US3830606A

US3830606A - Apparatus for installing underground pipelines

Info

Publication number: US3830606A
Application number: US00249968A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Breitfuss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-03
Filing date: 1972-05-03
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for installing preformed pipe sections or for manufacturing in place composite pipelines and reinforced and non-reinforced cast in place pipelines. The apparatus includes means for handling the components which consist of rigid pipe sections, cores or forms and flowable backpacking material such as soil, soil-cement or concrete. The apparatus serves as a protective shield and may be selfpropelled. It has optional means of articulation; of lateral and vertical guidance; of installing variable walled core components and of adjusting hopper components to place backfill material on either or both sides or around inner components. Methods are disclosed for manufacturing and installing such pipelines in either narrow or wide trenches or on flat surfaces and of forming all of these pipelines in a continuous, semi-automated fashion. The apparatus includes receptacle and backpacking portions in combination to receive and position the inner pipe sections or core forms and to distribute and trowel flowable backpackingballasting material on the sides, bottom and/or top of the inner units as the apparatus is propelled by reaction of rams against these inner units.

Description

United States Patent [1 Breitfuss [111 3,836,606 [451 Aug. 250, 1974 APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND PIPELINES Thomas K. Breitfuss, 17541 Orange Tree Ln., Tustin, Calif. 92680 221 Filed: May 3,1972

21 Appl. No.: 249,968

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John McQuade Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wm. Griffith Edwards [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus and method are disclosed for installing preformed pipe sections or for manufacturing in place composite pipelines and reinforced and nonreinforced cast in place pipelines. The apparatus includes means for handling the components which consist of rigid pipe sections, cores or forms and flowable backpacking material such as soil, soil-cement or concrete. The apparatus serves as a protective shield and may be self-propelled. It has optional means of articulation; of lateral and vertical guidance; of installing variable walled core components and of adjusting hopper components to place backfill material on either or both sides or around inner components. Methods are disclosed for manufacturing and installing such pipelines in either narrow or wide trenches or on flat surfaces and of forming all of these pipelines in a continuous, semi-automated fashion.

The apparatus includes receptacle and backpacking portions in combination to receive and position the inner pipe sections or core forms and to distribute and trowel flowable backpacking-ballasting material on the sides, bottom and/or top of the inner units as the apparatus is propelled by reaction of rams against these inner units.

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APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING UNDERGROUND PKPELHNES My invention relates to apparatus for installing pipelines to be located below the surface of the ground and particularly to improved methods and apparatus utilizing preformed core or form members for installing such lines with a high degree of safety to workmen and for providing more effective and economical installation.

The present invention is an improvement on the inventions disclosed and claimed in my co-pending applications Ser. No. 16,522 filed Mar. 4, 1970 (now abandoned); Ser. No. 200,157 filed Nov. 18, 1971 and now abandoned and Ser. No. 208,353 filed Dec. 15, 1971.

Heretofore the most common method of installing pipelines four inches or larger in internal diameter has been to assemble preformed pipe sections, usually factory manufactured, in tandem relationship on a prepared bedding of selected material and to build up layers of compacted or consolidated backpacked soil-type material at the sides so as to reform the surrounding soil structure. The assembly has been made manually or by methods described later in efforts to obtain and maintain proper alignment and slope of the pipeline. The material compacted at the sides of the pipeline helps to support the overfill on the conduit and to transfer lateral support from the trench or embankment at the sides to the pipe itself to limit horizontal deflections.

These prior methods have not proved satisfactory for all applications and have had disadvantages from the standpoint of the safety to workmen in trenches, assurance that the pipe sections are held in position as desired and assurance that the backpacked material is adequately placed and compacted. The apparatus and method of installing pipelines described in this specification eliminate these objectional characteristics of construction, offering a better and a more economical installation.

My present invention provides an improved arrangement for forming a trench-like outer form using soil itself, an improved arrangement for supporting and holding the core units, and improved apparatus for depositing the external backpacking component of cast in place concrete over selected areas of the core.

Another type of pipeline known heretofore consists of assembled pipe sections which are encased in concrete in the field in which the sections and concrete are not designed to act as a homogeneous structure. My present invention provides unique improvements in this type of construction including an arrangement for preventing flotation of the sections and for holding them in position during field casting. Several other advantages will be apparent as my present apparatus and method are described.

Still another type of underground pipeline known heretofore is that which is cast in place using temporary inner forms and the trench sides and bottom as an outer form. My invention provides advantages over such apparatus of forming conduits. These advantages include improved motivation of the apparatus and means of reinforcing the conduit itself which heretofore has not been available.

My invention provides a unique apparatus for installing all of the above pipelines and most other types of underground pipelines. It will be noted that each of the above described pipelines heretofore available consists of two primary components an inner component which is either a pipe section, a core unit or an inner form, and an outer component which is a soil-type material, coil cement, or a concrete type material. The inner component is comparatively rigid in the longitudinal direction such that it can be pushed from either end while the outer component is plastic or flowable so that it can be formed on or around the inner component. The apparatus and method described herein provide means of manipulating these components in a novel manner to construct superior and more economical pipelines than heretofore. Means are provided to position and hold the inner component in a novel manner in precise position and to place and consolidate bedding and backfilling material or concrete, both referred to also as backpacking material, in a novel manner to cover selected portions of the inner components as the apparatus advances.

In order to install prior pipelines consisting of preformed pipe sections, or preformed core units with soiltype or concrete type backpacking, the sections were lowered into a prepared trench or on to prepared bedding material and assembled in tandem relationship. Assembly has been generally accomplished by pushing the spigot or male end of the newly placed section into the socket or female end of the previously placed unit although the reverse procedure may be used. Either placement method requires careful guidance and, in the case of heavy conduit sections, requires suspending the new section from above to relieve friction until the joint is formed, thus occupying the time of a hoisting device. It is usually necessary to pull heavy sections together with auxilliary winch-type devices. These devices have been anchored temporarily about four or five joints behind the newly placed unit to use the frictional forces of the laid line and the ground to pull against. The winches are moved forward as successive conduit units are placed.

One purpose of my present invention is to provide an apparatus for inserting new conduit units into the joint of the preceding unit without support from above and without separate winching devices to pull the conduit units together.

In prior conduit construction separation or backing off of pipe sections previously laid is a problem caused by such things as insufficient friction developed between the prior laid sections and the ground when the compression of gaskets between the joints is relieved when winches or other restraining devices are repositioned or when a trench shield is moved forward externally, dragging soil and pipe ahead. My present apparatus does not require winches or friction to pull joints home and thereby avoids this tendency for separation. Furthermore the use of my invention pushes, rather than pulls, joints together and also includes an arrangement for covering the conduit immediately after joint placement to aid in holding the sections in the desired position.

Current methods of construction of pipelines in trenches usually require positioning of one or more workmen in the trench or where the joint is made to help guide the new section into position and to adjust bedding materials to properly support the pipe on grade. This practice may not be safe if the trench walls are higher than 4 to 5 feet and sheeting or shoring is then often required to prevent sloughing or caving of to guard against cave-ins and to protect any workmen who might be within them.

The apparatus consists primarily of a forward portion called the receptacle, a rearward portion called the backpacking-ballasting portion and a bulkhead separating them. Means are provided to lower, receive and hold core or pipe units and to support atleast one end of such units within the receptacle. The other, or rearward, end of the inner component is held by the previously placed inner component in the preferred version as the apparatus passes over the assembly while backpacking material is distributed on selected surfaces on or around the inner component assemblies from a hopper-like device in the backpacking portion. The bulkhead has an inside periphery approximating the outside perimeter of the interior component units thus precluding backpacking material from entering the receptacle. Passage of the apparatus may be accomplished in the preferred version by reactive force of means located within the receptacle pushing against the ends of the core or inner units.

Both portions of the apparatus must function together to install a pipeline properly. The forward portion has several functions. In addition to receiving and positioning inner components and acting as a shield against cave-ins it may contain means to advance the apparatus and its side walls may serve as forms against which an artificial trench may be formed to act as an outer form for the backpacking material. The backpacking portion must follow immediately because the material it has deposited under the inner components determines the grade or slope of the line by supporting units which are surrounded by the backpacked material. Because the backpacking portion is attached to the receptacle and works in conjunction with it, it may be positioned precisely to place trowell and screed a predetermined thickness of flowable backpack material atop the inner component while preventing flotation of the inner component.

Heretofore trench shields which were used to protect workmen from cave-ins have been moved forward by external means as progressive pipe sections were joined. As mentioned previously this practice dragged at the pipe or backfill and pulled joints apart. This disclosure teaches alternative self-contained propulsion by reactive means such as rams or a rack and pinion system which is mechanically, hydraulically or electrically operated against end portions of the inner component in the receptacle. If rams are used, cylinders of great length need not be used if they are retracted and filler rings or extensions are utilized to push the full length of the core unit. Alternatively a ratchet type of device may be utilized to push the inner component in successive increments on the forward stroke of a reciprocating device.

One means of propulsion is illustrated using 4 rams. The selective activation of the two rams at each side will cause the forward section to turn a desired small angle as the apparatus moves forward. Rams at the top and bottom adjust the movement in a vertical direction. Proper placement of 3 rams around the periphery would also permit selective movement vertically and horizontally in a controlled manner. Thus this invention teaches guidance by selective activation of reactive devices located within the receptacle.

Another feature of this invention provides optional flexing or sliding joints in and/or between the conduit receptacle and the backpacking portion so that articulation may be achieved to permit the apparatus and conduit to turn short radius horizontal or vertical bends. Holding devices such as mechanical, electrical, air or hydraulic double-acting cylinders may be mounted at these joints to provide or to maintain a desired degree of articulation.

The placement of material under and/or at the sides of a conduit in the field requires that the conduit section be held in a fixed position during placement and consolidation phases. Further, the conduit must be prevented from floating during these phases due to its buoyancy relative to the backfill if the backfill is fluid and if it is placed in one lift. A purpose of the invention disclosed herein is to provide an apparatus and method of positioning and holding the inner components laterally while holding them vertically to prevent flotation during placement of the backfill or of concrete overlays. Lateral restraint is obtained by holding the units at each end while the combined weights of the backpacking portion itself and the material being placed prevent vertical displacement. Thus another object of this invention is to provide constant vertical and horizontal alignment of the conduit during construction.

It is most desirable for a composite conduit or for any conduit in which the bedding is expected to support the pipe that the material under the pipe be of predictable density and completely fill the space between the pipe and the prepared base. An externally placed concrete component which will act structurally with the core unit and transfer support from the ground to the conduit is expected to bond to the outside of the core unit in all preselected areas. To accomplish these objectives it is important that the field placed materials be in intimate contact with the core and with the ground and that said external component be virtually free of unexpected voids and honeycombing. This invention diminishes contamination by placing the core units in the receptacle which may be isolated from the soil as desired. It further reduces voids and honeycombing by placement of backfill or concrete on only one side of the conduit so that the material is forced under and around the conduit and up the other side by hydrostatic pressure created by the height and weight of the flowable backfill material in the hopper of the backpacking portion. In some cases it is desirable to place material on only one side of the inner component or on both sides simultaneously or selectively. Means are provided to accomplish this selection. Thus another feature of this invention is to provide means to place backpack mate rial on either side of the inner component or on both sides simultaneously.

It may be desirable to allow backfill material to pass above the top of the inner component at the sides without covering it. Thus means are provided with sliding portions of the hopper slide to position selectively such that they may divert upward flowing backpacking material back under them and over the pipe or core section when in the down position and allow the passage of said flowable material either up or down when in the up position.

Another feature of this invention is to provide for maintaining the backfill in a fluid-like condition for placement and consolidation by vibration or from tampers attached to the hopper section of the apparatus.

A major difficulty of previous pipeline construction methods involved installation in trenches containing water. The construction of my apparatus with a solid facing at the front and the sides of the receptacle conforming with the sides of the trench isolates the apparatus and the pipeline from water ahead of the apparatus. If running water is encountered in uphill construction, a passage can be constructed through the facing to convey the water directly into the pipeline being installed such that it will be safely conveyed through the justplaced pipe. Thus this invention teaches improved pipeline construction in wet ditches with means to convey flowing water from the excavation. Still another feature of this invention is to allow the construction of a pipeline in a very wide trench or on flat ground by the use of the apparatus with stabilizing out-riggers. As the pipeline is being formed, select soil can be pushed against the apparatus from each side and compacted so that the backfill at the sides forms an artificial trench with the apparatus acting as the inner form. The backfill is completed behind the stabilizers during the forward movement of the apparatus and the top of the pipeline may be covered immediately afterwards.

This invention also teaches the use of rigid removable inner forms instead of permanent preformed core or conduit units to produce a completely cast in place pipeline with the advantages cited for semi-automation, self-propulsion, articulation, controlled alignment, material placement, vibration and safety as with the composite unit. In addition means and methods are provided to reinforce the conduit as it is being formed. Heretofore, no apparatus or method has been disclosed to make a reinforced cast in place pipeline with a semiautomated apparatus.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an isometric view of one embodiment of my invention showing a preformed core unit suspended above the receptacle section and a finished conduit extruded behind the backpacking portion;

FIG. 1a is a isometric, somewhat diagrammatic view of the apparatus showing a ram and single ring to react against the inner component with controllable shoes to adjust direction of travel;

FIG. lb is an isometric, somewhat diagrammatic view of the apparatus showing the hoist for lowering preformed core units.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the backpackingballasting portion of FIG. 1 indicating alternate positions of the upper hopper slide and the lowest portion of the slide;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one type of a fluid operated mechanism for holding an articulated joint in position;

FIG. 4a is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention illustrating an arrangement for achieving horizontal and vertical articulation;

FIG. 4b is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 4c is a side view of the joint in the back-packing portion of the embodiment of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of relative dimensional differences in the inner component in radius sections;

FIG. 6 is a portion of the bulkhead illustrating means of changing the inner periphery of the bulkhead to allow for changes in the periphery of the inner component;

FIGS. 7a and 7b show a reciprocating rachet-type arrangement to provide reactive propulsion of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a section through the receptacle showing an alternative inner component;

FIG. 9 is a section through the receptacle showing still another inner component and outrigged stabilizers in a wide trench;

FIGS. 10a, 10b and show collapsible inner forms used to make straight and curved cast in place pipelines;

FIG. 11a is a cross section through the receptacle showing a preferred form of making reinforced case in place pipe; and

FIG. 11b is a longitudinal section through the apparatus of FIG. 11a showing the use of spacer units in conjunction with the inner component and cage to make reinforced cast in place pipe.

Referring now to the drawings, the isometric view in FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of the pipe receivingpositioning-backpacking apparatus 1 moving from the upper right of the illustration out of the picture toward the lower left as indicated by the arrow in the lower left. Shown above the apparatus is an inner component, in this case a preformed core unit 2 with mechanical means to bond cast in place concrete to selected areas on its outer surface. Arrows pointing downward indicate its being lowered into the receptacle 3 which rests on the ground 4. The inner component will be lowered onto guide support means 5. Note that these guides are parallel. FIG. lb shows a hoist comprising two A-frame end members 3a, horizontal longitudinal support members 3b and a cross member or track 3c which supports a hoisting mechanism 3d. The hoisting mechanism carries a gripping bar 3e for gripping the ends of the core 2 when positioning the core above the receptacle 3 and lowering it into the receptacle onto the guides 5.

A finished pipeline 6 is shown uncovered for clarity although preferred construction would have it at least contained at the sides. When the apparatus is positioned in a trench it is held vertically by the walls of the trench and the outrigged stabilizers 7 are not mounted or required. When on open ground or in a wide trench the slidably adjustable outriggers hold the apparatus vertically. Backfill material can be placed and consolidated against the sides of the receptacle behind the stabilizers to form an artificial trench using the receptacle walls as a form.

The backpacking portion of the apparatus 8 serves several functions including backfilling, ballasting, consolidating, metering and trowelling the outer component. It has side walls 9 which are shown set in in this version to permit horizontal turning of the conduit without undue binding.

At the front of the apparatus 10 are shown means to exert force to push against the inner component sections and said means are represented as reciprocating hydraulic or pneumatic rams 11a, 12a, 11b and 12b which are activated from a remote location by means of a hose 13. Obviously the shape of the front and the means of providing reactive force against the inner components could be of many different types. For example the front could be rounded and the reactive means could be mechanically activated chains and sprockets, a series of racks and pinions mounted within the receptacle or the reciprocating rachet arrangement illustrated later.

' Force is applied to the end of the inner component unit through partial or full, flat or contoured pads represented as attached to the movable portion 17 and of the rams 12a and 11a. Other means, such as rings, may be used instead of pads to distribute the load without crushing the core ends. The horizontal rams 11a, 11b, 12a and 12b and portions 17 and 20 illustrate means of exerting force uniformly against the core which, be reaction, propels the apparatus straight forward. By selectively varying the force on one or the other ram, the apparatus is pointed slightly in the opposite direction thus directing the apparatus'in a curved path. Thus rams 11a and 1 lb control horizontal deflections and rams 12a and 12b control vertical deflections, all from a remote location as desired. Three points of activation will also serve to provide horizontal and vertical deflection of the apparatus and the various reactive devices mentioned earlier could be used to provide similar control of direction.

Numerous arrangements have-been provided heretofore for connecting inner component units involving male and female connections including tongues and grooves. bells and spigots, butt ends with sleeves or dowels and all can be installed with the apparatus and methods herein described. Essentially, the mating units will align because of the guides 5 in the receptacle. The backpack holds the section which has been previously placed so that the mating portion of the new section will align properly. Inasmuch as the rearjoint of the previously placed inner component unit has been covered with compacted material, it is supported and held in position. The newly placed component is supported and positioned by the guides 5 and the forward joint of the previously placed unit. The bulkhead 14 is preferably shaped to conform with the outside periphery of the inner component to prevent excessive leakage of backpacking material into the receptacle.

The backpacking portion of the, apparatus 8 is attached to the receptacle at a predetermined elevation such that clearance will be provided under the trowel 18 for the desired thickness of deposited material. The backpacking portion also acts as ballast to hold the inner component unit from floating during placement of the external component in the flowable state. A spacer is required under the end of the first core placed in a line and over the core to obtain the spaced relationship between the ground and the core and between the core and the trowel l8. Thereafter, the placed material in the outer component will maintain this relationship.

The backpacking portion obviously moves forward with the receptacle portion. Select backfill 19 of a soil type or of a concrete type, having been introduced into the hopper 8 is allowed to flow down the sides of the inner component. Note that the inner component is smaller in width than the trench to allow the exterior component to flow alongside it. Concrete or backfill material may be vibrated or tamped to aid in maintaining flowability and to assist in consolidating it in place. One method of obtaining vibration may be by mounting vibrators 21, represented schematically, on the sloped portion of the hopper. Thus, as the apparatus moves forward, the deposited external component has been placed on the core in selected areas, is vibrated and screeded and trowelled, leaving a finished conduit 6 behind.

FIG. 1a shows a single power source used to advance the apparatus la. This same source, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic power unit, can deliver the required power to the rams cylinder 11 and selectively to other powered units within the apparatus. The ram 20a in this illustration pushes a ring r against the inner component unit (not illustrated in FIG. la). With a single ram 20a and a large plate or ring r to distribute the force, the apparatus would follow a curved trench of sufficiently stiff material without selective means of realignment. However, FIG. 1a illustrates a positive means of obtaining realignment involving the use of retractable sliding shoes is mounted near the front of the receptacle. In this illustration one shoe is located at each side and one at the bottom of the receptacle. The shoes are normally flush with the exterior surface of the receptacle and are extended and retracted selectively by rams or other such devices within the receptacle and which may be activated remotely through control lines or tubes t. Pushing any one shoe against the soil will force the apparatus in the opposite direction, thus achieving guidance to either side or upward as desired.

FIG. 2 shows the inner core unit 2a represented here as a pipe section in the installed position, in a sectional view through the backpacking-ballasting portion 8. The lower portions of the hopper 24 are shown fixed as is the trowel 18. The upper portion of the angled slide of the hopper is shown in position 22a to allow material to flow to the left side of the illustrated inner component. It could be positioned to position 22b to allow flow to both sides or to 220 to limit flow to the right. A slidable portion 23a and 23c on the lower part of the slides 24 can also be positioned to allow material to pass as in 230 and 23b or to be deflected as in 23a. 23b represents the position of 23a when slid up to allow passage of the outer component. When the outer component material 19 is allowed to flow around one side of the inner component 2a, hydrostatic pressure causes it to surround the inner component and rise on the right side where it is directed by the deflector 23a to the top of the inner component and under the trowel 18.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one method of holding a joint in a given position to force articulation. 25 represents the sliding joint. A cylinder 26 is attached to one panel and the ram 27 is attached to the other panel. An activating hose 28 is shown leading to a remote location. Several units of this type could be mounted across joints within the receptacle or the hopper to provide the desired degree of controlled articulation.

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate means of obtaining horizontal and vertical articulation. FIG. 4a is an isometric view of the back of the receptacle 29 and the front of the backpacking portion 30. The two portions are independent units pinned at points 31a and 31b and overlapping at 32a and 32b. This arrangement permits the receptacle 29 to pivot in a horizontal plane until restricted by interference between points 33a and 34a in one direction and points 33b and 34b in the other.

Vertical articulation means are also illustrated in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c. In the example shown, one of many possible configurations, the rearward portion 36 of the backpacker is an assembly separate from the forward portion 30. The two assemblies are pinned at points 370 and 37b to allow pivoting of the rearward portion about said pins. Upward pivoting of the rearward portion is illustrated by the dotted lines 38 in FIG. 40. In this

version plates

39a and 3% are attached to the rearward portions and overlap the seams 35a and 35b. Only the lower portion of the hopper slides 40a and 40b are shown and only in FIG. 4b to show that they are attached to the rearward portion 40 and that a space 41 is left between them and the front plate 30a. A flap 42 overlaps this gap and is attached to plate 300 to allow the front and rear portions of the hopper to move without allowing excessive backpacking material to spill through said gap. Movement would eventually be restricted by interference at point 42a. It is obvious that means such as illustrated in FIG. 3 could be incorporated to cause and/or restrain the articulation illustrated.

FIG. 4a shows another feature which may be incorporated in this apparatus to assist in guiding and/or holding the inner components. The guides a and 5b are shown pinned at points 43a and 43b while the other ends are pinned to a cross bar 44 at points 45a and 45b such as to form three sides of a parallelogram. If such an arrangement is incorporated in the apparatus, several guidance alternatives are available to the operator. For example, when the apparatus is slightly off line, the guides may be left free to align the inner component independent of the alignment of the apparatus. On the other hand, the operator may choose to force realignment of the inner component in relation to the alignment of the receptacle. This could be accomplished by forcing the forward portion of the guides, near the cross bar 44 to one side or the other by means such as shown using a ram 46 which is remotely driven and directed through means 47. Line 48 is described in conjunction with the following FIGS. 5 and 6.

It will be noted that the bulkhead could be attached to the receptacle section instead of the backpacking section, offering simplicity of bulkhead design to utilize bevelled sections. A special bulkhead may be required for the version illustrated and is described below. It will also be noted that these means of articulating the apparatus are only two of several possible means.

FIG. 5 illustrates the junction of a straight and a bevelled inner component unit used to turn a radius in the pipeline. X represents the outside diameter of the straight portion of the bevelled section and y represents the dimension of the outside diameter of the straight component. X and y are equal. However, z represents the dimension of the bevel at the junction and must be greater than x or y. Therefore, as the apparatus turns the corner past the bevel, the bulkhead 49 must increase in width to allow passage. Means to do this are shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the inner periphery 51 of the bulkhead to be formed by the edges of overlapping flaps 50a and 50b. Flaps 50b may-be thicker than flaps 500 except at overlaps 500. The flaps can be semi-rigid and attached by pins or other such means 52 to the bulkhead. Thus, their natural position would be parallel with the face of the bulkhead. 50b flaps are shown behind 50a flaps on an alternating basis. The

flaps are held against the bulkhead by the hydrostatic pressure of the backpacking material behind them but they will fold back slightly to form a larger periphery when a rigid inner component of greater periphery, such as a belled end or a bevelled section, is encountered. The flaps automatically fold forward to position 51 after the passage of the larger periphery, due again to hydrostatic pressure.

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate one ratchet arrangement for advancing inner component sections with short stroke rams 53. FIG. 7a is a section through the receptacle while FIG. 7b is a side view w-w of part of the ratchet system. Plates 54 are in a natural position 55 by action of the springs 56, but are depressed and held in temporary depressed position by the inner component 57 unit (not shown in FIG. 7b) as it is placed in the receptacle on to guides 5. The retainers 59 prevent the plates from rotating beyond the desired angle indicated, which brings the plates into position to bear against the end of the inner component or the adjacent plate. The plate assemblies and springs are mounted on a longitudinal rod 60 and reciprocate in a longitudinal direction by action of the ram. After advancing one stroke which is at least slightly longer than one plate length, the assembly returns, releasing the next plate unit and so on until the apparatus is pushed the length of a full inner component or as far less than that as is desired. Note that when the plates are in alignment, they are shown bearing against the face of the inner component at area 61, 62 being a line which denotes the inside peripheral surface of the female connection. Note that rams are one of several possible reactive means.

FIG. 8 is a section through the receptacle showing one of several core unit shapes that can be handled by variations of this apparatus using the methods described in this specification. Shown is a flat based pipe shape with a circular inner periphery 63. The bulkhead 64 has an inner periphery 65 shaped to conform to the outer periphery of the pipe section. No bottom is shown in the receptacle so the conduit rests directly on the prepared soil and is positioned in alignment by guides 66 which also serve as slides to prevent the apparatus from digging in as it is advanced. The hopper slides 24 and the trowel l8 behind the bulkhead are shown dotted.

FIG. 9 is another section through a receptacle illustrating still another shape which can be handled by the type of apparatus and method described herein. In this case the inner component 67 has a circular interior periphery and a circular exterior periphery but they are not concentric and the wall thickness is thicker at the top than at the bottom. The bulkhead 68 again has an inner peripheral opening 69 approximating the outer periphery of the inner component. Outriggers 7a have been mounted at the forward portion of the apparatus to hold it in a vertical position in an open trench 70. Selected soil 71 has been piled up behind the outriggers to form an artificial trench through which the apparatus passes.

This apparatus may be used with inner forms to manufacture completely cast in place pipelines semiautomatically. The inner component forms may be quite rigid in the longitudinal direction so as to provide reactive propulsion when pushed from the front of the apparatus or at the sides. They are also collapsible, containing a longitudinal seam and a mechanism (not shown) such as one of the many available eccentric levers to reduce their peripheral dimension for removal. Such mechanisms are preferably actuated longitudinally to facilitate removal from one end of the conduit after it has hardened. FIGS. a, 10b and 100 are shown to illustrate one form of this construction. The core unit 72 in FIG. 10a has a longitudinal seam 73 and a spigot 74 which is a type of internal sleeve in this illustration although it could be of the reduced periphery shown by squeezing or machining or other means so that it will fit into the female end 75 of the previously positioned form. FIG. 10!) shows the core unit 72 fitted into the previously placed form 76. In this construction, the first section cast is formed around a core unit supported on pads or blocks at the beginning of the line. The pipe or conduit is formed between the core form as an inner form and the trench as the outer form as the apparatus is passed by the core units. The second and succeeding core units are supported by the guides at one end and by the section already in place at the other.

FIG. 10c shows a bevel form for cast in place con- I struction of bends in the line. The form 77 is lowered into the receptacle and pushed forward. Point 78 contacts the edge of the core unit ahead and additional force 79 forces the apparatus to turn (in this case clockwise in plan view) until contact is made at point 80. Assuming that previously placed sections are properly positioned and backfilled, the apparatus will then move forward by reactive means in a straight line along its new path.

Reinforced cast in place pipe may be made with this apparatus in the following manner. Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b a reinforcement cage 85 is preassembled with longitudinal spacer-stiffeners 850 at a location other than its final installed location and is taken to the installation site where it is slipped over an inner form 81 in FIG. 11a before it is lowered into the receptacle 82. Again the seam 73 to allow peripheral reduction by overlapping 73a is shown in FIG. 11a. Spacers 88a and 8812 are used to position the cage. In this instance an elliptical cage is used so that peripheral reinforcement will be in at least the tension areas of the final cast pipeline. The inner periphery 85a of the fixed bulkhead 86 again conforms to the outer periphery of the reinforcing cage.

A movable bulkhead unit 83 about 2 feet in length is positioned between the inner form 81 and the reinforcing cage 85 as the first assembly is placed on the guides 87. The spacer has hook arrangements 84 which are engaged by bars 88 or other means which in turn extend between the cage and core and are attached to a fixed portion 89 near the front of the receptacle. The length of the bars enables the spacer to move with the core and cage into the bulkhead a few inches but no farther. Meanwhile the cage has been equipped with hairpins or similar type hooks 90 to overlap and engage the reinforcement of the previously placed cage. The apparatus is advanced by internal reactive means 91 or by external means. Note that,'if advanced externally, the core units should also be pinned together so that they and the cage remain in position while the apparatus and the spacer move past them. Temporary spacers 88a and 88b space the core from the cage during positioning and production until they are knocked out by the bulkhead unit 83. The longitudional rods are retracted when a new assembly is lowered into the receptacle. The cages are hooked together and the rods reconnected and the manufacturing cycle repeated. The hopper slides 40 and trowel 18 are indicated behind the bulkhead 86. 5 It will be apparent that in all of these illustrations the movement of the apparatus may be by reactive force generated within the apparatus or it may be by external means such as pulling with a winch or tractor or other means.

In addition it will be noted that almost all components of this apparatus may be used with various sizes of inner component simply by widening the receptacle and relocating the backpacking unit at the desired elevation and a description of these further details is not essential to an understanding of the present invention.

In addition this invention provides a mounting for a revolving jib (not shown) or an A-frame, such as illustrated in FIG. 16, with hoisting means to at least lower inner component units into the receptacle and to advance as the apparatus advances.

I claim:

1. An apparatus arranged to manipulate rigid inner and flowable outer components for forming underground pipelines comprising:

an open topped receptacle portion in which at least the sides form the sides of a trench-like structure, said receptacle beingconstructed and arranged to receive individual component units through the open top thereof, and said apparatus including means for positioning individual inner component units and for supporting at least one end of an inner component unit in position while the other end thereof is positioned by a previously installed inner component unit and supported by a portion of the previously installed structure while said apparatus is moved longitudinally past said inner component,

said apparatus having a backpacking-ballasting portion attached to said receptacle portion, said backpacking-ballasting portion including a hopperlike device with means for controlling the distribution of said flowable outer component on predetermined portions of said inner component while said apparatus advances, and

a bulkhead separating said receptacle portion from said backpacking portion, said bulkhead having a peripheral inner opening of approximately the same size and shape as the outer periphery of said inner component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said receptacle portion includes walls joining the sidewalls and extending upwardly and positioned for providing a shield to restrain soil which impinges against its sides from entering said receptacle.

3. An apparatus arranged to manipulate rigid inner and flowable outer components for forming underground pipelines comprising:

an open topped receptacle portion in which at least the sides form the sides of a trench-like structure, said apparatus including means for positioning individual inner component units and for supporting at least one end of an inner component unit in position while the other end thereof is positioned by a previously installed inner component unit and supported by a portion of the previously installed structure while said apparatus is moved longitudinally past said inner component,

said apparatus including pushing means mounted in said receptacle portion for utilizing reactive force by pushing against rigid inner components for advancing said apparatus,

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the inner component is a preformed conduit core unit which may vary in wall thickness about its perimeter, and including means for bonding the inner and outer components together at least at the upper or lower mating surfaces to act as an integral structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including three or more pushing means adapted to be selectively activated to guide said apparatus curvilinearly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which at least said receptacle portion is articulated relative to said backpacking portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said hopper-like structure of said backpacking portion is adapted to be positioned at predetermined elevations relative to said bulkhead,

said hopper-like structure is adapted to be selectively adjusted to allow the external component to flow to either side or to both sides of the inner component, and

portions of said hopper-like structure are adapted to be positioned selectively to either direct the external component which has flowed down one side, under and up the other side of the inner component to flow over the top of said inner component, to prevent its upward movement beyond a predetermined elevation, or to flow upward without restriction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including means attached to the backpacking portion of said apparatus for aiding in maintaining the outer component in a flowable state during distribution.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein outrigged stabilizers are provided at least at one end to assist in maintaining the apparatus in an upright position.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner component is a preformed pipe section which may vary in wall thickness about its perimeter, and

wherein said bulkhead includes means for adjusting the opening therein in accordance with the configuration of the outer periphery of said inner component.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner component is a removable inner conduit form and wherein means are provided to position reinforcement therearound and the opening in said bulkhead is of approximately the same size and shape as the outer periphery of reinforcement positioned around said inner compo nent.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner component is a removable inner conduit form and wherein means are provided to position at least tensile reinforcement around the inner component such that said reinforcement becomes embedded in said outer component as said outer component is deposited.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein means are provided to position at least tensile reinforcement around the inner component such that said reinforcement becomes embedded in said outer component as said outer component is deposited.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said bulkhead has an inner opening of approximately the same size and shape as the larger of the outer periphery of the inner component or the outer periphery of reinforcement positioned around said inner component.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which means are provided to allow the periphery of the opening in said bulkhead to change to conform to a change in the larger of the outer periphery of said inner component or of said reinforcement.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 including means attached thereto which will at least lower inner component units into said receptacle portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 3 including stabilizer means for holding said receptacle portion upright and in which the side walls of said receptacle portion constitute form means to shape soil which impinges against its sides to the configuration of said receptacle at areas of mutual contact.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are provided to position at least tensile reinforcement around the inner component such that said reinforcement becomes embedded in said outer component as said outer component is deposited.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner component is a removable inner conduit form, said apparatus including means to position at least tensile reinforcement around the inner component such that said reinforcement becomes embedded in said outer component as said outer component is deposited.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the forward end of said receptacle is enclosed for preventing the passage of water into said receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus arranged to manipulate rigid inner and flowable outer components for forming underground pipelines comprising: an open topped receptacle portion in which at least the sides form the sides of a trench-like structure, said receptacle being constructed and arranged to receive individual component units through the open top thereof, and said apparatus including means for positioning individual inner component units and for supporting at least one end of an inner component unit in position while the other end thereof is positioned by a previously installed inner component unit and supported by a portion of the previously installed structure while said apparatus is moved longitudinally past said inner component, said apparatus having a backpacking-ballasting portion attached to said receptacle portion, said backpacking-ballasting portion including a hopper-like device with means for controlling the distribution of said flowable outer component on predetermined portions of said inner component while said apparatus advances, and a bulkhead separating said receptacle portion from said backpacking portion, said bulkhead having a peripheral inner opening of approximately the same size and shape as the outer periphery of said inner component.

3. An apparatus arranged to manipulate rigid inner and flowable outer components for forming underground pipelines comprising: an open topped receptacle portion in which at least the sides form the sides of a trench-like structure, said apparatus including means for positioning individual inner component units and for supporting at least one end of an inner component unit in position while the other end thereof is positioned by a previously installed inner component unit and supported by a portion of the previously installed structure while said apparatus is moved longitudinally past said inner component, said apparatus including pushing means mounted in said receptacle portion for utilizing reactive force by pushing against rigid inner components for advancing said apparatus, said apparatus having a backpacking-ballasting portion attached to said receptacle portion, said backpacking-ballasting portion including a hopper-like device with means for controlling the distribution of said flowable outer component on predetermined portions of said inner component while said apparatus advancEs, and a bulkhead separating said receptacle portion from said backpacking portion, said bulkhead having a peripheral inner opening of approximately the same size and shape as the outer periphery of said inner component.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said hopper-like structure of said backpacking portion is adapted to be positioned at predetermined elevations relative to said bulkhead, said hopper-like structure is adapted to be selectively adjusted to allow the external component to flow to either side or to both sides of the inner component, and portions of said hopper-like structure are adapted to be positioned selectively to either direct the external component which has flowed down one side, under and up the other side of the inner component to flow over the top of said inner component, to prevent its upward movement beyond a predetermined elevation, or to flow upward without restriction.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner component is a preformed pipe section which may vary in wall thickness about its perimeter, and wherein said bulkhead includes means for adjusting the opening therein in accordance with the configuration of the outer periphery of said inner component.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inner component is a removable inner conduit form and wherein means are provided to position reinforcement therearound and the opening in said bulkhead is of approximately the same size and shape as the outer periphery of reinforcement positioned around said inner component.