GB1592456A - Devices for locating a pair of semicircular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DEVICES FOR LOCATING A PAIR OF SEMI-CIRCULAR SECTION PIPE PIECES AROUND AN EXISTING PIPELINE (71) We, WILLIAM PRESS AND SON LiMITED, a British Company, of 22 Queen Anne's Gate, London SWISH 9AH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to devices for locating a pair of semi-circular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline.

The invention provides a device for locating a pair of semi-circular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline comprising two carriers each having a pair of pivotally connected jaws of semi-circular form to extend around respective ends of the two pipe pieces and means on each jaw to attach the respective pipe piece thereto, means to suspend the carriers with the jaws depending from the respective pivots and means to open the jaws to separate the pipe pieces and thereby allow an existing pipeline to be received between them and then to close the jaws to bring the two pipe pieces together around the pipeline.

The means to open the jaws of the two carriers may comprise hydraulic rams acting between the two jaws of the two respective carriers and a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure to the two rams.

The means to attach the jaws to the pipe pieces may comprise a plurality of clamps mounted at spaced locations around each semi-circular jaw to engage an end of a pipe piece and secure the pipe piece to the jaw.

The means to suspend the carriers may comprise a beam for extending the length of the pipeline and having wire strops at the ends thereof for supporting the carriers and a central attachment for connection to a hoist.

The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation view of one of a pair of pipe carriers; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the components of the pipe carriers of Figure 1 exploded apart; Figure 3 shows one side of a modified form of the pipe carrier of Figures 1 and 2.

In our U.K. Patent Specification No.

35040/76 (Serial No. 1 592 455) there is described and illustrated a method for installing an outer pipeline around an existing pipeline in the ground. There now follows a detailed description of one part of the apparatus for carrying out the installation, that is, a device for lifting two semi-circular pipe pieces and lower them into position around an existing pipeline and bring the two pipe pieces together ready for re-attachment.

The device comprises a pair of carriers for supporting the split pipe at the two ends thereof one of which carriers is indicated generally at 10 in Figures 1 and 2. The carrier comprises two jaw members 11, 12 and the two jaw members carry semicircular pipe support elements 13, 14 which are of similar radius to that of the pipe to be supported.

Each of the pipe support elements has a semi-cylindrical part 15 reinforced by a radially outwardly extending flange 16. The part 1 of each pipe support element carries five screw thread operated clamps 17 spaced apart around the element for attaching an end of a pipe half to the support element as shown in Figure 9. The clamps 17 are preferably of the "Lindapter" type.

As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the jaws 11 comprise a pair of spaced parallel plates 20 and the jaws 12 comprise a pair of spaced parallel plates 21. The plates 21 are connected at their upper ends by a sleeve 22.

The plates 20 of the jaws 11 engage either side of the plates 21 and the pin 18 is inserted through aligned holes in the plates and the sleeve 22 and is held in place by a castellated nut 23 screwed onto the end of the pin and held in place by a locking pin 24. The plates 21 of the jaw 12 are extended away from the jaw 20 to form a side arm 25. A single acting hydraulic ram 26 is connected between the jaws to open the jaws and to allow the jaws to close, the cylinder of the ram being connected by a bolt 27 to the end of the arm 25 remote from the jaw 12 and the piston rod of the ram being connected to the jaw 20, by a bolt 28. The ram is connected by a conduit 29 to a pump for hydraulic fluid indicated at 29a on Figure 10.

As can be seen in Figures ]0 and 12, two carriers as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are provided, the carriers being suspended jaws downwards on wire strops 30 passed around the sleeves 22 from the ends of a balanced beam 30a having an integral eye (not shown) at the centre thereof to receive the hook 31 of a hoist. The method of use of the support assembly will be described as part of the operation of installing an outer pipe on an existing pipeline as a whole later in the description.

To enable the pipe carrier illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings to carry smaller diameter pipes, the clamps 17 are removed from the parts 15 of the support elements and arcuate inserts 70 are secured in the support elements to the semicylindrical parts 15 by bolts 71 as illustratted in Figure 3 (which shows one side only of the pipe carrier). Two inserts are provided in each support element. The clamps 17 are then mounted on the inner peripheries of the support elements to receive and support a pipe. Various sets of inscrts may be provided each set having a diffcring radial depth so that the pipe carrier can be used for lifting pipes of various diameters.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for locating a pair of semicircular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline comprising two carriers each having a pair of pivotally connected jaws of semi-circular form to extend around respective ends of the two pipe pieces and means on each jaw to attach the respective pipe piece thereto, means to suspend the carriers with the jaws depending from the respective pivots and means to open the jaws to separate the pipe pieces and thereby allow an existing pipeline to be received between them and then to close the jaws to bring the two pipe pieces together around the pipeline.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means to open the jaws of the two carriers comprise hydraulic rams acting between the two jaws of the two respective carriers and a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure to the two rams.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the means to attach the jaws to the pipe pieces comprise a plurality of clamps mounted at spaced locations around each semi-circular jaw to engage an end of a pipe piece and secure the pipe piece to the jaw.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means to suspend the carriers comprise a beam for extending the length of the pipeline and having wire strops at the ends thereof for supporting the carriers and a central attachment of the beam for connection to a hoist.

5. A device for locating a pair of semicircular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. on Figure 10. As can be seen in Figures ]0 and 12, two carriers as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings are provided, the carriers being suspended jaws downwards on wire strops 30 passed around the sleeves 22 from the ends of a balanced beam 30a having an integral eye (not shown) at the centre thereof to receive the hook 31 of a hoist. The method of use of the support assembly will be described as part of the operation of installing an outer pipe on an existing pipeline as a whole later in the description. To enable the pipe carrier illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings to carry smaller diameter pipes, the clamps 17 are removed from the parts 15 of the support elements and arcuate inserts 70 are secured in the support elements to the semicylindrical parts 15 by bolts 71 as illustratted in Figure 3 (which shows one side only of the pipe carrier). Two inserts are provided in each support element. The clamps 17 are then mounted on the inner peripheries of the support elements to receive and support a pipe. Various sets of inscrts may be provided each set having a diffcring radial depth so that the pipe carrier can be used for lifting pipes of various diameters. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for locating a pair of semicircular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline comprising two carriers each having a pair of pivotally connected jaws of semi-circular form to extend around respective ends of the two pipe pieces and means on each jaw to attach the respective pipe piece thereto, means to suspend the carriers with the jaws depending from the respective pivots and means to open the jaws to separate the pipe pieces and thereby allow an existing pipeline to be received between them and then to close the jaws to bring the two pipe pieces together around the pipeline.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means to open the jaws of the two carriers comprise hydraulic rams acting between the two jaws of the two respective carriers and a pump for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure to the two rams.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the means to attach the jaws to the pipe pieces comprise a plurality of clamps mounted at spaced locations around each semi-circular jaw to engage an end of a pipe piece and secure the pipe piece to the jaw.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the means to suspend the carriers comprise a beam for extending the length of the pipeline and having wire strops at the ends thereof for supporting the carriers and a central attachment of the beam for connection to a hoist.

5. A device for locating a pair of semicircular section pipe pieces around an existing pipeline substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.