WO2004018925A1

WO2004018925A1 - Assembly system for pipe insertion

Info

Publication number: WO2004018925A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/009177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franz-Josef Püttmann
Original assignee: Tracto-Technik Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-08-20
Filing date: 2003-08-19
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Also published as: AU2003258635A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly system for connecting a pipe, designed to be pulled into the ground, to a pulling device. Said system comprises an assembling element (8), as well as fixing elements (1, 2) capable of being displaced by means of the assembling element on a plane arranged at an angle alpha relative to the axis of the pipe. The invention is characterized in that said fixing elements are arranged mobile relative to each other.

Description

"Connection for pulling in pipelines"

The invention relates to a connection system for connecting a pipe to be drawn into the ground with a pulling device and claims the priorities of German patent applications 102 38 917.3 and 102 41 610.9-24, to which reference is made in terms of content.

For the underground laying of conduit pipes, it is known to first produce an underground pilot hole, for example with a device known from German Patent 195 30 972, in order to then pull the pipe or the pipe to be pulled in, preferably in the opposite direction, into the pilot hole. Line pipes can also be installed directly when the original hole is made or by destructively replacing old pipes. A corresponding system is described in German Patent 195 08 450.

The pipe is coupled to the pull-in device via a connecting element. Such a connecting element usually consists of an expanding or cutting nipple which is screwed into the tube. The expansion nipple has segments that are pressed against the pipe wall with the aid of a cone by means of a bolt, in that the cone is moved longitudinally with the bolt in the direction of the segments.

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE In certain cases, there is a risk that pipes, which are to be used, for example, for the transport of gas or drinking water, will become soiled during installation. Since the connecting elements between the pulling-in device and the pipe to be pulled in are not tight, the pipes must be completely cleaned and, if necessary, disinfected after being pulled in, in particular if the bore passes through wet soil, before being put into use, in order to be useful for their intended function.

It has therefore proven itself in practice to first insert an inflatable rubber balloon into the tube before connecting the tube to the pull-in device. The rubber balloon in the pipe is then pressurized to serve as a seal when the pipe is pulled into the ground. After the rubber balloon has been inserted, a connecting element, preferably an expanding nipple with cutting rings which are clamped in the pipeline via a cone, is inserted into the pipeline and connected to the pulling-in device in order to enable the pipe to be pulled into the ground.

Although this known system offers sufficient sealing against contamination of the inside of the pipe, it is cumbersome to handle and time-consuming when inserted. In addition, it can be difficult to remove the gas balloon from the pipe after pulling the pipe into the ground and not to contaminate the pipe in the process. In any case, a corresponding pressure source must be available when the gas balloon is inserted and the correct position of the gas balloon must be determined in order to be able to use the connecting elements. Furthermore, the system permits operating errors, for example in that the operator forgets to insert the gas balloon into the tube or the balloon is leaky, which in turn requires extensive cleaning of the tube after it has been drawn in. In addition, there is a risk that the seal at high flushing pressure during horizontal drilling acts like a piston and is pushed further and further into the pipe during the drilling process.

From DE 197 47 250 A1 a connection system for pulling in pipelines is known which only assumes its final position after the connection element has been inserted into the pipe. This offers the advantage that a seal can be used, which is only brought into its sealing shape when the connecting element is inserted. In this connection system, the connecting element has an expandable sealing element in its front area, which is spread by a spreading head when the spreading head or the sealing element is displaced longitudinally against the pipe wall, the spreading head and / or the seal being displaceable from outside the pipe by a slide ,

The various known connection systems for pipes to be drawn into the ground have the disadvantage of a high production outlay.

The invention is based on the object of creating a connection system which is associated with low production costs.

The problem of the invention is solved by the subject matter of the main claim. Advantageous refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea that instead of fixing elements, which are spread together via a cone against the inner wall of the tube, the displacement of the fixing elements in the direction of the inner wall of the tube can be achieved by moving the fixing elements against one another. As a result of a displacement plane deviating from the pipe axis at an angle α, a displacement path is in each case achieved from the pipe axis to the outside in the direction of the pipe wall. The angle α of the plane of displacement to the pipe axis is preferably 10 ° to 60 °. In a preferred embodiment, the fixing elements have sliding surfaces on which they are moved into the fixing position. The ratio of the displacement path along the tube axis to the displacement path in the direction of the tube wall from the tube axis can be adjusted via the angle α, taking into account the desired force ratios.

The invention allows a connection system to be produced from only two components, in which the sliding surfaces can then rest against one another in the installed position. If the connection system according to the invention is designed with a rear and a front fixing element, the rear fixing element can be pulled over the front fixing element by means of a connecting element (e.g. rope or rod) on the sliding surface, so that either at least the rear fixing element or both fixing elements move in the direction of the pipe wall. The connecting element can then be coupled to a pulling device. Depending on the design of the connecting element, the holding force acting on the tube wall can be adjustable via the connecting element or can also increase with increasing pulling force acting on the connecting element via the pulling device.

The connecting element is preferably designed as a threaded rod which is arranged in an internal thread of the rear fixing element or a body provided behind the rear fixing element and pulls the rear fixing element over the front fixing element when it rotates.

A sealing element can be provided at the rear and / or front end of the fixing elements. This is preferably designed as an expandable sealing ring, which is moved by an expansion head during the longest displacement the connecting element is spread against the pipe wall. Corresponding sealing elements are described in DE 197 47 250 A1, to which reference is hereby made in full. By using a corresponding sealing element, the device according to the invention can advantageously be used for gas or drinking water pipes which must not be contaminated during installation.

It is particularly advantageous to produce the fixing elements from a one-piece body, such as a hollow cylinder with a tooth profile. Such a body can then be separated into two partial bodies by a cut that is oblique with respect to its axis, which can be used as fixing elements, while the cut surface serves as a sliding plane. The partial bodies can be inserted into the tube to be drawn, a connecting means such as a rod or a threaded rod making the connection to a pulling device, preferably via a swivel joint, and being connected to the rear partial body at the same time. In a preferred embodiment, the displacement path of the connecting means with respect to one or both fixing elements is used to spread a seal. A seal can be connected to the pipe wall by spreading or pinching. This seal can be arranged at the rear end of the fixing elements and pulled against the rear fixing element via a cone connected to the threaded rod described, the spreading of the sealing element preferably starting when the fixing element has come into engagement with the tube wall.

In another embodiment, the fixing elements are moved against one another by applying both a force on the rear and a force acting in the opposite direction on the front fixing element in order to bring them into engagement with the pipe wall and, if necessary, to spread a sealing element. In a further embodiment, a block or cylinder is cut diagonally to produce the connecting system according to the invention and one of the resulting sections is connected with a connecting means such as one or two flat bars. To fix the pipe, the second section with the inclined surface resulting from the separation is then placed against the inclined surface of the first section and the first section is drawn over the second section via the connecting means, such as flat iron in the pipe, thereby engaging in the pipe wall , This embodiment of the invention also allows solid elements to be used for the fixing elements, the connecting means being able to be arranged on the outer surface of a fixing means. The use of flat iron also has the advantage that it ensures a certain amount of guidance for the front fixing element.

The invention is explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figure. The drawing shows:

1 shows a connection system according to the invention;

2 shows another embodiment of the connection system according to the invention;

3 shows a further embodiment of the connection system according to the invention.

The connection system according to the invention has a front fixing element 1 and a rear fixing element 2, made from a hollow cylinder with tooth profile 6 separated on the surfaces 3 and 4. The separating surfaces 3, 4 also serve as a sliding plane for moving the fixing elements 1, 2 in the direction of the tube wall. To fix the fixing elements in a tube, a threaded rod 8 with a Turret 10 inserted into the bore 11 a, b of the fixing elements 1, 2 and screwed into a thread 11 c arranged on the rear fixing element 2. The sliding surfaces 3, 4 are brought to congruence and the connection system is inserted into the pipe 12 to be fixed. By turning the threaded rod 8, the rear fixing element 2 now moves up on the sliding surface 3 of the front fixing element 1 when the threaded rod 8 is connected to the fixing element 1, since the fixing element 1 has no thread. Alternatively, the threaded rod can consist of two opposite thread sections, in which case the fixing elements 1, 2 have opposite threads. In both cases, the fixing elements 1, 2 are brought into engagement with the tube 12 by turning the threaded rod. The front fixing element has a head 14 which either lies against the pipe end or can be inserted into the pipe. In the embodiment lying against the pipe end, the head 14 of the fixing element 1 can have a sealing ring which seals the head 14 against the pipe end.

In another embodiment, a sealing ring 24 is provided at the end of the rear fixing element 2 and is pulled through a pressure plate 25 via the connecting element 8 against the rear fixing element 2 in order to seal the pipe against the ingress of dirt.

In a further embodiment, a block which is diagonally separated into two fixing elements 1, 2 each has tooth profiles 36, 37. Flat irons 38, 39 are welded to a fixing element 2. The second fixing element 1 is inserted with its sliding surface 3 onto the sliding surface 4 of the fixing element 2 between the flat irons 38, 39. In this conformation, the connection system is pushed into a tube, the fixing element 2 being pulled over the fixing element 1 by means of the flat irons 38, 39 in order to fix the tube. For this purpose, the flat iron bores 40.

Claims

claims:

1. Connection system for connecting a pipe (12) to be drawn into the ground with a pulling device, with a connecting element (8), with fixing elements (1, 2) which can be displaced via the connecting element on a plane arranged at an angle α to the pipe axis that the fixing elements are arranged displaceably against each other.

2. Connection system according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing elements (1, 2) have sliding surfaces (3, 4) and are displaceable along the sliding surfaces in the fixing position.

3. Connection system according to claim 2, characterized in that the sliding surfaces (3, 4) of the fixing elements (1, 2) abut each other in the installation position.

4. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims with a rear and a front fixing element (1, 2).

5. Connection system according to claim 4, characterized in that the rear fixing element (2) is connected to the connecting element (8) and of the connecting element (8) for fixing along the plane in the direction of the front fixing element (1) is slidably formed.

6. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rear fixing element (2) is connected to the connecting element (8) and is pulled by a tensile force over the front fixing element (1).

7. Connection system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting element (8) is designed as a threaded rod which is arranged in an internal thread (11 b, 11 c) on or in the rear fixing element (2) and this when rotating pulls over the front fixing element (1).

8. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing elements (1, 2) consist of two cylindrical pieces.

9. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing means (6) are designed as a tooth profile.

10. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element has a swivel joint (10) for connecting to the pulling device.

11. Production process for at least two-part pipe fixing elements (1, 2) with fixing means (6) engaging on the pipe inner wall, characterized in that the pipe fixing elements (1, 2) by separating a body provided with fixing means (6) along a plane , which has an angle α to the envelope surface formed from the fixing means (6).

12. Pipe fixing elements according to one of claims 1 to 10, produced according to claim 10, characterized in that the parting plane is designed as a displacement plane.

13. Pipe fixing element according to claim 12 produced by separating a tube or cylinder at an angle α.

14. Pipe fixing element with a body divided obliquely into two pieces, such as a cylinder, billet, bolt, pipe or the like, and fixing means (6) arranged on the outside and connecting means (8) arranged on a partial body.

15. Pipe fixing element with a sealing element (24), which is spread against the inner wall of a tube (12) when the connecting element (8) is displaced longitudinally with a spreading means or with a longitudinal displacement of other spreading means.

16. Use of two pipe fixing elements according to one of the preceding claims for sealing the ends of a pipe.

17. Use of two pipe fixing elements according to one of the preceding claims for a pressure test.