Modularized machine for reconditioning pipelines

A modularized travel machine for reconditioning pipelines, comprising:

• (a) a portable frame construction capable of being manually positioned around a pipeline;
• (b) at least one manually portable travel module attachable to said frame construction at a point above the center line of said pipeline to support and move said frame construction on said pipeline, comprising:
• i) a first plate metal housing with a series of bolt holes to provide for adjustable attachment to said frame construction,
• ii) at least two travel wheels mounted in said first housing such that said travel wheels engage the surface of said pipeline when said travel module is attached to said frame construction,
• iii) a travel motor and chain drive assembly mounted in said first housing and connected to said travel wheels to rotate said travel wheels;
• (c) at least one portable traction module attachable to said frame construction at a point underneath said pipeline to provide approximately constant traction between said travel wheel of said travel module and surface of said pipeline, regardless of irregularities on the surface of said pipeline, comprising:
• i) a second plate metal housing with a series of bolt holes to provide for adjustable attachment to said frame construction,
• ii) at least two lever arms each with one end pivotally attached to said second housing,
• iii) at least two idler wheels, each mounted at a midpoint on one of said lever arms such that said idler wheels engage the surface of said pipeline when said traction module is attached to said frame construction,
• iv) an accumulator with first end mounted to said second housing and second end engaged to the free ends of said lever arms such that pressurization of said accumulator simultaneously bears said idler wheels against the underside of said pipeline and absorbs fluctuations of the idler wheel caused by surface irregularities on said pipeline as said frame construction moves along said pipeline;
• (d) at least three adjustable roller assemblies attachable to said frame spaced concentrically around said pipeline, each comprising:
• i) a pivot arm with one end pivotally attached to said frame such that pivot arm rotates in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pipeline;
• ii) a roller attached to the other end of said pivot arm such that the axes of rotation of said roller is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pipeline,
• iii) a bolt set adjusting arrangement such that roller is pivoted to desired position then bolted set;
• (e) a portable partial ring construction capable of being manually assembled around said pipeline and capable of being assembled then placed over said pipeline such that said partial ring construction is concentrically rotatable about said pipeline on said rollers when said rollers are adjusted to engage inside of said partial ring construction, comprising:
• i) two arcuate members attachable side to side by a length of chain with lugs along each side that are attachable to the periphery of said two arcuate members such that a gap remains between said two arcuate members where a plurality of spacers are placed and the engageable portion of said chain bridges said gap, said partial ring construction having an inner diameter approximately that of a circle tangentially described around said rollers, and a periphery anywhere from 180.degree. up to less than 360.degree. enough to allow for placement of said partial ring construction over said pipeline;
• (f) a portable rotating module attachable to said frame construction to rotate said ring construction, comprising;
• i) a bracket attachable to said frame construction,
• ii) a reversible motor and sprocket assembly mounted in said bracket such that said sprocket engages said chain and said motor rotates said sprocket which then rotates said ring assembly concentrically around said pipeline;
• and
• (g) at least one adjustable retaining arm attachable to said ring construction that can retain a reconditioning device at a desired position relative to the surface of said pipeline.

A method for reconditioning the outer surface of a pipeline, comprising the steps of:

• (a) manually positioning a frame construction having attached rollers around a pipeline;
• (b) mounting at least one portable travel module to said frame construction at a point above the center line of said pipeline to support and move said frame construction on said pipeline;
• (c) mounting at least one portable traction module to said frame construction at a point underneath said pipeline to provide approximately constant traction between said travel module and said pipeline as said travel module moves said frame construction along said pipeline, regardless of irregularities along the surface of said pipeline;
• (d) placing a partial ring construction over said pipeline and on to said rollers;
• (e) mounting a portable rotating module to said frame construction to engage and rotate said partial ring construction;
• (f) mounting at least one applicator device onto said ring construction;
• and
• (g) simultaneously rotating said partial ring construction around said pipeline, moving said frame construction along said pipeline, and supplying desired reconditioning material through said reconditioning device.