GB1199047A - Method and Apparatus for Laying a Drainpipe - Google Patents

Abstract

1,199,047. Laying pipes. WERNER CORNELIUS K.G. 6 Nov., 1967 [11 Feb., 1967], No. 50306/67. Heading F2P In a method of laying a drainpipe, consisting of a perforated flexible pipe of synthetic material, wherein the pipe is paid out from a supply reel 5 mounted on an endless track vehicle 1 as the vehicle is advanced and the pipe is laid at the required depth and angle of slope from an outfall ditch by a plough 9 which is adjusted to the desired depth during laying by a motor 10, a theodolite 21 positioned at the outfall ditch is adjusted to a horizontal direction in which it is desired to lay the pipe, the plough is adjusted to the desired depth in the ditch, the theodolite is readjusted to give the desired angle of slope at which it is desired to lay the pipe, a sight mark 14 movable with the plough is adjusted to align with the graticule of the theodolite, and remote control of the motor 10 is effected to adjust the plough depth as the pipe is laid to maintain the sight mark constantly in the graticule of the theodolite. In this manner, the pipe is laid at the desired angle in the ground regardless of any surface undulations over which the pipe-laying vehicle may traverse. As shown, the plough is fixed to carriage 8 which is slidably adjusted in a framework 2, 7 by an hydraulic double-acting piston and cylinder motor 10. The piston/cylinder motor hydraulic supply is through a slide valve 12, Fig. 3 (not shown), which is actuated by an electromagnet 13. The magnet may be radio-controlled by an observer at the theodolite. Alternatively, as shown, the magnet is actuated by an observer at the theodolite through a switch 22 and a cable 24 run off from a drum 23 mounted on the vehicle, the amount of cable run-off during laving also giving an indication of the pipe length laid. The framework is pivotally mounted at 3 on the vehicle and is maintained in the vertical plane regardless of any vehicle pitching movement by a double-acting hydraulic motor 4. The motor 4 is fed through a control slide valve operated by another electromagnet (not shown). This electromagnet is actuated when a plummet 16, Fig. 4 (not shown), suspended in a liquid engages one of two contacts 18, 19. The pipe is guided in a guide pipe 28, Fig. 6 (not shown), at the rear of the plough. Also an extension guide tube 26 may be pivoted to the end of the guide pipe to reduce effects due to varying the depth of the plough. The pipe may be previously wrapped with filter material, such as peat mats or glass fibres. Alternatively, Fig. 5 (not shown), cellular or other coarsegrained material may be blown from a container on the vehicle into the ditch formed by the plough through a further tube 29 at the rear of the plough by a blower mounted on the vehicle.