant distributor having one or more lubricant passages extending from the lubricant conduit toward the anchor body exterior surface, the lubricant distributor is configured to deliver a lubricant to the replacement pipe exterior surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pipe breaking assembly, comprising:
an expander having a front opening for a pulling cable;
a cutter rotatably coupled in front of the expander;
a cable gripping anchor including a number of tapered anchor jaws located in the expander;
a replacement pipe anchor located at a back end of the expander, the replacement pipe coupling adapted to hold a trailing replacement pipe; and
an expander coupling attaching the replacement pipe anchor to the expander, wherein the expander is rotatable relative to the pipe anchor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutter is rotatably coupled in front of the expander by a ball and socket joint.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, wherein the expander coupling includes a bolt oriented axially within the pipe breaking assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutter includes four blades.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, further including a lubricant passage exiting the pipe breaking assembly in front of the expander.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the cutter is smaller than a diameter of the expander.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 1, wherein the replacement pipe anchor includes a number of serrations to grip an interior surface of a pipe to be replaced.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 7, wherein the number of serrations include screw threading.

### Claim 9

A pipe breaking assembly, comprising:
an expander having a front opening for a pulling cable;
a cutter forming a ball and socket joint with the expander wherein the cutter is configured to abut a front end of the expander without direct coupling, wherein pulling forces are transmitted in compression through the ball and socket joint;
a cable gripping anchor including a number of tapered anchor jaws located in the expander;
a replacement pipe anchor located at a back end of the expander, the replacement pipe coupling adapted to hold a trailing replacement pipe; and
an expander coupling attaching the replacement pipe anchor to the expander, wherein the expander is rotatable relative to the pipe anchor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 9, wherein the cutter includes four blades.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 9, further including a lubricant passage exiting the pipe breaking assembly in front of the expander.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 9, wherein the replacement pipe anchor includes a number of serrations to grip an interior surface of a pipe to be replaced.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The pipe breaking assembly of claim 12, wherein the number of serrations include screw threading.