Repair apparatus for a grain chute

A method for repairing a hole in a grain pipe from a remote location, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a sleeve assembly around said grain pipe, said concentric sleeve assembly comprising a bottom portion pivotally connected to at least one top portion;
• attaching at least one actuation tether to a locking means connected to said sleeve assembly, said locking means having at least a travelling position and a securing position;
• attaching a positioning rope to a remote disconnect assembly interconnected to said sleeve assembly;
• sliding said sleeve assembly along said grain pipe with said positioning rope until said sleeve assembly is transposed over said hole in said grain pipe;
• pulling said actuation tether to actuate said locking means from a travelling position to a securing position to immobilize said sleeve assembly around said hole in said grain pipe;
• and
• retrieving said actuation tether to disconnect said positioning rope and said actuation tether from said sleeve assembly.

A remotely actuated repair apparatus for grain pipe, comprising:

• a sleeve assembly with a first top member and a second top member pivotally interconnected to a bottom member, said bottom member having a pan-shaped portion defined by two opposing rims for concentrically engaging said grain pipe;
• a first anchor flange interconnected to said first top member and a second anchor flange interconnected to said second top member;
• a pair of first clamping arms with a first end and a second end, said first end of one of said clamping arms pivotally interconnected to said first anchor flange and said other first end of said other first clamping arm pivotally interconnected to said second anchor flange, said second ends of said first clamping arms extending away from an interface opening located between said first and said second anchor flanges;
• a holding pin interconnected to said second ends of each of said first clamping arms;
• a pair of second clamping arms with a first end pivotally interconnected to each of said first clamping arms and a second end extending across said interface opening and adjustably connected to a interconnecting adjustment member, said adjustment member having a bore for receiving an alignment pin projecting from each of said first and said second anchor flanges;
• a remote actuating assembly comprising a guide ring interconnected to the bottom member of said sleeve assembly below said clamping arms, a pair of guide twines, each of said guide twines having a first end attached to a release washer interconnected to each of said second ends of said first clamp arms, and said second ends of said guide twines extending through said guide ring and attached to a stop ring, said stop ring having a circumference to prevent passage of said guide ring;
• an interconnection cord having a first end interconnected to said stop ring and a second end interconnected to a disengagement pin;
• an S-hook assembly comprising:
• a) a pair of opposing eye bolts interconnected to said bottom member of said sleeve assembly;
• b) a release bolt extending upward through said pair of opposing eye bolts, said release bolt having a head on a lower end with a diameter greater than an internal diameter of said eye bolts, and an upper end releasably interconnectable to said disengagement pin;
• c) an S-hook with a first end and a second end, said first end interposed around said release bolt between said first eye bolt and said second eye bolt and said second end extending away from said release bolt;
• d) a release wire having a first end and a second end, said first end interconnected to said second end of said S-hook, and said second end interconnected in close proximity to said head of said release bolt;
• and
• e) a positioning rope interconnected to said second end of said S-hook, wherein when said first end of said interconnection cord is pulled, said disengagement pin is released from said release bolt, permitting said release bolt to travel through said pair of opposing eye bolts and said S-hook assembly, releasing said positioning rope, S-hook, release wire, release bolt, disengagement pin, interconnection cord, actuation tether, guide tether and release washer from said sleeve assembly.