GB2207971A

GB2207971A - Pipe roding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2207971A
Application number: GB08717004A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Barnes
Original assignee: GALLIFORD PIPELINE SERVICES LI
Current assignee: GALLIFORD PIPELINE SERVICES LI
Priority date: 1987-07-18
Filing date: 1987-07-18
Publication date: 1989-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-18
Also published as: GB8717004D0; GB2207971B

Abstract

Apparatus for roding underground pipes comprises a chuck 21 supported on a track 18 which can reciprocate on a guide 16. A rim 19 is provided for moving the track 18 relative to the guide 16 and a chain and sprocket drive 23-25 is provided for drawing the chuck 21 along the track 18. The chuck 21 for gripping the rods can rotate relative to a carrier 20 about axis 22. The guide 16 is mounted on a pivot 15 carried by a turn-table 17 so that it can be positioned to feed a series of connected rods downwardly into a pipe or drain to be cleaned. The apparatus is mounted on a trailer 11. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:"Apparatus for feeding a rod" Description of Invention The present invention relates to apparatus for feeding a rod downwardly and rotating the rod during feeding. Apparatus of this kind is used in the cleaning of underground pipes and drains. The rod may be fed downwardly through a manhole. When one rod has been advanced through a distance approximately equal to its own length, a further rod is connected to a trailing end portion of the one rod and the procedure is continued so that, eventually, a line comprising a number of rods connected end-to-end is fed into the pipe or drain.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a chassis, road wheels mounted on the chassis for rotation relative to the chassis about a wheel axis, a rectilinear track so mounted on the chassis that the length of the track is or can be set perpendicular to the wheel axis, guide means for guiding the track for longitudinal movement relative to the chassis, a carrier which runs on the track, a rotatable holder mounted on the carrier for rotation relative thereto about a holder axis which extends along the track and driving means for rotating the holder relative to the carrier, moving the track longitudinally relative to the chassis and moving the carrier along the track, wherein the holder is adapted to grip releasably an end portion of a rod which extends longitudinally of the track and wherein the track is tiltable to direct downwardly a rod gripped by the holder.

The invention provides apparatus in which the holder, whilst gripping a rod, can move through a stroke which is longer than the track. The stroke of the holder is preferably equal to the length of a rod so that each rod has to be gripped only at one position and is then advanced by its own length without necessity for releasing the rod from the holder and then gripping the rod in a fresh position.

It will be understood that the use of long rods is advantageous, since this reduces the number of joints in the line and reduces the number of times a fresh rod must be connected to the line during feeding and th-e number of times a rod must be disconnected from the line during withdrawal of the rods.

Typically, the rods have a length in the region of five metres. Provision in the apparatus of track having a length in excess of five metres would result in a cumbersome apparatus not well suited for towing on public roads.

The track and the guide means of apparatus in accordance with the present invention can both be substantially shorter than are the rods to be fed by the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus can be arranged to have a moderate overall length and be suitable for towing.

An example of apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, where a side elevation of the apparatus is represented diagrammatically.

The apparatus comprises a pair of road wheels, one of which is shown at 10, on which a chassis II is supported by an axle. The chassis is elongated and has a towing hitch 12 at one end. The axis 13 about which the wheels rotate is perpendicular to the length of the chassis and may lie somewhat further from the hitch 12 than it does from the opposite end of the chassis.

Foldable and/or extendable legs 9 may be provided on the chassis for stabilising the chassis during use of the apparatus.

A turntable 17 is mounted on the chassis 11 for turning relative to the chassis about a swivel axis 14 which is generally upright, when the chassis is generally horizontal. The turntable supports a pivot bearing defining a pivot axis 15 which also is generally horizontal and which is parallel to the axis 13, when the apparatus is arranged for towing. The pivot bearing supports an elongated guide 16, the length of which is perpendicular to the axis 15. The pivot axis lies between end portions of the guide 16. Locking means of known form may be provided for preventing pivoting of the guide 16 relative to the turntable 17 and for preventing swivelling of the turntable relative to the chassis. An example of suitable locking means is a pin which extends through aligned holes in relatively rotatable components.

A rectilinear track 18 is mounted on the guide 16 for reciprocation relative to the guide between a contracted position, in which the track at least largely overlaps the guide, and an extended position in which only a minor part of the track overlaps the guide. In the drawing, the track is shown in an intermediate, almost contracted, position. The track is arranged with its length parallel to that of the guide.

Drive means is provided for reciprocating the track 18 relative to the guide 16. The drive means is in the form of a fluid-actuated ram 19 having a stroke equal to that of the track. One element of the ram is anchored to the guide 16 and the other element of the ram is anchored to the track 18. The guide 16 is preferably channel-shaped in transverse cross-section and the ram 19 is conveniently disposed inside the guide. The track 18 may also be channel-shaped in transverse cross-section and may lie inside or outside the guide. Bearing elements may be interposed between the track and the guide to transmit the load between these members and reduce friction between them. Travel of the track relative to the guide may be limited by the ram 19. Alternatively, stops may be provided to limit the travel of the track.

A carrier 20 is supported on the track 18 for running along the track.

The carrier may slide on the track or may be provided with rolling elements for engaging the track. On the carrier, there is mounted a chuck 21 suitable for gripping rods used in the cleaning of underground pipes and drains. The chuck can turn relative to the carrier 20 about an axis 22 which is parallel to the length of the track 18. The carrier incorporates an hydraulic motor for rotating the chuck and the chuck is preferably so constructed that opposite end portions of a rod which is gripped by the chuck can project from the chuck in opposite directions. Provision may be made for tightening of the chuck onto a rod and releasing the chuck from the rod manually or by hydraulic power.

The driving means includes a chain 23 or other flexible, elongated element which is anchored to the carrier 20, extends therefrom around a sprocket 24 or other rotatable element mounted on the track 18 and then to an anchor on the guide ló. The sprocket 24 is connected with the track 18 for rotation relative thereto about an axis which is fixed with respect to the track and lies adjacent to one end thereof. The chain 23 also extends from the carrier 20 in the opposite direction around a further sprocket or other rotatable element 25 and thence to a further anchor position on the guide 16.

The sprocket 25 is connected with the track 18 for rotation relative thereto about an axis which lies adjacent to that end of the track which is remote from the sprocket 24. When the track 18 is moved relative to the guide 16 by the ram 19, the chain 23 draws the carrier 20 along the track in the same direction of travel. The carrier is moved through a distance twice that through which the track is moved.

A support 26 is provided on the track 18 at a position near to the sprocket 25 for supporting a rod in alignment with the chuck. A similar support 27 is mounted in a fixed position on the guide 16 to provide further support for a rod which is gripped by the chuck 21. Additional supports which are fixed with respect to the guide 16 may be provided for the rod and for a supply of rods which are to be joined end-toend.

A power unit (not shown), for example an internal combustion engine, is mounted on the chassis II. There is associated with the power unit an hydraulic reservoir and pump for supplying hydraulic fluid along suitable hoses to the ram 19 and hoses 29 to the motor of the chuck 21. The hoses 29 are corried on a reel 30 which automatically rewinds the hoses as the chuck moves past the reel. Conveniently, the power unit is disposed beside the guide 16 on the chassis. Alternatively, power may be supplied hydraulically from a remote power unit.

By pivoting of the guide 16 about the pivot axis 15, the axis 22 of the chuck can be directed down a manhole or other opening towards the pipe or drain to be cleaned. Furthermore, if the apparatus cannot be parked with the longitudinal centreline of the chassis aligned with the pipe or drain to be cleaned, the carrier 16 and the track 18 can be swivelled somewhat relative to the chassis about the swivel axis 14.

During use of the apparatus, the chuck 21 grips a trailing end portion of a rod, rotates the rod and feeds the rod through the supports 26 and 27. When the chuck reaches a position close to the support 26, rotation is terminated and a leading end portion of a further rod is connected with the trailing end portion of the rod in the chuck. The rod is then released by the chuck and the ram 19 is extended to move the track 18 and the chuck 21 away from the support 27 on the guide 16 and to move the chuck 21 away from the support 26 on the track. The chuck travels along the further rod to the trailing end portion thereof. When the track 18 is in the extended position, the further rod is gripped by the chuck and rotary drive of the chuck is commenced once more. The ram 19 is contracted to feed the rods through the support 27 and down into the pipe or drain being cleaned. The stroke through which the chuck 21 is moved is equal to the length of a rod.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

I. Apparatus for feeding a rod downwardly and rotating the rod during feeding, the apparatus comprising a chassis, road wheels mounted on the chassis for rotation relative to the chassis about a wheel axis, a rectilinear track so mounted on the chassis that the length of the track is or can be set perpendicular to the wheel axis, guide means for guiding the track for longitudinal movement relative to the chassis, a carrier which runs on the track, a rotatable holder mounted on the carrier for rotation relative thereto about a holder axis which extends along the track and driving means for rotating the holder relative to the carrier, moving the track longitudinally relative to the chassis and moving the carrier along the track, wherein the holder is adapted to grip releasably an end portion of a rod which extends longitudinally of the track and the track is tiltable to direct downwardly a rod gripped by the holder.
2. Apparatus according to Claim I wherein the driving means comprises a flexible element, a first portion of which is anchored to the carrier, a second portion of which is anchored to the guide means and an intermediate portion of which runs around an element anchored to the track.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the driving means further comprises a fluid-actuated ram, a first element of which is anchored to the track and a second element of which is anchored to the guide means.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the length of the ram is approximately equal to the length of the track.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the guide means is connected with the chassis for swivelling relative thereto about a swivel axis which is transverse to the length of the track and which extends upwardly and downwardly when the chassis is generally horizontal.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the guide means is connected with the chassis for pivoting relative thereto about a pivot axis which extends transverse to the length of the track and which is generally horizontal when the chassis is generally horizontal.
7. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
8. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.