US1870607A - Pipe pushing jack - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 9, 1932 c. A. CRANE, JR 1,870,607

PIPE PUSHING JACK i ornfgy.

Aug. 9, 1932:

c. A. CRANE, JR

PIPE PUSHING JACK Filed July v 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm. Mw

me fr y;

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. CRANE, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TEMPLETON, KENILY & CO. LIlvZEITED,v OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PIPE PUSHING JACK Application led July 7, 1928. Serial No. 290,992.

eliminating the 'usual trenching for the laying of pipe as heretofore practiced.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a device` improved clamping means whereby the crushing of the pipe being operated upon is avoided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carriage and base structure, whereby the carriage may be removed endwise from the base when it is desired to change the position of the parts when in a trench or to change the operation from pipe pushing to pipe pulling and vice versa.

A, further object of the invention is to provide a safety latch by which the carriage i may be locked against sliding movement on the base when the carriage is not in actual operation or is being handled as when moved from one place of operation to another.

These objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In` the drawings Fig. l is a front end perspective view of the device as it appears when in use in a trench for pushing a pipe through the ground at one end of the trench.

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig` 4 is a view in front elevation thereof.

Fig; 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the device as taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is another transverse vertical sectional view through the carriage and associated parts of the device as taken in a plane passing through the axes of the actuating levers thereof and which plane is indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

In general the improved device includes anV elongated rectangular base or fra-me, having a shoulder flange at each end and a toothed rail along each side of the base on the top surface thereof. A carriage slides on said rails and the carriage and rails are so formed that the carriage cannot leave the rails except in an endwise direction. rEhe carriage includes a lever operated pawl at each side thereof for feeding the carriage along the rails and said pawls are independent of each o-ther so that they may be operated either simultaneously or one at a time as is desired and when only one is operated at a time the other acts as a holding pawl. Between said lever operated pawls is provided a pipe clamping means including a plurality of wedge shaped jaws which completely surround the pipe being pushed so that said pipe is not crushed or dented* To prevent accidental shifting of the carriage on the rails when the device is being moved about, a safetyV latch is provided which locks the carriage to the base.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings :-l indicates as a whole the base or frame of the pipe pusher and 2 indica-tes as a whole the carriage which is endwise movable thereon. The base or frame is of a' length greater than its width and is made up Vof longitudinally extending, laterally spaced channels 3 3 and relatively deep end plates --L Each end plate which is of substantially an angle bar cross section includes a vertical end flange 5 and a hori- Zontal top flange 6 having end webs 7 7 against which the'inner flanges of 4each channel 3 is engaged and bolted as at 8. Spaced` laterally from the ends of the top iiange 6 of each end plate is a horizontally disposed ear 9 that engages the underside of the web of each channel 3 and is secured Jthereto as will later appear.

Upon the top surface of the web of each channel 3, along its median line, is a rail 10-10 and the end of each rail is secured in place by bolts l1 and 12 respectively; the bolts 1l also passing through the ears 9 on the end plates 3 3, the heads of said bolts being re- 13 and in each side of each rail is formed a pair of longitudinally extending grooves 14: and 15 respectively. 0n the top edge of the upright flange of each end plate, in the plane of each rail is a lug 16. Said lug is only as wide as the most narrow part of the rail 10, the end of which engages said lug so as to impose end thrust thereon and thus relieve the bolts 11 and 12 from excessive shearing strains.

The construction described, provides a strong rigid frame or base which amply withstands the great strains imposed upon it without buckling or bendingr out of shape.

The carriage 2 which is a one piece steel casting includes a tubular housing or barrel 17 with a block like runner 18 along each side, the runners being of a length greater than the housing so as to extend beyond the rear end thereof. The housing 17 which includes a top anvil lug 19 at its front end is suitably webbed to the front ends of the runners while ythe rear ends of the runners are cross connected by a web 20 toprovide a strong rigid structure for the carriage as a whole.

The bottom portion of each runner block is defined by inwardly facing flanges 21 which extend the full length thereof and engage in the bottom grooves 15 of the associated rail, and above the same, at each end of `each runner block are short guide lugs 22 which engage within the grooves r111 of the associated rail. With such an arrangement of rails and runner blocks the carriage is l capable of a guided longitudinal movement on the rails and may be removed andreplaced endwise with respect to said rails when necessary. Thus the carriage cannot jump kthe rails but is always held down thereon and this without a binding action between 'the rails and carriage. It is here pointed out that when it is desired to change the position of the carriage end for end upon said rails, the thrust lugs 16 on the end plates in no manner interfere with the endwise removal and replacement of said carriage with respect to said rails.

'Rising Afrom each runner 18 at a point substantially midway between its ends is a pair of laterally spaced ears 23 each having an opening 23a at its top inner end. In each ear is located a cup like bushing 23b closed at its outer end and which receives shaft like trunnions 23c of a lever socket24 to provide the axis for said socket. Each bushing has notches 23d in its opposite sides to receive the side legs 23e of yinverted U-shaped locking clips 231'. The distance between the ends of the trunnions 23c of each lever socket approximates the distance between the ends of the openings 23L in a pair of ears 23 of a runner 18.

In the assembly of the parts described, a lever socket 24 is positioned between its associated pair of ears 23 and the trunnions of said lever socket will then pass down through said openings 23IIL into the interior of said ears. A bushing 23b is then inserted into the outer end of each ear to receive a trunnion 23, the bushings being so positioned as t0 bring its notches 23d uppermost. This will dispose the notches in the plane of the openings 23?. An inverted U-shaped locking clip 23r is then inserted into said openings, when the legs 23e of said clip will engage in the notches 23d in the bushing and lock the same against displacement. To remove a lever socket from its associated ears, the clips 23 are first removed upwardly out of the openings 23, the bushings 23b are then removed endwise outwardly from the ears 23, after which the lever socket may be lifted upwardly, the trunnions 23c passing through the openings 23a. In the top end of each socket is disposed a lever bar 24 which may be effectively lengthened by a pipe 25 and to the bottom end of each lever socket is pivoted a pawl 26. The free end of saidpawl which faces rearwardly isy adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 13 on the associated rail and so that said pawl may so engage said teeth, a portion of each runner block to the rear of the ears thereon is cutaway to expose said teeth.

The interior bore of the housing 17 is tapered rearwardly and associated therewith is a plurality of jaws or blocks 27 tapered to fit said bore and which completely surround and tightly grip upon a portion of the pipe 28 operated upon, the end of which is usually provided with a pilot point 29. To increase the gripping action of the jaws or blocks, the interior surfaces of them are provided with V shapedk teeth 27a.

In operation, assume that a short trench has been dug and the front thereof provides the face or breast of the ground through which the pipe is to be pushed. The base of the device. is disposed upon the bottom of the trench and a cribbing 30is embedded in a portion of the trench against which the flange 5 at the rear end of the base engages. In this preliminary setting of the base in the trench, care of course is taken that said base is substantially level. The pilot end of a section of pipe is inserted through the housing 17 from the rear end'and the pawls 26 are manually lifted out of engagement with the track teeth and thev carriage is drawn rearwardly as far as it will go and the pawls again engaged with the ratchet teeth.

The gripping blocks 27 are then inserted into the housing from the front end thereof and are then tapped on their heavier front ends to snugly fit not only the taper of the housing but also to snugly fit upon the pipe. Preferably two or more operators are employed and said operators push forwardly on the levers. The levers may be actuated either simultaneously or independently in alternation, and this of course will cause the carriage to move forwardly on the base. ln this movement of the Carriage and due to the tapering formation of the gripping jaws which engage entirely about the pipe7 the pipe of course moves forwardly, the pilot forcing its way through the ground and making an opening for the pipe. lVhen the levers are actuated independently the one pawl acts as the holding pawl while the other acts as the feeding pawl. In soft ground, where only one operator is required only one lever need be employed and the pawl of the other lever will drag along as a holding pawl. When the carriage has moved forwardly on the base as far as it can go, it is of course necessary to tale a new bite on the pipe. To do this the housing anvil is tapped with a hammer to loosen the gripping jaws and with the levers in their forward positions the pawls are manually grasped and pulled rearwardly to move the carriage to the rear end of the base and the jaws reengaged in the housing and with the pipe and the levers are actuated as before.

To pull instead of push a section of pipe, the. carriage is pulled rearwardly of the frame so as to pass entirely beyond the same and beyond the end of the pipe section. This separation of the parts is permitted by the rail and carriage block structure before described and thereafter the base is reversed end for end and the carriage is replaced on the frame. The gripping blocks are placed in the housing so as to grip the pipe and when the levers are actuated a pull is exerted upon the pipe which may thus be withdrawn.

When not in actual use the carriage slides freely on the frame and to lock the. carriage to the frame so that it will not move so as to injure the persons handling the same7 l provide on one of the carriage blocks a spring pressed safety pin 3l which slides over the associated channel 3 until it comes to an opening 32 therein. into which it snaps. This locks the carriage to the fra-me until -said safety pin is manually withdrawn.

The frame as described is strong and rigid and will not buckle or bend out of shape under service strains. The carriage blocks 18 are so correlated with respect to the frame or base rails that while they will slide freely thereon they cannot bind thereon and may be easily removed and replaced endwise with respect to said frame or base. By the lever arrangement described. great leverage is attained so that but a minimum amount of effort is required to force the pipe through the ground.

`While :in describing my invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered as merely illustrative and l do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specically pointed out Vin the appended claims.

l claim as my invention l. A pipe pushing j ack embodying therein a base, a longitudinally extending rail along each side thereof, a carriage movable on said rails, pipe engaging means movable with the carriage, lever operated mechanism on said carriage and including parts engaged with said rails for moving the carriage thereon and lugs rising from one. end of the base and f each engaged by an end of an associated rail to receive the end thrust thereof,- each lug` being so formed as to permit the endwise removal and replacement of said carriage with respect to said rails without requiring their removal from the associated end of the base.

2. A pipe pushing jack embodying therein a `base having toothed guide rails, a carriage mounted on said rails, means operable for moving said carriage step by step along said rails, said carriage including a centrally disposed one piece, non-split housing with a tapered bore, and a plurality of'removable pipe gripping jaws insertable in said tapered bore from one end thereof and adapted to substantially surround a portion of the pipe to be pushed, movement in one direction of said carriage operating on said jaws to tight ly clamp them upon the pipe without crushing the same.

3. A pipe pushing jaclr embodying therein a base having toothed guide rails7 a carriage mounted on said rails, means operable for moving said carriage step by step along said rails, said carriage including a centrally disposed one piece, non-split housing with a tapered bore, a plurality of removable pipe gripping jaws insertable in said tapered bore from one end thereof and adapted to substantially surround a portion of the pipe to be pushed, movement in one direction ofv said carriage operating on said jaws to tightly clamp them upon said pipe and an anvil on said housing adapted to be tapped so as to loosen said aws from said bore.

4. A pipe pushing jack including a base, toothed rails thereon, a housing mounted on said rails, means operable to move said housing step by step along said rails, said housing including pipe gripping means and lugs on said base and each engaged by the end of an associated rail to tale up end thrust therefrom. said lugs being so disposed on said base with respect to said rails as to permit an endwise withdrawal of said carriage from said rails and an endwise replacement thereon' without requiring the removal of said lugs from said base.

5. A pipe pushing jack including a base, toothed rails on said base and each having pairs of longitudinal grooves in each side face thereof, a carriage including runner blocks slidable on said rails and each having parts engaged in said grooves in the sides of an associated rail, means mounted on the carriage and including parts to operatively engage the rails for imparting movement to said carriage thereon, and lugs on the base and each engaged only with that part of an associated rail between the grooves thereof for receiving end thrust therefrom, said lugs being of a Width less than the spacing between said parts of the runner block engaged in said grooves for permitting endwise Withdrawal and replacement of the carriage on said rails.

6. A pipe pushing jack including a base, a pair of longitudinally extending rails on said base and having grooves in each side thereof, a carriage including side runner blocks, and a one piece non-split housing between said blocks, said blocks being adapted to slide on said rails and having parts engaged in the grooves thereof, lever means associated with each runner block for imparting movement to said carriage and means capable of insertion and removable from one end of the housing for clamping upon a pipe.

7. A base for a pipe pushing jack comprising end plates, longitudinally extending side members fixed to and connecting said end plates, a toothed rail ydisposed above and bolted to each side member and lugs integral With each end plate and engaged with the ends of eachv rail.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 3rd day of July, 1928.

CHARLES A. CRANE, Jn.

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