GB2554873A

GB2554873A - A mobile support for use in a utility service installation system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2554873A
Application number: GB1617090.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthewman David; Andrew Neil; Curzon Andy
Original assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 2016-10-07
Filing date: 2016-10-07
Publication date: 2018-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-10-07
Also published as: GB2554873B; GB201617090D0

Abstract

A mobile support for use in pipe installation which includes a chassis 16, a clamp to hold pipe 18, and a friction reducing apparatus connected to the chassis 16. The friction reducing apparatus may be wheels 20 or a sliding skid. The rollers 20 may engage a track 26 or the inside walls of a duct 14. A locking mechanism 28 may hold the support in place relative to the track 26, and provide structural support. A system may comprise a plurality of supports, with tension members of varying youngs modulus between adjacent supports. A method is claimed, using the supports to install the pipe 18. The support may also be used with a cable, wire or line.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A mobile support for use in a utility service installation system and method Abstract Title: Moving pipe support (57) A mobile support for use in pipe installation which includes a chassis 16, a clamp to hold pipe 18, and a friction reducing apparatus connected to the chassis 16. The friction reducing apparatus may be wheels 20 or a sliding skid. The rollers 20 may engage a track 26 or the inside walls of a duct 14. A locking mechanism 28 may hold the support in place relative to the track 26, and provide structural support. A system may comprise a plurality of supports, with tension members of varying young’s modulus between adjacent supports. A method is claimed, using the supports to install the pipe 18. The support may also be used with a cable, wire or line.

FIG. 2A

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FIG. 1B

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FIG. 2A

FIG. 2B

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FIG. 4

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FIG. 5

FIG. 6

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FIG. 7

A MOBILE SUPPORT FOR USE IN A UTILITY SERVICE INSTALLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of infrastructure engineering, and more specifically to the field of utility installation

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is widely appreciated that a metropolitan area requires a complex network of utilities, such as water and electricity, in order to thrive. These utilities are often supplied through services, such as water pipes and electrical cables, which are commonly installed in a variety of tunnels throughout the desired area. These tunnels may range from small diameter purpose built tunnels, known as ducts, to large diameter transport tunnels.

Industry standard methods for installing these services typically fall into one of two categories. In the first case, the services are pulled through the tunnel by directly applying force to the services, for example by using a rope and winch system. This method is most commonly used for installing services in small diameter tunnels, or ducts. However, this method may cause damage to the services if the pulling force to too large. In the second case, the services are transported into the tunnel using a specialised transport device. The services must then be removed from the transport device and fixed into their final position in the tunnel. This method is typically used in large diameter transport tunnels where the services are commonly mounted to the tunnel wall, such as a train tunnel. Whilst this method does not carry the same risk of damaging the services as pulling on them directly, the step of removing the services from the transport device and fixing them to their final position can be a time consuming and risky process.

Further to this, the utility services are limited to a maximum length due to manufacturing and transportation constraints. In the situation where this maximum length is less than the required length of in-tunnel installation, joints are required to link adjacent services. These joints often need to be created or secured when the service is located at the desired installation point which may have a significant impact on cost, quality of work and safety. This may be due to having to work in confined spaces, interactions with other tunnel users, such as cars and trains in transport tunnels, and limited access. For example, in tunnels that are too small for a person to work in, a shaft or excavation may be required in order to access the joint.

The joints are often far weaker than the services themselves meaning that they are more at risk of being damaged during installation, especially in the case that the services are being pulled on directly.

In addition, the creation of joints can be a lengthy and complicated process, for example in the case of some electrical cables a joint may take up to 60 man hours to complete. Due to time restrictions for working in certain tunnels, particularly in transport tunnels, it is impossible for these joints to be created in certain locations forcing the utilities to be installed in an alternative, and often less optimal, location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the claims.

According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile support for use in pipe installation through a duct, comprising:

a chassis, wherein the chassis is adapted to receive and clamp to a pipe such that the chassis is located at a discrete position along the length of the pipe; and a friction reducing apparatus connected to the chassis for moving the chassis along a surface which is fixed relative to the duct, thereby to advance the chassis and received pipe along the duct.

This arrangement allows the pipe to be installed in a duct whilst being supported by a mobile support. During installation, the forces required to move the pipes to the desired installation location may be applied to the chassis of a mobile support, rather than directly to the pipe. This reduces the stress on the pipe, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the pipe during installation. The mobile support may remain in the duct after installation has been completed to act as a permanent support structure for the pipe.

It should be understood that the term pipe is not limited solely to fluid pipes, such as those used for the delivery of water and gas, but may include any tubular container used for supplying a utility, such as electrical cables, fibre optic cables and the like. In addition, a duct should be understood to include a range from small diameter, purpose built tunnels to large diameter transport tunnels.

In an embodiment, the chassis is adapted to receive a plurality of pipes. This means that the mobile support may allow for multiple pipes to be installed simultaneously, further streamlining the installation process. For example, a mobile support may be adapted to receive a water pipe, a gas pipe, an electrical cable and a fibre optic cable, allowing for all of them to be installed at once, rather than having to install them one by one.

In some designs, the friction reducing apparatus comprises a wheel. This reduces the amount of force needed to move the mobile support and received pipe along the duct, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the pipe through excessive force during the installation process.

In some embodiments, the friction reducing apparatus comprises a skid. This reduces the number of moving components of the mobile support and so reduces the likelihood of the mobile support malfunctioning due to damage, increasing the sturdiness of the mobile support.

In further or other embodiments, the mobile support also comprises a locking mechanism for preventing the movement of the mobile support along the surface. The inclusion of a locking mechanism ensures that the mobile support will not slip out of place during the operation of the utility, potentially leading to damage of the pipe. This is increasingly important if the pipe is not heavy enough to prevent the mobile support from moving under its weight, or if the pipe is installed in a less stable environment, such as a train tunnel where the installation location may be subject to large vibrations from passing trains.

In one arrangement, the locking mechanism is adapted to provide structural support. This allows the locking mechanism to provide additional reinforcement to the mobile support and reduce the working pressure on the mobile support, for example when the pipe being installed is particularly heavy.

In further or other arrangements, the mobile support also comprises a protective cover. This prevents the pipes from being damaged by projectiles, tampered with or vandalised once installed. In addition, the protective covers may also protect people from injury, should the pipes fail.

According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a utility service installation system, comprising:

a pipe; and a plurality of mobile supports each as claimed in any preceding claim connected along the length of a pipe.

By placing multiple supports along the length of the pipe, the pipe may be supported in optimal locations, increasing the robustness of the system and reducing the risk of damaging the pipes during installation. In this case, the forces required to move the system to the installation location may be applied to the mobile supports, rather than directly to the pipes, further reducing the risk of causing damage to the pipes during installation.

In an embodiment, the system also comprises a tension member connecting each pair of adjacent mobile supports.

This arrangement means that the majority of the force applied to the system, such as the towing force applied during installation, will be absorbed by the tension members rather than the pipes. In this way, the risk of damaging the pipe during installation is minimized.

In some designs, the system also comprises a jointed section connecting adjacent lengths of pipe. Due to the mobile supports reducing the stress experienced by the pipe during installation it is possible to construct delicate sections of pipe, such as joints, and tow them into position without the risk of these delicate sections being damaged. This removes the need to construct the joints after installation, thereby eliminating the risks and costs associated with working in enclosed spaces, interacting with other tunnel users and requiring a shaft or excavation to reach the site of the required joint.

In various embodiments, the tension members adjacent to the jointed section are adapted to have a higher Young’s modulus than the tension members adjacent to a non-jointed section of the pipe.

In further or other embodiments, the chassis of the mobile supports adjacent to the jointed section are adapted to have a higher Young’s modulus than the chassis of the mobile supports adjacent to a non-jointed section of the pipe.

The system uses a method based on a ratio of stiffness to control the amount of force seen by the pipes.

In particular, where the stiffness of components, such as mobile supports and tension members, is large compared to the stiffness of the pipes, the pipes will experience a far lower force during installation than the mobile supports and tension members. This in turn reduces the risk of the pipes being damaged during installation. By further increasing the stiffness of the mobile supports and tension members, more delicate areas of the pipe such as the joints will experience even less of the forces required to move the system to the installation location. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the risk of jointed sections being damaged during installation, allowing for the joints to be created externally and moved into place.

In some designs, the system also comprises a track.

In further arrangements, the mobile supports are adapted to run along the track which comprises the surface.

This allows the system to be securely installed in large diameter tunnels, where the size of the tunnel is much larger than the size of the installation system.

According to examples in accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for performing pipe installation through a duct, the method comprising:

attaching a mobile support to a pipe, wherein the mobile support comprises:

a chassis, wherein the chassis is adapted to receive and clamp to a pipe such that the chassis is located at a discrete position along the length of the pipe; and a friction reducing apparatus adapted to allow the chassis to move along a surface which is fixed relative to the duct, thereby to advance the chassis and received pipe along the duct; and providing the mobile support and pipe to an installation location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A shows a cross section of a mobile support within a duct;

Figure 1B shows an exploded view of a cross section of a mobile support;

Figure 2A shows another embodiment of the mobile support adapted to move on a track and includes a locking mechanism in an open position;

Figure 2B shown the embodiment shown in Figure 2A with the locking mechanism in a locked position;

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a pipe installation system comprising several of the mobile supports shown in Figures 1A and 1B;

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a pipe installation system comprising several mobile supports as shown in Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 5 shows a partially exploded view of the embodiment of the pipe installation system as shown in Figure 4 to demonstrate the clamping mechanism of the chassis;

Figure 6 shows the embodiment of the system shown in Figure 4 that additionally comprises protective covers; and

Figure 7 shows a method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides a mobile support for use in pipe installation which includes a chassis and a friction reducing apparatus connected to the chassis. The chassis is adapted to receive and clamp to a pipe such that the chassis is located at a discrete location along the length of the pipe. The friction reducing apparatus is for moving the chassis along a surface which is fixed relative to the duct so as to advance the chassis and received pipe along the duct. Multiple mobile supports may be used to move delicate sections of pipe, such as joints, to the installation location. This means that the joints may be created in a position of safety and moved into position, rather than having to be created once the pipes are installed within the duct.

Figure 1A shows a cross section 10 of a mobile support 12 within a duct

14. The mobile support comprises a chassis 16 adapted to receive and clamp to a pipe 18 and a friction reducing apparatus 20.

Securing the pipe 18 to the chassis 16 allows for the force required to move the pipe to the installation location to be applied to the mobile support 12, rather than directly to the pipe. In addition, the friction reducing surface 20 reduces the overall amount of force needed to move the mobile support and received pipe into the desired position. By applying a lower amount of force to the mobile support, rather than the pipe, the risk of damaging the pipe during the installation process is greatly reduced.

The mobile support 12 may remain in the duct to act as a permanent supporting structure for the pipe 18 after installation has been completed. In this way, the additional step of removing the pipe from a transport device and installing it to a permanent support is eliminated, thereby streamlining the installation process. In addition, the risks and costs of requiring a worker to access the duct in order to secure the pipe to a permanent position are eliminated by the mobile support acting as both a transport device and a permanent supporting structure.

Figure 1B shows an exploded view of a cross section of a mobile support 12 and illustrates a method of securing the mobile support to a pipe 18. The chassis 16 is split into three sections and is able to receive the three pipes 18. The chassis may include more or fewer divisions and may receive a larger number of pipes, or the chassis may include only one division and may receive a single pipe.

In the embodiment shown, the divisions of the chassis 16 may be secured together by a bolt 22 designed to fit into the predrilled hole 24. The bolt may include threading that is matched by a similar threading on the inside of the predrilled hole. In this way, the chassis sections may be securely fastened around the pipes so as to ensure that the mobile support 12 does not slip along the length of the pipe during the installation process, thereby ensuring that the mobile support maintains an optimal placement along the pipe to provide the necessary support.

Alternative methods of securing the chassis sections together may include; clasps on the exterior of the chassis, glue placed on the inside surface of the divisions, welding the sections together and the like. By using a threaded bolt and predrilled hole the sections of the chassis may be secured in a fast and nonpermanent way which streamlines the installation process and allows for the mobile supports to be removed in the case of maintenance being required on the pipe.

In the embodiments shown in both of Figures 1A and 1B, the friction reducing apparatus 20 comprises a wheel. The four wheels shown in these Figures contact the inside surface of the duct 14 during the installation process. This allows the mobile support 12 and received pipe 18 to move along the duct with minimal friction, meaning that less force is required to move the apparatus into place. In this manner, the risk of damaging the pipes by applying excessive force to them is reduced. Further to this, the wheels provide structural support for the chassis 16 in axial directions, preventing the mobile support from moving, or vibrating, during the delivery of the utility through the pipe. This may help to reduce the damage caused to the mobile supports and pipes after the installation process has been completed.

In further embodiments of the mobile support 12, the friction reducing apparatus 20 comprises a skid. Whilst the skid may require a higher force to move the mobile support along the duct compared to a wheel, the skid reduces the number of moving parts of the mobile support, thereby increasing its robustness. In addition, the skid may be capable of supporting more weight than the wheel, which is limited by the strength of the wheel’s axle, and so may be used in cases where the pipes 18 being installed are particularly large or heavy.

Figure 2A and 2B show a cross section of an embodiment of the mobile support 12, wherein the chassis 16 is adapted to run along a track 26 attached to the inside surface of a duct 14. This embodiment is most likely to be used within a large diameter tunnel, such as a transport tunnel. In this case the pipes 18 are supported on the outside of the chassis rather than internally as shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

Figures 2A and 2B show an example of a locking mechanism 28 that may be included in the mobile support 12 as a means of preventing the movement of the support once it has reached the desired installation location. In this case, the locking mechanism comprises two bolts that may be loosened so as to act in an open position, as shown in Figure 2A, allowing the mobile support to move freely along the track 26. When the mobile support and received pipes 18 have reached the desired installation location, the bolts 28 may then be tightened until they come into contact with the track where they act in a locked position. In this position the mobile support is prevented from moving along the track after installation is complete. In this case, when the bolts are in a locked position, they may also contribute to providing structural support for the mobile support in an axial direction in a similar manner to the wheels

20.

The track may comprise grooves or holes at predetermined locations to receive the locking bolts 28 so as to further ensure that the mobile support 12 remains locked in the desired position. In other embodiments of the mobile support, the locking mechanism may comprise; brakes on the wheels, a sliding bolt, a clamp, a latch, a clasp and the like.

Figure 3 shows a pipe installation system 30 comprising multiple mobile supports 12, as shown in figures 1A and 1B, attached at discrete positions along the length of the pipes 18. By providing multiple mobile supports, longer sections of pipe may be installed at once, thereby increasing the efficiency of the installation process. In this way, the pipes may be supported at an optimal spacing in order to reduce the risk of damaging the pipes during installation or operation.

A tension member 32 may be connected between each pair of adjacent mobile supports 12. When a force is applied to a mobile support 12 in order to move the system into the desired position, the force would be transmitted through the pipe 18 to the rest of the system. This may expose the pipe to a large force that may damage it during the installation process. By providing a tension member connected to each adjacent pair of mobile supports, the majority of the force transmitted from the moving mobile support to the rest of the system is transmitted through the tension member, rather than the pipe. In this way, the pipe is exposed to less stress during the installation process, thereby reducing the risk of the pipe being damaged.

The mobile supports 12 may be spaced at various distances along the pipe 18 depending on the nature of the pipes being installed. For example, if the system 30 was being used to install an electrical cable, the minimum spacing of the mobile supports would depend on the cable design, power rating, ambient temperature and the like. The cable design may include features such as cable diameter, cable stiffness, minimum bending radius and the like.

Figure 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the system 30 shown in Figure 3, wherein the chassis 16 of the mobile supports 12 are adapted to run along a track 26, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

The pipes 18 in the pipe installation system may comprise a jointed section 34 connecting two separate lengths of pipe 18. These jointed sections are often far more delicate that the pipes themselves and so carry a larger risk of being damaged during installation. As a result, the pipes are often moved to the desired installation and the joints are created after the installation process has been completed.

By attaching mobile supports 12, connected by a tension member 32, either side of a jointed section 34, the force applied to the jointed section during installation is significantly reduced. From this result, it may be possible to create jointed sections before the installation process begins and move them to the desired position with a much lower risk of damaging the jointed sections during installation. This may significantly reduce the cost of installation as well as the risks associated with creating the joints once the pipes are installed in the duct 14.

The pipe installation system 30 uses a method based on a ratio of stiffness to control the amount of force seen by the pipes 18 and jointed sections 34. The mobile supports 12, tension members 32 and pipes 18 may be thought of as a composite structure, where the mobile supports, tension members and pipes are acting to carry a load in parallel. In this case, the load being carried by the composite structure is the force being applied to the system to move it to the desired installation location.

In a parallel composite structure under load, the strain that the individual components are exposed to scales as a function of the total stiffness of the structure and the force, or stress, seen by the individual components is a function of this strain and the stiffness ofthe individual components.

Hence, the force in each component of a parallel composite structure can be calculated as a ratio of the stiffness of the individual components.

The stiffness of a material is represented by its Young’s modulus which defines a relationship between the stress, force per unit area, and the strain, proportional deformation of the material in response to the force, for that material.

This means that for a system 30 where the stiffness of the components, such as mobile supports 12 and tension members 32, is large compared to the pipes 18, the pipes will experience a far lower force during installation than the mobile supports and tension members. This in turn reduces the risk of the pipes being damaged during installation. In addition, the maximum force applied to the system may be increased as the pipes will experience a smaller proportion of it. As a result, a larger length of service may be installed in one towing operation for example.

By further increasing the stiffness of the mobile supports and tension members, more delicate areas of the pipe such as the joints will experience even less of the forces required to move the system to the installation location. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the risk of jointed sections being damaged during installation.

Figure 5 shows a partially exploded view of the system 30 shown in Figure 4 in order to demonstrate how the mobile supports 12 may be attached to the pipes 18. In this embodiment, the pipes are attached to the chassis 16 of the mobile supports by way of cleats 36 attached to the exterior surface of the chassis. These cleats may be attached to the chassis by bolts, screws, clips, clasps and the like.

The inner surface of the cleats 36 may comprise a rubber layer to allow for the pipes to be clamped securely in place without the risk of damaging the pipes in the process.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the system 30 as shown in Figure 4, wherein the mobile supports 12 comprise a protective cover 40 attached to the chassis 16.

The protective covers 40 may be attached to the mobile supports 12 at the same time as the mobile supports are attached to the pipes, before being fed into the duct. This allows for the protective covers to be provided without requiring an additional step for installation within the duct.

By providing the system 30 with protective covers 40, the system may be protected from potential damage from projectiles, tampering or vandalism once installed. In addition, the protective covers may also provide protection to those in close proximity to the system in the event that the pipes 18 fail. For example, if a pipe is carrying water, the protective cover may prevent debris from striking those close to the system in the event that the pipe burst. As a result the system is more robust and safer to use.

Figure 7 shows a method 50 of the invention.

In step 52, a mobile support is attached to a pipe. The mobile support comprises a chassis and a friction reducing apparatus. The chassis of the mobile support is adapted to receive and clamp to the pipe and the friction reducing apparatus is adapted to allow the mobile support to move through a duct.

In step 54, the mobile support and received pipe are provided to an installation location. When the mobile support is in the desired location, it may act as a permanent supporting structure for the pipe.

Typical electrical cable diameters may range from 10mm to 200mm and a single length of electrical cable may measure from 50m to 3500m in length. Water and gas pipes installed using the system may vary from 2mm to 1200 mm in diameter and may be constructed from materials such as polyethylene.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mobile support for use in pipe installation through a duct, comprising:

2. A mobile support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis is adapted to receive a plurality of pipes.

3. A mobile support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the friction reducing apparatus comprises a wheel.

4. A mobile support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the friction reducing apparatus comprises a skid.

5. A mobile support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mobile support also comprises a locking mechanism for preventing the movement of the mobile support along the surface.

6. A mobile support as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to provide structural support.

7. A mobile support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mobile support also comprises a protective cover.

8. A pipe installation system, comprising: a pipe; and a plurality of mobile supports each as claimed in any preceding claim connected along the length of the pipe.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system also comprises a tension member connecting each pair of adjacent mobile supports.

10. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 9, wherein the system also comprises a jointed section connecting adjacent lengths of pipe.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tension members adjacent to the jointed section are adapted to have a higher Young’s modulus than the tension members adjacent to a non-jointed section of the pipe.

12. A system as claimed in any of claims 10 to 11, wherein the chassis of the mobile supports adjacent to the jointed section are adapted to have a higher Young’s modulus than the chassis of the mobile supports adjacent to a non-jointed section of the pipe.

13. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the system also comprises a track.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the mobile supports are adapted to run along the track which comprises the surface.

15. A method for performing pipe installation through a duct, the method comprising:

attaching a mobile support to a pipe, wherein the mobile support comprises:

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1617090.4