GB2224701A

GB2224701A - Device for transporting pipework

Info

Publication number: GB2224701A
Application number: GB8824803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Caddick
Original assignee: LIVERPOOL WATER WITCH MARINE A
Current assignee: LIVERPOOL WATER WITCH MARINE A
Priority date: 1988-10-22
Filing date: 1988-10-22
Publication date: 1990-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-22
Also published as: GB8824803D0; GB2224701B

Abstract

A pipework support member (10) in the form of a resiliently deformable channel section member made of polyethylene plastics pipe is mounted on a wheeled chassis member (16). The support member (10) has a metal bar (12) secured by screws (14) along its apex and parallel to its longitudinal axis, and welded to the chassis member (16). The deformability of the support member 10 enables pipes of differing diameters to be carried. In use, each end of a pipe may be placed in a support member and held in place by two pairs of straps (22), the ends of which are releasably securable together by means of, for example, a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro (RTM). The device may be pulled along and steered by means of a handle attached to recesses in the wheel axles. In an alternative arrangement the bar 12 is supported on a pivot on the member (16) so that the support member (10) can pivot in use. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING PIPEWORK The present invention relates to devices for transporting pipework, and in particular, but not exclusively, to such devices enabling pipework to be transported by hand.

When installing pipework in the ground, it is usual to dig a trench and to insert sections of pipe into the trench, the sections then being joined together to form a continuous conduit. The movement of the sections of pipework into the conduit is relatively easy if there is a powered lifting device available, such as an excavator with an appropriate attachment fitted. However, such devices are often not available, and if they are available they may not be usable in confined areas which prevent their access. In such cases, it is necessary to lift the sections of pipe manually into position.

However, lengths of pipework are often 10 m or more in length, and even the more modern plastics pipes are extremely heavy, especially when the diameter of such pipes may be typically upto 40cm. It therefore requires several men to position each section of pipe, and as a result of the weight of each section it is liable to be dropped and perhaps damaged.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device for transporting pipework which overcomes the above disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention, a device for transporting pipework comprises a chassis member, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the chassis member and an upwardly open pipework receiving portion mounted on the chassis member, the pipework receiving portion being deformable to accommodate pipework of differing cross-sectional sizes.

Preferably, the pipework receiving portion is elongate, and is advantageously upwardly concave, thereby forming a channel-section member. Since pipework is usually tubular, the pipework receiving portion is preferably arcuate, and may advantageously be generally U-shaped in cross-section and elongate, thereby forming a U-shaped channel member.

Preferably, the pipework receiving portion is resiliently deformable, and is preferably made out of plastics, e.g. polyethylene. It is particularly convenient to make the pipework receiving portion from a section of deformable pipework, e.g. plastics pipework which is cut in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipework and mounted on the chassis member.

In particular, the pipework receiving portion may comprise a section of pipework cut across its diameter.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises retaining means for securing pipework in the pipework receiving portion. These can take the form of straps which are closable over the open pipework receiving portion, and the ends of straps may be releasably connectible by means of a hook and loop fastener, e.g. Velcro (registered trade mark).

There may also be stop means for limiting the deformation of the pipework receiving portion.

The pipework receiving portion may be pivotally mounted on the chassis portion. There may also be a handle attached to the device to enable it to be pulled easily by hand.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of device for transporting pipework, in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of a second embodiment of device for transporting pipework, in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a section of pipework being carried by two devices in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a device for transporting pipework comprises a pipework support member 10 in the form of a resiliently deformable channel section member having a generally U-shaped cross section. The channel section member is made from a 380mm length and 180mm diameter of polyethylene plastics pipe which has been slit in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe across a diameter, thereby forming a channel section member having a semicircular profile. The outer surface of the apex of the pipework support portion abuts a flat metal bar 12 extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support 10, and is secured thereto by means of four bolts 14. The elongate bar 12 is welded to a square cross-section chassis member 16 extending perpendicularly to the bar 12.The chassis member 16 is provided with a rotatably mounted wheel 18 at each end.

The upper surface of the chassis member 16 is also provided with two lugs 20, one positioned either side of the bar 12, in the form of angle irons welded to the chassis member 16.

The pipework support is provided with two pairs of securing straps 22, one pair of securing straps being positioned adjacent to each longitudinal end of the support member 10, and each strap being secured to the support member by means of two screws 24 passing through the straps into the material of the support member 10.

The straps are in the form of strong webbing, such as the webbing used for vehicle seatbelts, and each pair of straps 22 is provided with the components of a hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro (registered trade mark)), by means of which the straps of each pair can be releasably secured together.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3. This embodiment is generally similar to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals have been used to identify corresponding components. The main difference from the first embodiment is that instead of the bar 12 to which the support portion 10 is secured being welded to the chassis member 16, the bar 12 is instead welded to a pivot 26 secured to the chassis member 16, thereby pivotally mounting the support portion 10 with respect to the chassis 16. This embodiment is also provided with a towing bar in the form of a handle 28 (see Fig. 4) from which two elongate members 30 extend and whose opposite ends are secured in recesses in the axles of the two wheels 18.

It will also be appreciated that the second embodiment cannot be provided with the stops 20 as in the first embodiment, since this would prevent relative movement of the chassis 16 and the pipework support 10 when the maximum diameter of pipework is being carried, as will become apparent.

In use, a transporting device in accordance with the first embodiment is secured to one end of a section pipework (the far end as shown in Fig. 4) whereas a device in accordance with the second embodiment is secured to the opposite end of the section of pipework.

In each case, this is achieved by lowering the pipework into the pipework support portion 10, whereupon the flexible pipework support member deforms to receive the pipework. The variation in diameters of the pipes which may be carried is shown in Fig. 2, in which a pipe of 180mm diameter is shown in full lines with the pipework support portion substantially undeformed, whereas a section of pipework of 400mm diameter is shown in chain dot, with the corresponding profile of the pipework support also shown in chain dot for that size of pipe.

It can also be seen from Fig. 2 that with the maximum diameter of pipe, the pipework support member abuts the two stops 20, to prevent the pipework support portion from being deformed to a position where it cannot regain its original shape, and also to prevent any fouling of the wheels 18 by the pipe.

When each end is in position within its respective support portion, it is secured therein by positioning the straps 22 around the pipework 32, and securing the ends of the straps of each pair of straps 22 together by means of the hook and loop fastening. In this way, each end of the section of pipework 32 is securely but releasably attached to its respective transporting device.

The section 32 of pipework is thus ready to be pulled along by means of the handle 28, and by virtue of the fact that the front transporting device (as seen in Fig. 4) to which the handle is attached is pivotally mounted to the pipework receiving section thereof, the pipe may be pulled along and steered by means of the handle.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, in particular, it is envisaged that a single transporting device, which is not pivotally attached to its chassis may be attached to one end of a section of pipework, and the pipework moved by raising the opposite end of the pipework and pulling the pipework along by virtue of the wheels 18 on the single transporting device.

Claims

1. A device for transporting pipework, comprising a chassis member, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on the chassis member and an upwardly open pipework receiving portion mounted on the chassis member, the pipework receiving member being deformable.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pipework receiving portion is resiliently deformable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pipework receiving portion is upwardly concave.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pipework receiving portion is arcuate.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pipework is generally U-shaped in crosssection.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pipework receiving portion is elongate.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pipework receiving portion comprises a section of pipework.

8. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the pipework receiving portion comprises plastics.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plastics comprises polyethylene.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the pipework receiving portion comprises a section of plastics pipework cut across a chord and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipework.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pipework is cut across its diameter.

12. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the pipework receiving portion further comprises a pipe retaining means.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retaining means comprises straps.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the straps are releasably connectible.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the straps are releasably connectible by means of a hook and loop fastener.

16. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a means for limiting the deformation of the pipework receiving portion.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the deformation limiting means comprises a projection on the chassis member.

18. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the pipework receiving portion is pivotally mounted on the chassis portion.

19. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising a handle.

20. A device for transporting pipework, substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the the accompanying drawings.