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US 7,607,863 B2Granted
Automated pipe-laying method and apparatus
OwnerPhilip Paullinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trench box, including a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated sidewalls defining a work volume, distal and proximal support members extending between the sidewalls, and a track positioned between the sidewalls. Track adjusting members extend between the track and the support members and a movable tram connecting plate is connected to the track. An actuator is coupled to the track and energizable to move the tram connecting plate and a tool module is operationally connectable to the tram connecting plate. A pipe dispensing assembly and a gravel hopper assembly are positionable within the working volume.
Claims25
A trench box assembly, comprising in combination:
- a trench box, further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated sidewalls defining a work volume therebetween;
- a pair of spaced support members extending between the sidewalls;
- a drag bar operationally connected to the trench box;
- and
- a top rim operationally connected to the sidewalls;
- a pipe dispensing assembly positionable within the work volume and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated support members defining a pipe storage volume sized to hold a plurality of pipe segments therebetween;
- at least one end member extending between the parallel elongated support members;
- a first top rim engaging member extending from at least one of the parallel elongated support members for coupling the pipe dispensing assembly to the trench box;
- a top member pivotably coupled to at least one of the parallel elongated support members;
- and
- a bottom member extending at least partially between the parallel elongated support members and defining a pipe dispensing aperture;
- a gravel hopper assembly positionable within the work volume and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated side panels defining a gravel storage volume therebetween;
- at least one end panel extending between the side panels;
- a second top rim engaging member extending from at least one of the parallel elongated support members for coupling the pipe dispensing assembly to the trench box;
- a top panel pivotably coupled to one of the side panels;
- a bottom panel pivotably coupled to one of the side panels and sized to extend between the side panels;
- and
- an actuator operationally coupled to the bottom panel;
- wherein energization of the actuator pivots the bottom panel between a first position and a second position;
- a service tram assembly positioned in the work volume and further comprising:
- a track positioned between the pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated sidewalls;
- at least one track support member extending between the sidewalls;
- a plurality of spaced apart fluidic actuators extending between the track and the at least one track support member;
- a tram connecting plate operationally connected to the track and movable along the track;
- a tram actuator coupled to the track and energizable to move the tram connecting plate along the track;
- and
- a tool module operationally connectable to the tram connecting plate;
- wherein the fluidic actuators are energizable to adjust a position of the track;
- wherein the trench box defines a substantially open bottom area;
- and
- wherein the pipe dispensing assembly deposits pipe directly onto the ground.
31 more elements
A trench box device, comprising in combination:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated sidewalls, each wall having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a substantially bottomless work volume therebetween;
- a distal track support member extending between the sidewalls;
- a proximal track support member extending between the sidewalls;
- a track positioned between the pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated sidewalls;
- a first track adjusting member extending between the track and the distal track support member;
- a second track adjusting member extending between the track and the distal track support member;
- a third track adjusting member extending between the track and the proximal track support member;
- a tram connecting plate operationally connected to the track and movable along the track;
- a tram actuator coupled to the track and energizable to move the tram connecting plate along the track;
- and
- a tool module operationally connectable to the tram connecting plate;
- wherein the track is positioned between the first and second track adjusting members;
- wherein the first, the second, and the third track adjusting members are energizable to level the track.
10 more elements
A modular trench box apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a trench box defining an open bottomed work volume therein;
- a drag bar operationally connected to the trench box;
- and
- a top rim operationally connected to the trench box;
- a pipe dispensing module positionable within the work volume and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated support members defining a pipe storage volume therebetween;
- at least one end member extending between the elongated support members;
- a first top rim engaging member extending from a respective elongated support member for coupling the pipe dispensing module to the trench box;
- and
- a bottom member extending at least partially between the elongated support members and defining a pipe dispensing aperture;
- a gravel hopper module positionable within the work volume and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated side panels defining a gravel storage volume therebetween;
- at least one end panel extending between the side panels;
- a second top rim engaging member extending from a respective elongated support member for coupling the pipe dispensing module to the trench box;
- a bottom panel pivotably coupled to one of the side panels and sized to extend between the side panels;
- and
- an actuator operationally coupled to the bottom panel;
- wherein the pipe dispensing module is sized to hold a plurality of pipe segments;
- wherein energization of the actuator pivots the bottom panel between a first position and a second position.
16 more elements
A modular gravel hopper and pipe-dispenser assembly for use in a trench box apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a pipe dispensing module for holding and dispensing a plurality of pipe segments positionable within the trench box and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated support members defining a pipe storage volume therebetween;
- at least one end member extending between the elongated support members;
- a first top rim engaging member extending from one of the elongated support members for coupling the pipe dispensing module to the trench box;
- and
- a bottom member extending at least partially between the elongated support members and defining a pipe dispensing aperture;
- a gravel hopper module connected to the pipe-dispensing module and further comprising:
- a pair of oppositely disposed parallel elongated side panels defining a gravel storage volume therebetween;
- at least one end panel extending between the side panels;
- a second top rim engaging member extending from one of the support members for coupling the pipe dispensing module to the trench box;
- a bottom panel pivotably coupled to one of the side panels and sized to extend between the side panels;
- and
- an actuator operationally coupled to the bottom panel;
- wherein energization of the actuator pivots the bottom panel between a first position and a second position.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.