# US 2024/0189883 A1 · Mobile pipe fusing platform appartus, system, and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0189883 A1 - Document ID: US20240189883A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/078,637 - Filed: 2022-12-09 - Published: 2024-06-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-09 - Applicants: Whitaker Construction Co. Inc. - Inventors: Kenton Braegger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240189883A1 ## CPC - B21D 39/04: of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods {(crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14)} - B23K 37/00: Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass - B23P 19/04: for assembling or disassembling parts - B23Q 3/186: {Aligning devices} - B23K 2101/10: Pipe-lines - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT ## Abstract A mobile pipe fusion assembly system includes a fusion machine skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a pipe fusion machine rests, a forward skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a first pipe stand rests, and a rear skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a second pipe stand rests. The fusion machine skid is coupled to the forward skid by a first coupling. The fusion machine skid is coupled to the rear skid by a second coupling. The system is configured such that when the forward skid is pulled along a length of the pipe, the forward skid pulls the fusion machine skid via the first coupling and the fusion machine skid pulls the rear skid via the second coupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile pipe fusion assembly system, comprising: a fusion machine skid, the fusion machine skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a pipe fusion machine rests, the pipe fusion machine configured to fuse together a first pipe section and a second pipe section; a forward skid, the forward skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a first pipe stand rests, the first pipe stand configured to hold the first pipe section, wherein the fusion machine skid is coupled to the forward skid by a first coupling, wherein the forward skid comprises an angled lip at a forward edge of the flat cross-sectional area; a rear skid, the rear skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a second pipe stand rests, the second pipe stand configured to hold the second pipe section, wherein the fusion machine skid is coupled to the rear skid by a second coupling, wherein the rear skid comprises an angled lip at a forward edge of the flat cross-sectional area; wherein the system is configured such that when the forward skid is pulled along a length of the pipe, the forward skid pulls the fusion machine skid via the first coupling and the fusion machine skid pulls the rear skid via the second coupling. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 1, further comprising the pipe fusion machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 2, further comprising the first and second pipe stands, wherein the first pipe stand is coupled to the forward skid and the second pipe stand is coupled to the rear skid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 3, wherein the pipe fusion machine is coupled to the fusion machine skid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 1, wherein the fusion machine skid comprises a forward raised lip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 4, wherein the first coupling comprises two tethers attached on a rear position of the forward skid at a single location and attached at two locations on a forward position of the fusion machine skid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 5, wherein the second coupling comprises two tethers attached on a rear position of the fusion machine skid at a single location and attached at two locations on a forward position of the rear skid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 6, wherein the tethers are one of chains, straps, or cables that are configured to transfer a tensile load and do not transfer a compressive load. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mobile pipe fusion assembly system of claim 8, further comprising a canopy covering the pipe fusion machine. ### Claim 10 A mobile pipe fusion apparatus for fusing a pipe, comprising: a fusion machine skid, the fusion machine skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a pipe fusion machine rests, the pipe fusion machine configured to fuse together a first pipe section and a second pipe section; a forward skid, the forward skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a first pipe stand rests, the first pipe stand configured to hold the first pipe section, wherein the fusion machine skid is coupled to the forward skid by a first coupling, wherein the forward skid comprises an angled lip at a forward edge of the flat cross-sectional area; a rear skid, the rear skid comprising a flat cross-sectional area whereon a second pipe stand rests, the second pipe stand configured to hold the second pipe section, wherein the fusion machine skid is coupled to the rear skid by a second coupling, wherein the rear skid comprises an angled lip at a forward edge of the flat cross-sectional area; and wherein the system is configured such that when the forward skid is pulled along a length of the pipe, the forward skid pulls the fusion machine skid via the first coupling and the fusion machine skid pulls the rear skid via the second coupling. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the fusion machine skid, the forward skid, and the rear skid each comprise a forward raised lip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the first coupling comprises two tethers attached on a rear position of the forward skid at a single location and attached at two locations on a forward position of the fusion machine skid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the second coupling comprises two tethers attached on a rear position of the fusion machine skid at a single location and attached at two locations on a forward position of the rear skid. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: placing a first pipe section on a first pipe stand, the first pipe stand positioned on a forward skid, an anterior portion of the first pipe section resting on the first pipe stand, wherein a posterior portion of the first pipe section rests on a pipe fusion machine, the pipe fusion machine positioned on a fusion machine skid; placing a second pipe section on the pipe fusion machine, an anterior portion of the second pipe section resting on the pipe fusion machine, wherein a posterior portion of the second pipe section rests on a second pipe stand positioned on a rear skid, wherein the forward skid is coupled to the fusion machine skid and the fusion machine skid is coupled to the rear skid; fusing the first pipe section to the second pipe section using the pipe fusion machine; pulling the forward skid along the length of the first pipe section causing the forward skid, the fusion machine skid, and the rear skid to move forward along the fused pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pulling forward occurs until the anterior portion of the first pipe section rests on the pipe fusion machine and the posterior portion of the first pipe section rests on the second pipe stand positioned on the rear skid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the method further includes placing a third pipe section on the first pipe stand, an anterior portion of the third pipe section resting on the first pipe stand, wherein a posterior portion of the third pipe section rests on the pipe fusion machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising fusing the third pipe section to the first pipe section using the pipe fusion machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising pulling the forward skid along the length of the third pipe section causing the forward skid, the fusion machine skid, and the rear skid to move forward along the fused pipe until the anterior portion of the third pipe section rests on the pipe fusion machine and the (Withdrawn) posterior portion of the third pipe section rests on the second pipe stand positioned on the rear skid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the method further includes placing a fourth pipe section on the first pipe stand, an anterior portion of the fourth pipe section resting on the first pipe stand, wherein a posterior portion of the fourth pipe section rests on the pipe fusion machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising fusing the fourth pipe section to the third pipe section using the pipe fusion machine.