US3782636A

US3782636A - Pipelining apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3782636A
Application number: US00294014A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Donnelly
Original assignee: SPIN CO
Current assignee: SPIN CO
Priority date: 1972-10-02
Filing date: 1972-10-02
Publication date: 1974-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-01

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar in which an annular rotating dispersion head is used for spraying the mortar against the pipe walls. A shaft formed with fluted slots is coaxially positioned with respect to the annular dispersion head in order to obtain a uniform dispersion of the mortar.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Donnelly [451 Jan. 1,1974

[ PIPELINING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Frank R. Donnelly, Rockaway, NJ. [73] Assignee: Spin Company, Newfoundland, NJ.

[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,014

[52] US. Cl 239/216, 239/218.5, 118/317, 118/D1G. 10

[51] Int. Cl BOSb 3/10 [58] Field of Search 239/215, 216, 218.5, 239/222, 228, 380; 118/317, DIG. 10

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,758,352 Perkins 239/2l8.5 X

3,301,159 1/1967 Current 239/216 X 2,303,088 11/1942 Perkins 2,670,991 3/1954 Perkins 239/218.5

Primary E.raminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-James .1. Love AttorneyMarvin A. Naigur 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus is provided for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar in which an annular rotating dispersion head is used for spraying the mortar against the pipe walls. A shaft formed with fluted slots is coaxially positioned with respect to the annular dispersion head in order to obtain a uniform dispersion of the mortar.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 1 1974 PIPELINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the fabrication of subterranean pipelines it is necessary to coat the interior pipe walls with a coating of mortar. It is essential that the mortar be uniformly dispersed against the pipe walls to form a mortar coating which is relatively thin and has a smooth exterior surface. There has been a problem in achieving uniformity of motar dispersion within the pipeline. This was due to the remotely operated equipment which has heretofore been used which relied solely on a rotating dispersion head for spraying the mortar onto the pipe walls. The prior dispersion head had a tendency to become clogged and it was inherently difficult to obtain a uniform dispersion of mortar. This difficulty has been overcome by providing a fluted shaft that can be mounted coaxially with respect to the dispersion head. In this manner, the fluted shaft is capable of acting as a high speed augering device for uniformly dispersing the mortar against the pipe walls. Also, the fluted shaft acts to break the lumps and foreign material usually found in the mortar, such that the slots of the dispersion head are kept free for even dispersion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for coating the interior walls ofa pipeline with a lining of cement mortar. The pipelining apparatus includes a motor drive and a stationary shaft formed with an internal central housing for receiving a continuous flow of mortar. The shaft is exteriorly mounted on the motor drive, and a mortar dispersing head defining an annular chamber is journaled on thestationary shaft and operatively connected to the drive motor for rotating the mortar dispersing head. The stationary shaft has exterior slots such that the central housing is in flow communication with the annular chamber. A solid shaft is mounted in the central housing and formed with a pair of fluted slots, such that the flow of mortar is dispersed and passed through the exterior slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above brief description, as well as further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pipelining apparatus in which the fluted shaft of the present invention is employed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the fluted shaft, shown in FIG. 1, removed from the pipelining apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fluted shaft to better show the configuration of the slots in the fluted shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a pipelining machine generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which is positioned in a pipeline 12. As indicated by directional arrows l4, mortar cement is sprayed from the pipelining machine 10 against the interior surface of the pipeline to form a lining of mortar on the surface. It should be understood that the pipelining machine 10 is drawn through the pipeline 12 by means of a cable which is connected to a winch. As the cable and winch arrangement are well known in the art, it has not been shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity.

The pipelining machine 10 comprises an alternating current motor drive 16, a shaft assembly 18 mounted on the drive 16, and mortar dispersion head 20 journaled for rotation on the shaft assembly 18.

The motor drive 16 includes a cylindrical housing 22 with an end plate 24 having a center bore 26 for receiving the shaft assembly 18. Mounted for rotation in the cylindrical housing 22 is an annular field unit 26 and rotor 28 which drive the shaft assembly 18.

The shaft assembly 18 comprises a hollow drive shaft 30 that is keyed to the rotor 28 and is sized to be coaxially mounted on a stationary hollow shaft 32 which is fixed to the rear portion of cylindrical housing 22. A stepped down section 33 is formed along the outer surface of shaft 32 to form a bearing surface for drive shaft 30. The inner walls of stationary shaft 32 define an internal cylindrical chamber 34 which is in flow communication with a supply of mortar cement that is pumped into cylindrical chamber 34. As best shown by the directional arrows 14, the mortar flows out through cylindrical chamber 34, since the walls of shaft 32 are formed with elongated slots 36. The conduit for supplying mortar as well as the electrical line for powering motor drive 16 pass along the pipeline 12 to the surface and have not been shown in the drawings as these are well known in the art.

Mounted on the drive shaft 30 is the mortar dispersion head 20, which includes an inner end plate 40 spaced apart from an outer end plate 42 and joined by a series of separated dispersing blades 44 to define an annular chamber 46. A truncated support flange 48 is secured to inner end plate 40 and secured to the drive shaft 30 by means of a set screw 50. Between inner end plate 40 and flange 48 there is positioned a bearing 52, with inner race 54 being keyed to stationary shaft 32 and outer race 56 being keyed to end plate 40 and flange 48. Thus, the drive shaft 30 is rotated on the stepped down section 33 while dispersion head 20 is journaled at the end of shaft 30 by hearing 52.

As best shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a high speed angering assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 60. The angering assembly 60 is comprised of an outer flange 62 which is formed with a recess 64 for receiving an auger bit 66. The auger bit 66 is in the form of a solid shaft 68, one end of which is formed with a pointed tip section and the other end of which is formed with a reduced diameter stub shaft 72. The shaft 68 is machined with a pair of fluted slots 74 having a helical configuration. The auger bit 66 can be fabricated by obtaining a large twist drill of generally 1 inch diameter or greater and machining the pointed tip section 70 and reduced diameter stub shaft 72, in the form shown in FIG. 2.

The stub shaft 72 is provided with an internally threaded opening 76 for threadably engaging a set screw 78 which locks auger bit 66 onto flange 62. As shown in FIG. 1, the augering assembly 60 can be secured to outer plate 42 by means of bolts 80. The auger bit 66 is received in the internal chamber 34 with the fluted slots 74 spaced apart from and in front of the openings 36. By referring to the directional arrows 14, it can be appreciated that the flow of mortar is directed toward the tip section 70 and along the fluted slots 74. Thus, by progressively inspecting the path of the directional arrows 14, it can be seen that the mortar is conveyed in internal chamber 34 against tip section 70 in contact with the fluted slots 74 and passed through elongated slots 36 into annular chamber 46 and out between the dispersing blades 44. In this manner, through the configuration of the fluted slots 74, the rotation of the auger bit 66 creates an even flow and distribution of mortar through annular chamber 46 onto the inner walls of the pipeline 12.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar comprising a motor drive, a stationary shaft formed with an internal central housing for receiving a continuous flow of said mortar and directing said flow in a forward direction, said shaft exteriorly mounted on said motor drive, a mortar dispersing head defining an annular chamber journaled on said stationary shaft and operatively connected to said drive motor for rotating said mortar dispersing head, said stationary shaft having exterior slots such that said central housing is in flow communication with said annular chamber, a solid shaft mounted on said mortar dispersing head and positioned in said central housing, and said solid shaft formed with a pair of fluted slots and having a pointed end configuration positioned in opposing relation to said forward direction of said flow,

such that said flow of mortar is dispersed and passed through said exterior slots.

2. An apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according to claim 1, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration.

3. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar comprising an alternating current motor drive formed with an annular configuration to define a central internal opening, a stationary shaft secured to said motor drive and positioned in said internal opening, said stationary shaft formed with an internal central chamber having exterior slots for receiving a continuous flow of mortar, a hollow drive shaft journaled on said stationary shaft and operatively connected to said motor drive for rotation, a mortar dispersing head formed with an annular chamber having outer mortar dispersion slots, said mortar dispersing head journaled on said stationary shaft and keyed to said drive shaft for rotation, a solid shaft mounted in said internal central chamber in opposing relation to said flow of mortar, and said solid shaft formed with a pair of fluted slots whereby the flow of said mortar is conveyed in said internal central chamber against said solid shaft in contact with said fluted slots and passed through said exterior slots into said annular chamber and out through said dispersion slots.

4. An apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according to claim 3, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration.

5. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according to claim 3 in which the end of said auger bit opposite said pointed end configuration is integrally formed with a reduced diameter stub section, and said mortar dispersing head includes an end flange having a recess opening sized to receive said stub shaft section for mounting said auger bit in said internal central chamber.

Claims

1. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar comprising a motor drive, a stationary shaft formed with an internal central housing for receiving a continuous flow of said mortar and directing said flow in a forward direction, said shaft exteriorly mounted on said motor drive, a mortar dispersing head defining an annular chamber journaled on said stationary shaft and operatively connected to said drive motor for rotating said mortar dispersing head, said stationary shaft having exterior slots such that said central housing is in flow communication with said annular chamber, a solid shaft mounted on said mortar dispersing head and positioned in said central housing, and said solid shaft formed with a pair of fluted slots and having a pointed end configuration positioned in opposing relation to said forward direction of said flow, such that said flow of mortar is dispersed and passed through said exterior slots.