GB2211907A - Pipe trailer - Google Patents

Abstract

A pipe trailer (1) has a framework assembly (3) in which a volume for receiving a pipe coil (C) is defined, said coil being mountable in said volume with its axis horizontal. The framework assembly (3) provides support rollers (19, 34, 38, 42, 46) disposed circumferentially around the volume for engaging radially outer portions of the coil for supporting and retaining the pipe coil rotatably. Abutment rollers (54 ,56, 58) project into the volume in opposed pairs to abut axial face portions of a coil. They are displaceable to vary the axial extent of the volume so that they can engage coils of different or varying axial extent so that a said coil can be held upright. In the centre of the volume there may be a rotatable centre assembly (70 Fig. 2 not shown) having telescopic arms (76, 80, 82) for engaging a coil (C) internally for constraining it to unwind properly. The trailer may be provided with a pipe re-rounder (90, Fig. 3 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

PIPE TRAILER The present invention relates to a pipe trailer for transporting, supporting and dispensing a coil of flexible pipe.

Such flexible pipe is fabricated in plastics material such as polyethylene and is becoming increasingly popular for use in gas or water supply. It is therefore desirable that coils of pipe of relatively large radius be easily handleable so that long lengths of pipe can be efficiently dispensed. Coils of pipe about 3m in diameter are now available, but there is a lack of apparatus adapted to handle such large coils. Desirably, the coil should be supportable in a substantially vertical plane with its axis horizontal as the pipe is dispensed. The configuration of a large coil needs to be controlled during unwinding.

Desirably it is laterally controlled by abutments at each axial side. Desirably there are internal abutments to constrain a length of pipe being unwound to follow a generally circumferential path rather than passing across the central void of the coil.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a pipe trailer comprising a framework assembly in which a volume for receiving a pipe coil is defined, said coil being mountable in said volume with its axis horizontal; said framework assembly providing support means disposed circumferentially around the volume for supporting and retaining the pipe coil within the volume by engaging radially outer portions of the coil, said support means being adapted to allow rotation of the coil; said framework assembly desirably providing abutments projecting into the volume to abut axial face portions of a coil, said abutments being displaceable to vary the axial extent of the volume so that they can engage coils of different or varying axial extent so that a said coil can be held in a substantially vertical plane.

Preferably, the supporting means comprises rollers arranged around the circumference of the coil receiving volume with their axes parallel to the axis of a coil when supported in the volume. Lower rollers support the coil while upper rollers prevent expansion of the coil and retain it in the volume. Because the rollers are rotatable the coil is free to rotate relative to them, within the volume.

The adjustable abutments are preferably rollers.

These are rotatably mounted on the framework with their axes parallel to radii of a coil in its intended orientation. These also, therefore, do not impede rotation of the coil.

Preferably, the adjustable abutments occur in opposed pairs, for abutment on opposite faces of the coil, and are adjustable together, to hold the coil in a substantially vertical plane with its axis substantially horizontal.

Advantageously a rotatable centre assembly is also provided on the framework to extend through the interior of a coil. This may be a simple roller, but more preferably it comprises a rotable assembly having a plurality of arms which extend radially to delimit a minimum internal diameter for a coil. One or more of the arms are preferably of variable radial extent. The rotable assembly may be vertically adjustable.

Because the trailer is desirably suitable for use with a variety of sizes of pipe coil, the positions of some of the supporting and retaining means should be adjustable.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a rotatable centre assembly; and Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a rerounder.

The pipe trailer 1 shown in Figure 1 is a metal framework 3 on wheels 5. The framework 3 has a base frame 7. bearing a superstructure 9. Within the framework 3 a cylindrical space 11 is defined which is suitable for receiving a pipe coil C, as shown in phantom. The base frame 7 has an A-frame portion 8 which projects forwardly and provides at its forward end means for coupling to a suitable connection on a towing vehicle.

The superstructure 9 has a pair of uprights 13, mounted at their lower end on the base frame 7 and supported by two pairs 15,17, of supporting struts between the base frame 7 and the uprights 13. The uprights 13 carry between them at their upper ends a top roller 19.

(The roller 19 may be vertically adjustable. It may move down automatically - e.g. being resiliently urged - to keep in contact with a coil C.) The distance between the uprights 13 is somewhat in excess of the likely thickness of a pipe coil to be carried, and the rolling surface 21 of the top roller 19 extends across most of the distance.

A centre roller 23 is releasably mounted, for example by spring mounting, between the uprights 13. (Spring mounting may employ pairs of spigots and sockets, at least one spigot being resiliently retractable to allow engagement/disengagement). The vertical position of the roller 23 is preferably adjustable, so that it can be centred in coils of different sizes. Thus there may be a plurality of pairs of mounting points provided along the uprights 13.

About midway up, each upright 13 carries a cross arm 25, extending horizontally from the upright. Thus, one pair of arms 26 extend forwardly and another pair 27 rearwardly of the uprights 13. The structure is strengthened by a further pair of oblique supporting struts 29, one between each upright 13 in its upper half and each rearwardly extending arm 27. Further support for the rearwardly extending arms 27 is provided by a pair of angled rear uprights 30 from the base frame 7. The forwardly extending arms 26 are similarly supported by two pairs of uprights 31,32 from the base.

A rear roller 34 is mounted with a horizontal axis between the distal ends of the rearwardly extending arms 27. The rear roller 34 is slidable rearwardly for example by mounting it on spigots 36 which are slidable in tubular end portions of rearwardly extending arms 27. It may be lockable at predetermined positions, e.g. by engagement of spring bolts in apertures, in the spigots. The rear roller 34 may be removed completely by sliding rearwardly until the spigots 36 become detached from the arms 27.

Alternatively, the roller 34 may be spring mounted between the arms 27, so as to be removable.

The forwardly extending arms 26 carry between them at their distal end a front roller 38, also mounted with a horizontal axis and in the same horizontal plane as the rear roller 34.

The uprights 13 are mounted at their lower end each on a rearwardly extending base arm 40 of the base frame 7.

These base arms 40 are parallel to each other, and the distance between them is equal to that between the uprights 13, and between each of the rearwardly and each of the forwardly extending arms 27,26.

These base arms 40 carry between them at their forward ends a base roller 42. The position at which the base roller 42 may be mounted is variable: it can be moved forwards or backwards according to the size of the coil to be mounted. Thus, several pairs of spring mountings 44 are provided along the base arms so that the roller 42 can be moved from one pair to another to change its position.

A further roller is the pick up roller 46 which is mounted between pick up arms 48 at the rear of the trailer 1. Each pick up arm 48 is pivotally mounted on its respective base arm 40. Thus, the roller 46 may be moved between an 'in use' position in which it lies just below the base arms 40, and a lowered position in which it lies on the ground. The pick up roller 46 is moved between its lowered and in use positions by means of a hand winch 50 on the front of the base frame 7, and associated winch cables 52.

When the pick up roller 46 is in its in use position the front roller 38, top roller 19, rear roller 34, base roller 42 and pick up roller 46, together with the upright 13, rearwardly and forwardly extending arms 26,27 and define a cylindrical volume of the base arms 40 space, at the axis of which lies the centre roller 23.

The trailer 1 has further pairs of adjustable rollers which are mounted adjacent the cylindrical space 11, parallel to radii thereof. There are three pairs of these adjustable radial rollers. The first pair 54 are mounted on vertical axes, one on each of the uprights 13, and above the centre roller 23.

A second pair 56 are mounted on horizontal axes one on each of the forwardly extending arms 26.

The third pair 58 are located one on each of that pair of support struts which lie between the base arms and the uprights.

The adjustable rollers 54,56,58 are adjustable to limit the size of the cylindrical space 11 within the framework, and to hold the pipe coil vertical as will be described below. (They may be spring-loaded so as to be urged to grip the coil, even as its size is reduced.) The framework 3 also has a lowerable dispensing roller 60 and a removable pipe clamp 62 mounted at its rear between the base arms 40. The dispensing roller 60 is mounted between two lengths of metal tube 64 which in turn are vertically mountable in through holes (not shown) of the base arms 40. The clamp fits between the base arms 40 to define an opening between itself and the dispensing roller 60. The arms may have opposed rows of holes on their inner faces, and the clamp 62 may have spring bolts urged longitudinally outwardly.Thus the clamp can be pushed forwardly against a coil, and then allowed to move back until the bolts engage in a pair of holes.

A coil C of pipe can be mounted in the trailer 1 in the following way. The dispensing roller 60 is lowered and the pipe clamp removed 62. The hand winch 50 is operated to lower the pick up roller 46 and the rear 34 and centre 23 rollers are removed . The coil C is rolled into position between the base arms 40 to a position in which its axis extends horizontally, parallel to the non-radial rollers described above. The pick up roller 46 is then raised to lift the coil to its dispensing position, in which its axis is coincident with that of the cylindrical space 11, i.e. the position at which the centre roller 23 will be located after replacement.

The rear roller 34 is replaced, and positioned as close to the reel as possible, and the centre roller 23 is also replaced, within the coil. The inner end of the pipe coil is pulled inside the coil by means of a ratchet strap, joined between the centre roller 23 and the inner end of the coil of pipe.

The adjustable rollers 54,56,58 are then adjusted to abut the coil and hold it in a vertical position.

Retaining bands on the coil are cut and the coil is then held between the rear 34, top 19, front 38 and base 42, and pick up 46 rollers, against which the pipe is urged as the coil tends to expand.

The outer loose end of the pipe coil may be pulled off the reel, over the dispensing roller 60. As pipe is pulled off the coil it rotates and the rotation is facilitated by rotation of the various rollers with which the coil comes into contact.

When it is desired to cut a length of pipe the pipe clamp 62 is fitted to secure the end of the pipe between itself and the dispensing roller 60 before cutting. This arrangement is also useful when a loaded coil is to be transported between sites of use and it is desirable to secure the outer end of the pipe to prevent the coil unwinding in transit.

Fig. 2 shows a rotable centre assembly 70 that may be pivotally mounted in a pipe trailer framework, suitably on or in place of the centre roller 23 shown Fig. 1. It has a central axial member 72 (which may have end spigots 74 for journalling in mounting apertures, at least one spigot 74 preferably being resiliently retractable to allow spring mounting in place of the centre roller 23). Adjacent each end there is an array of four radial arms 76, braced near their outer ends by struts 78. The arms 76 are tubular and telescopically receive extension arms 80. Corresponding pairs of extension arms 80 carry paraxial bars or rollers 82 at their outer ends. The four arm/bar assemblies 80, 82 are lockable in desired configurations to suit different coil internal diameters. The central axial member 72 may have a fixture 84 for engaging a ratchet strap to enable a coil end to be pulled clear of the coil outside diameter.

Particularly with large pipes and coils, the pipe tends to get distorted. We may thus provide a "rerounder" through which pipe is passed as it is unwound for use. The rerounder 90 shown in Fig. 3 is a framework 91 bearing a plurality of rollers 92-94 and a lower strut 95 defining a square or rectangular throat through which pipe P is passed in use. Two of the rollers 92, 93 which are orthogonal are displaceably mounted via displaceable carriers 96 on the framework 91 so that the throat can be adjusted. The framework 91 also bears mounting sleeves 97 by which the rerounder 90 is mountable to the trailer shown in Fig. 1 on the dispensing roller 60 and a roller replacing the barform pipe clamp 62.

Claims (12)

1. A pipe trailer comprising a framework assembly in which a volume for receiving a pipe coil is defined, said coil being mountable in said volume with its axis horizontal; said framework assembly providing support means disposed circumferentially around the volume for supporting and retaining the pipe coil within the volume by engaging radially outer portions of the coil, said support means being adapted to allow rotation of the coil; said framework assembly desirably providing abutments projecting into the volume to abut axial face portions of a coil, said abutments being displaceable to vary the axial extent of the volume so that they can engage coils of different or varying axial extent so that a said coil can be held in a substantially vertical plane.

2. A pipe trailer according to claim 1 wherein the abutments comprise rollers for engaging the coil.

3. A pipe trailer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the abutments occur in opposed pairs, for abutment on opposite faces of the coil, and are adjustable together, to hold the coil in a substantially vertical plane with its axis substantially horizontal.

4. A pipe trailer according to any preceding claim wherein the supporting means comprises supporting rollers arranged around the circumference of the coil receiving volume with their axes parallel to the axis of a coil when supported in the volume.

5. A pipe trailer according to claim 4 wherein said supporting rollers comprise lower rollers for supporting the coil and upper rollers for restraining expansion of the coil.

6. A pipe trailer according to any precceding claim including a rotatable centre assembly within the coil receiving volume, said assembly having a plurality of arms which extend radially to delimit a minimum internal diameter for a coil received in said volume

7. A pipe trailer according to claim 6 wherein one or more of said arms are of variable radial extent.

8. A pipe trailer according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said rotatable assembly is vertically adjustable.

9. A pipe trailer according to any preceding claim including a rerounder defining a throat through which pipe being withdrawn is feedable.

10. A pipe trailer according to claim 9 wherein the throat of the rerounder is defined in part by elements which are displaceable to vary the throat.

11. A pipe trailer comprising a framework assembly in which a volume for receiving a pipe coil is defined, said coil being mountable in said volume with its axis horizontal; said framework assembly including a rotatable centre assembly within the coil receiving volume, said assembly having a plurality of arms which extend radially to delimit a minimum internal diameter for a coil received in said volume, and wherein one or more of said arms are of variable radial extent.

12. A pipe trailer substantially as any herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accomapnying drawings.