AU2013100310A4 - Pipe transport system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A skid for storing and transporting pipe including a frame structure supporting two spools. The spools have central axes that are spaced apart such that the central axes run in parallel. The pipe is able to be wound around the outside of the two spaced apart spools. At least 5 one support means is positioned between the two spools to support at least the upper length of pipe extending between the two spools.

Description

P100/01 1 Regulaton 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Pipe transport system and method The following statement is a full description of this Invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 Pipe transport system and method Field of the invention The present invention relates to a spool assembly for the storing and transportation of pipe, the pipe being of a flexible nature to allow for winding onto spools, such as that made from 5 high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a polyethylene thermoplastic, more commonly known as poly pipe. Background of the invention Flexible pipe that is installed underground over long distances is typically produced via extrusion and is wound onto a spool for storage and transport. The length of the individual pipe 10 that can be wound around a single spool is greatly dependent on the diameter of the pipe. For pipe with a diameter in the order of 300mm, typically a single length of 240 metres can be wound onto a single spool. The spools are transported to the working site for installation by a truck, which can typically hold three spools of this size, resulting in approximately 720 metres of pipe being delivered by one truck, in three separate pieces. 15 The main drawback of using the standard lengths of pipe is that each time that a pipe is installed and a new length needs to be joined, down time of at least one hour is incurred. Joining is usually done with heat fusion, where the ends of the two pipes to be joined are heated simultaneously and pressed together. The two pipes must then cool to form a permanent bond. The cooling process is crucial, as the join must be strong enough to allow the pipes to be pulled 20 long distances through the underground tunnel. It is therefore a desired object of the invention to provide a way to store and transport longer lengths of pipe to site for installation, or at least provide an alternative to current techniques. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an 25 acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

3 Summary of the invention According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a skid for storing and transporting pipe, including: a frame structure supporting two spools having central axis spaced apart such that the 5 central axis run in parallel, whereby the pipe is able to be wound around the outside of the two spaced apart spools; and at least one support means positioned between the two spools to support at least the upper length of pipe extending between the two spools. Preferably, the skid is capable of being lifted by a forklift to move between winding, 10 storage, transport and installation. The pipe may be wound directly onto the skid during the manufacturing process of the pipe. Additionally, the pipe may be directly wound off the skid and installed underground. The skid may be transported on a truck trailer. Drive means is preferably provided to drive rotation of the spools, which is particularly useful during winding onto and unwinding of the pipe. 15 The frame is advantageously longitudinal with the spools located at either end. The support means preferably includes horizontal members running across the width of the frame directly underneath the wound pipe. Additional horizontal members may run underneath the lower length of pipe extending between the two spools. The support means may be capable of being lifted to adjust to the weight of the pipe; raising or lowering the pipe to ensure tension is 20 maintained. There is preferably provided a guide device at one end of the frame. The guide device may be removable. The guide device advantageously provides two horizontally spaced vertical rollers to guide the pipe onto the spools at the appropriate position across the length of the spool. Preferably the guide device also includes two vertically spaced horizontal rollers to ensure the 25 pipe is fed onto the spools in line with the top surface of the spool. Advantageously, the spaced horizontal and/or vertical rollers may be moveable with respect to a guide device frame. The frame and other skid components are preferably made from steel.

4 According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of transporting by flat pipe, including: winding the pipe directly onto a skid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 after manufacturing the pipe; 5 transporting the wound skid to a truck; transporting the truck to an installation site; unloading the wound skid at the installation site; before use, unwinding the pipe of the skid through a machine that re-rounds the pipe. Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described 10 in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. 15 Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skid according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the skid of Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 is a side view of the skid of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the skid of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the system of using the skid of Figure 1.

5 Detailed description of the embodiments A skid 10 is shown in the Figures that includes a frame structure 12 supporting two spaced apart spools 14a, 14b to create a double spool assembly. Pipe 16 is wound over the top of one of the spools 14a, extends across to the second spool 14b around the outside of the second 5 spool 14b and then back to the first spool 14a. The frame structure 12 has a generally rectangular base section with two spaced apart longitudinal side members 18 and two perpendicular end members 20. At either side, and located towards the two ends are four triangular braces 22 created two pairs of braces, one at either end that are joined by a central rod 24. The braces 22 and central rods 24 support the spools 14a, 14b, 10 such that the central axis of the spool rotates on the central rod 24. The braces on either side of the frame are connected by a beam 25. In the embodiment illustrated, the central axis of the spools 14a, 14b run in parallel and are spaced apart at a distance of around 9000mm, shown as length A in Figure 3. The total length of the frame, between end members 20 is approximately 12190mm, shown as length B. The 15 internal diameter C of the spools is approximately 2000mm and the external diameter D of the spool edge is 2800mm. The width E of the end members 20 is approximately 2440mm, such that the length F of the spools 14a, 14b is 1650mm. The size of the skid 10 means that one skid can fit on the back of a standard 14.5metre truck trailer for transportation from the manufacturing site or storage to the installation site. 20 The pipe 16 shown in the illustrations is known as a lay flat poly pipe. Lay flat poly pipe is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and is extruded in a circular form over a mandrel. Characteristics of this lay flat poly pipe then allow it to be flattened and wound directly onto the skid 10. Whilst the skid is also suitable for use with standard round pipe, the benefit of using lay flat pipe is that a greater length of pipe can be wound onto the skid 10. In the 25 embodiment illustrated, with the above dimensions, the skid 10 can hold a single length of lay flat pipe 16 of approximately 850 metres. This is compared to lay flat pipe wound on a single spool measuring 240 metres, with three lengths being transported per truck to total 720 metres per truck, in three individual pieces; the three pieces require two joins to make the full 720 metre pipe length. As is apparent from the above numbers, not only can the skid according to the 30 present invention carry at least 130 metres more overall length of pipe, it is able to carry it as a 6 single length, resulting in the reduction of the number of joins required for a length of pipeline construction, reducing the overall downtime associated with the joining of pipes. Due to the distance between the two spools being so great, the skid 10 includes at least one support means in the form of a series of horizontal support rollers 26. The support rollers 26 5 extend between upper and lower spaced side beams 28 on either side. Supporting uprights 30 are positioned to project between frame side members 18 and side beams 28, as best seen in Figure 1. Extending between the upper 28a side beams and the lower 28b side beams are lift rams 32, with three spaced along either side in alignment with the uprights 30. The lift rams 32 are fixed to the lower side beams 28b and the upper side beams 28a, such that extension of the lift rams 32 10 raises the upper side beams 28a and retraction lowers the upper side beams 28a with respect to the lower side beam 28b. This allows the length of pipe 16 extending between the two spools 14a, 14b to be supported and the tension increased as more pipe is wound to prevent the centre of the pipe length from sagging under its own weight. The lift rams are powered by hydraulic power pack 35. 15 When the pipe 16 is being wound and unwound, the spools 14a, 14b are driven by drive means in the form of tyre drives 34, such rotation keeping the spools rotating at an even rate. Also to assist with winding the spools, a guide device 36 is provided at the first end of the frame 12. The guide device 36 includes an upright frame 38 with two horizontal rollers 40 positioned near the top of the frame 38 to ensure that the pipe 16 is fed onto the top of the first spool 14a at 20 the appropriate height. Two vertical rollers 42 are positioned on the horizontal rollers 40 to guide the pipe 16 along the length of the spool 14a to ensure the pipe 16 is evenly spaced along the spools length. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the way in which the skids 10 are efficiently used. During the manufacturing stage (shown to the left of Figure 5) at the plant the pipe 16 is 25 wound directly onto the skids 10. The skids 10 can then be transported by forklift to a truck trailer 50 either directly or via a storage location. The truck transports the skid 10 to the construction site (shown to the right of Figure 5), where they are unloaded and stored on site until use, or are unwound directly from the back of a truck. The skid 10 is bolted to the truck tray via container pins or locks. For lay flat pipe, the pipe 16 is inserted through a machine 51 that re 30 rounds the pipe 16 before installation. The pipe 16 is then installed underground by a dozer 52 or similar machine, with the pipe 16 being pulled directly off the skid 10. When a skid 10 is empty 7 it is transported back to the manufacturing plant on the back of a truck for re-winding. This process means that more pipe 16 length can be delivered to site and that only one truck will need to be located on site at any one point in time, except perhaps during change over, which is less frequent with the present invention. 5 The present invention provides a convenient and cost efficient way of storing and transporting greater lengths of individual pipe. This reduces production run times, as longer lengths can be extruded and wound without having to change over spools as often, and reduces on site down time whilst pipes are being joined. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends 10 to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A skid for storing and transporting pipe, including: a frame structure supporting two spools having central axis spaced apart such that the central axis run in parallel, whereby the pipe is able to be wound around the outside 5 of the two spaced apart spools; and at least one support means positioned between the two spools to support at least the upper length of pipe extending between the two spools.

2. A skid according to claim 1, wherein the support means includes horizontal members running across the width of the frame directly underneath a portion of the wound pipe. 10

3. A skid according to claim I or 2, wherein the support means is vertically moveable to raise or lower the wound pipe to maintain tension.

4. A skid according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further including a guide device for guiding the pipe onto the spools at the appropriate position across the length of the spool.

5. A method of transporting lay flat pipe, including: 15 winding the pipe directly onto a skid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 after manufacturing the pipe; transporting the wound skid to a truck; transporting the truck to an installation site; unloading the wound skid at the installation site; 20 before use, unwinding the pipe of the skid through a machine that re-rounds the lay flat pipe.