Inflatable lift cylinder
OwnerPhilip L. Lundmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of handling a generally cylindrical conduit includes positioning a lift cylinder within the generally cylindrical conduit. The lift cylinder includes an inflatable bag, an inflation port, and an attachment point. The method also includes connecting a fluid source to the inflation port, inflating the inflatable bag with the fluid source such that an outer surface of the inflatable bag engages an inner surface of the generally cylindrical conduit, connecting a winch to the attachment point, and moving the lift cylinder and the generally cylindrical conduit with the winch.
Claims20
A method of handling a generally cylindrical conduit having a central longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- positioning a lift cylinder within the generally cylindrical conduit, the lift cylinder including an inflatable bag, an inflation port, and an attachment point, the inflatable bag being substantially hollow from the central longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical conduit to an inner surface of the inflatable bag, and wherein a volume of the inflatable bag passes through the central longitudinal axis;
- connecting a fluid source to the inflation port;
- inflating the inflatable bag with the fluid source such that an outer surface of the inflatable bag engages an inner surface of the generally cylindrical conduit;
- connecting a winch to the attachment point;
- and
- moving the lift cylinder and the generally cylindrical conduit with the winch.
A method of handling a pipe having a central longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- positioning an inflatable bag within the pipe, the inflatable bag consisting essentially of one or more flexible layers;
- inflating the inflatable bag such that an outer surface of the inflatable bag engages an inner surface of the pipe, wherein only fluid substantially fills a volume between an inner surface of the inflatable bag and the central longitudinal axis of the pipe, and wherein the volume passes through the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- pulling the inflatable bag to lift the pipe.
A method of handling a pipe, the method comprising:
- positioning an inflatable bag within the pipe;
- inflating the inflatable bag such that an outer surface of the inflatable bag engages an inner surface of the pipe;
- and
- pulling the inflatable bag to lift the pipe,
- wherein the pipe defines a central longitudinal axis, and wherein pulling the inflatable bag includes pulling the inflatable bag generally along the central longitudinal axis to lift the pipe,
- wherein the inflatable bag includes a first end and a second end on opposing sides of the outer surface, and further comprising providing a flange on the first end of the inflatable bag, an inflation port extending through the flange in fluid communication with the inflatable bag, and two attachment points extending from the flange, and
- wherein providing the inflation port includes aligning the inflation port with the central longitudinal axis of the pipe, and wherein providing the two attachment points includes positioning the two attachment points on diametrically opposite sides of the inflation port such that the two attachment points are equally spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.