US2935298A - Power operated pipe pushing machine - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1960 l.. J. wlLwl-:RDING 2,935,298

POWER OPERATED PIPE PUSHING 'MACHINE Filed oct. 9, 1951 :s sheets-sheet 1 f//A I Leo J M/werding N IN1/EN TOR.

ig BY May 3, 1960 L. J. wiLwERDlNG POWER OPERTED PIPE PUSHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 May 3, 1960 L. J. wlLwERDlNG POWER OPERATED PIPE PUSHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 9, 1957 vm. bm.

IN V EN TOR. w53.

nite States Patent POWER OPERATED PIPE PUSHlN G MACHINE Leo J. Wilwerding, Omaha, Nebr.

Application October 9, 1957, Serial No. 689,187

8 Claims. (Cl. 254-29) This invention comprises a novel and useful power operated pipe pushing machine and more particularly relates to an implement especially adapted for the propelling of pipes under ground and operated with various mechanical advantages.

The primary purpose of this machine is to provide a pushing and pulling implement especially adapted for use in moving pipe under ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects which may operate at various mechanical advantages and speeds of operation as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in conformity with the preceding objects in which an improved engagement of the device with a pipe to be propelled is etfected without danger of crushing or rupturing the pipe.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as set forth in the preceding objects which may be manually operated or selectively may be power operated and assisted by manual operation thereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

VFigure l is a side elevational View showing a first embodiment of apparatus in accordance with this invention, in operative position vfor propelling a pipe under ground, and whereby the power operating means is directly applied to the pipe gripping slide for moving the latter by a pulling action thereon;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 1, the pipe gripping jaws being omitted therefrom;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 but on a reduced scale and showing the power operating means applied directly to the pipe gripping slide for pushing the latter;

Figure 4 is a view taken in vertical longitudinal sec tions substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of Figure 5 and showing a modified manner in which the power operating means is connected by a ratchet mechanism with a mechanical advantage to the pipe moving element, parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a-horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure4, parts being broken away;

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation from the left side of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 4 but showing the power operated means replaced by a manual operating means;

Figure 8 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the power operating means;

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of a modied movable upper pipe clamping jaw constituting the pipe engaging element of the device;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially 2,935,293 Patented May 3, V196() ice upon a plane indicated by section line 10--10 of Fgure 9;

Figure 1l is a top plan view of the slide clamp;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the same, the modified, stationary lower pipe clamping jaw for use with the upper jaw of Figures 9 and 10; and

Figure 13 is an end elevational view of the same.

Embodments of Figures 1-3 The pushing and pulling implement forming the subject matter ofthe present invention in the form of Figures 1-3 comprises a base designated generally by the numeral 10, a slide 12 mounted for sliding movement thereon, together with a power operating mechanism` for the slide of a character to be subsequently set forth.

The base 10 comprises a pair of tracks each designated by the numeral 14 and preferably comprising angle iron or L-shaped members having each a at horizontal flange 16 together with a vertical side ange 1S. The two rails are secured in fixed position by being rigidly secured in any desired manner to a plurality Vof underlying laterally or transversely extending base plates 2%, these being suitably apertured to receive spikes 22 extending therethrough by which the base plates and the tracks are rigidly secured in position for operation as shown in Figure 1.

Secured to the side anges 18 of the tracks at the'opposite ends of the same and upon the outside surfaces of the side flanges are a pair of plates comprising braces 24 and to the outer sides of these at the ends of the rails are secured vertically disposed standards 26 having notches 28 in their upper ends. The standards and braces may be welded to each other and to the rails 14 in order toprovide a rigid, and reinforced construction.

The standards 26 are provided with transverse bores above the lower ends of their notches 28 for the reception of retaining pins 30, see Figure 1, for a purpose to be subsequently apparent.

The base structure is'completed by the rigid attachment to the outside of the vertical anges 1S of a pair of straps 32 constituting support brackets as set forth hereinafter. To the inside surfaces of the vertical flanges 18 and adjacent their upper edges there are Xedly secured as by welding or the like a pair of 'slide retainer bars 34, see Figures 2, 5 and 6.

The slide 12 is the same for all embodiments of this invention, and consists of a ilat plate-like base 4G, see in particular Figures 2, 4 and 6, having a pair of longitudinally extending ribs 42 upon its bottom surface which are slidably engaged upon the horizontal flanges of the rails 14. This slide base is provided with opstanding longitudinally extending side walls 44 which slidably engage the inside surfaces of the vertical anges 18 of the rails 14 and are retained thereon by the overlying disposition of the slide retainer bars 34 as will be apparent from Figures 5 and 6.

Extending longitudinally of the slide and in parallel relation to but within the side walls 44 thereof is Ia pair of walls 46. Between the inner and outer walls the top surface of the base plate 40 is provided with longitudinally extending-toothed surfaces or racks 4S by means of which motion is imparted'- to the slide as set forth hereinafter. Rising from the inner walls adjacent the opposite ends thereof are upstanding brackets or lugs, there being a relatively higher pair of brackets or lugs 50 at one end, and a relatively shorter pair of brackets or lugs 52 at the other end. At their uppermost portions, the lugs S0 are provided with apertures 54.

A pair of eccentric wedging or clamping dogs 56 and 58 comprising movable pipe clamping jaws, are journaled as by pivot pins 60 and 62 respectively to the standards 50 and 52,' these dogs being provided with weighted handles 64 and v66 respectively.

Beneath the dogs 56 and 58, the base plate 40 of the slide is provided with removable clamping blocks 68 and 70, comprising stationary pipe clamping jaws, which are secured in Ianydesired manner. As will bemore readily apparent from Figures 4 and 6, the upper surface ofthe clampingblocks has la semi-cylindrical recess adapted to ,conform to and receive therein theexterior surface of a pipe 72 which is to be pushed or pulled by the implement. Referring now to Figure 6 it will be seen that the dogs 56 and 58 have their bottom surface provided with ra further semi-cylindrical jaw 74 Awhich likewise corresponds to the contour of the pipe 72 as will be 4 l bar 164 of the ratchet lever 10G being disposed between the side brackets land the Verticalflanges 18 of the tracks Vas will be readily apparent from Figure 5. Thus, the

U-shaped ratchet lever is mounted for oscillatory motion upon the base member' of the device.

AV pair of ratchet arms 114, asshown in Figures 4,

, and 6, especially, is pivoted to each side. arm of the best apparent from Figure 6. Thus, whenfthe dogs are urged downwardly by their weighted handle 64 Yand 66, their movable and fixed jaws 74 and 68, 70.respectively willV grip therebetween the pipe 72 over substantially the Ventire circumference of the pipe and thus establish a secure gripping action thereon without danger of crushing or ruptun'ng the pipe.

Y Operating means, actuated either Vbya source of power, manually or both are provided for impartingsliding movement to the slide uponY its supporting tracks and vthus to advance or retract the pipe 72 gripped in the a uid pressure actuated cylinder 80 having a suitable piston Y 82. slidable therein, the latter being: provided with a piston. rod S4 extending through a packing gland assembly 86 provided in one end wall 83 of the cylin-Y Vder dii.' The other end ofthe cylinder is closed as by an end wall 9i) to which is secured a transversely disposed pivotal mounting pin 92 which is removably receivable in the'notches 28 of a set of standards 26 at may be secured as by a pivotpin 98 to the aperture' 54 of the taller brackets or lugs 5G. As will now be apparent upon application of fluid pressure into the slide.' The power actuated` portionof the operating means, as shown best in Figures l4 and 8 consists of U-shaped ratchet lever 100, -as by means `of bolts 116. A-t their outer ends, each ratchet arm is provided with a toothed extremity 118 adapted to cooperate with the racks 48 as will be best apparent from Figure ,4.

The arrangement is such that Yupon oscillation of the ratchet lever 100, the ratchet Iarms 114'will impart a step-by-step unidirectional travel to the nslide and move the same over the tracks `14. During this travel, it will be observed that the .previously mentioned slide retainer bars'34 will prevent any rupward movement of the slide relative to the tracks. Y

The power operating means is the same for both embodiments previously described. Referring now especiallyto Figure 4 it will be seen that any suitable fluid under pressure, suppied by any suitable Vsource not shown,. by means ofV a conduit v120 is ,delivered by the manual control valve 122 to conduits 124 and 126 extending through the vopposite endwalls 88 and 90 of the cylinder dit to thereby selectively supply the fluid pressure to either side of the piston. Thus, the piston is urged by duid pressure, as desired, ineither direction, the valve varrangement being such that when .fluid pressure is applied to one side of the piston, to one of the conduits Y.124,the fluid pressure on the other side of the piston is vented bythe conduit 166 and the valve 122 to the atmosphere. Y

As so -far described it wil-l be seen that the apparatus is operable in a variety of manners to obtain different speeds and mechanical advantages of operation, as foltothe standard 26 lat either end of the slide 12 for pullcylinder Si), the silde lwill be movedin one( direction or the other upon the rails or tracks 174, depending upon the direction infwhich the piston and piston rod are moved. Thus', ya mechanical advantage by means of the Y power source is provided for eecting movement lof the slide 12 and therefore for forcing the pipe '72 into thecarth or drawing it therefrom as desired. As seen by comparing Figures 1 and 3, by securing the. cylinder Si) to either standard 26 and by reversing the'slide'or the slide and the pipe 72 gripped by the jaws thereof may be either pushed or pulled.

Y Embodment of Figures 4-6 Where a relatively slower action but Va greater mechanical advantage and power for driving the slide is required, a ratchet mechanism shown in Figures 4-6 may be operativeiy interposed between the pistonrod 84 and the slide oreiiecting voperation of the latter.V This ratohetmechanism consists of a U-shaped ratchet lever 1%() consisting or bore 193 in which may be removably receivedt a handle 11th-see, Figure 7, whereby force may be manually appiicd to the ratchet lever 169 either alone'as suggested 'in Figure 7,y r-in conjunction with the poweractuated yoke )4.1 e el" ,Y

'At Jits lower end, the ratchet lever 160 is pivoted as `by pivot members 112 to the'r'side brackets 32, the inner landY engaging spaced portions of the pipe 72.

ing the slide as Vshown in Figuresv l `and,2 or for pushing it as shown in Figure 3. v

(2) T he power means Sti may be connected to the slide through the ratchet mechanism as shown in Figures 4-6 in order t0 operate the slide at an even greatermechanical advantage. i "1 Y L i (V3) As shown in Figure 7, the ratchet mechanism of 'Figures 4 6 rn-ay be actuated manuallyby inserting `the handle 11,5Y inthe socket 106 of the ratchet `mechanism, (4)"he manual operation by Vthe handle 1,170` may .be

combined with the lattachment of the power means 80 Y to either the slide, as in Figures land 3 or to the ratchet mechanism asin Figures 4-`6. Y Y Y Y Y Modified clamping mearzsvof Figures 9-13 a In all Vofthe preceding. embodiments the'pipe clamping means comprised -sets of spaced jaws carried by the slide However, where it Vis desired to grip a pipewithout mari-ing its surface, as for example, various forms of coated, covered or Wrapped pipes, a modified jawV construction is preferred.

For this purpose, the modifiedY clamping means of Figures 9-13 are provided which may be applied tothe slide 12 in any ofthe preceding. arrangements, andthis form of clamping means provides va' movable upper clamping member 146 cooperating with aV lstationary lower clamping member 142,'e'ach extending substantially the full length of the slide '12 and being interchangeable in said slide with the clampingY means previously described'and illustrated in connection therewith;

As seen from Figures l1`13`,the.V lower clampingjmemberV 142'comprisesa ilat, plate-like base 144 upon which is carried a semi-cylindrical jaw 146 having a lining V148 Vof any suitable soft or resilient material which will not mar the iinish -of a pipe gripped therein.' Figures 11 .nur

and 12 indicate lateral recesses 150 in the sides of the base 144 which constitute anchor means and receive therein the laterally inwardly projecting standards 50 and 52 and an intermediate laterally inwardly projecting rib 152 on the slide side walls 46, as shown in Figure 5, whereby to removably secure the lower clamping member to the slide against relative longitudinal movement.

The movable upper clamping member 140 comprises a plate-like member 154 from which depends the inverted semi-cylindrical jaw 156, complementary to the lower jaw 146, and likewise having a lining 158 similar to the lining 148. Rising from opposite sides of the member 154 are pairs of rigid brackets or lugs 160 between which are journaled the plate-like ribs 162 of weighted levers 164 and 166, by the pivot pins 168. The levers 164, 166 have pivot apertures l170 therein which are adapted to receive the pivot pins 60 and 62 of the slide 12. It will thus be apparent that when the clamping recess 56, 58, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are removed,

the members 140 and 142 may be substituted therefor,

the former being secured to the slide and supported thereon by the pins 60, 62 while the latter is retained by the anchor recess 150.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of 4the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pushing and pulling implement for pipes comprising a base, tracks on said base, a slide mounted on said tracks for sliding movement, said slide comprising a at base sliding upon said tracks, outer walls rising from the side edges of said iiat base, hold down means on said first mentioned base retaining said slide on said tracks, said outer walls slidably engaging said tracks and hold down means, a pair of inner walls on said flat base lying between said outer walls, clamping means for grasping a pipe disposed between and pivotally mounted upon said inner walls, racks on said slide, a ratchet lever mounted on said `first mentioned base for oscillatory movement, ratchet arms pivoted to said ratchet lever and each engaging one of said racks, and means for actuating said ratchet lever.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clamping means comprises a clamping block on said slide and a dog pivoted on said slide above said block, said block and dog having complementary semi-cylindrical surfaces for substantially entirely embracing a pipe therebetween.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the surface on said dog is eccentric whereby to wedge against said pipe upon pivoting of said dog.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a neck having in said lever a socket, a handle receivable in said socket.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a neck in said lever, a fluid pressure actuated cylinder and piston carried `by said base, said piston having a piston rod connected to -said'neck.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said neck has a socket, a handle receivable in said socket.

7. The combination of claim l wherein said base includes side brackets secured to the sides of said tracks, said lever being pivotcd to said side brackets and being disposed between the latter and -said tracks.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said racks lie between said inner and outer walls.

References VCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 968,002 Abbott et al. Aug. 23, 1910 1,698,498 Harding Jan. 8, 1929 2,612,343 Fraizer Sept. 30, 1952 2,685,430 Henke Aug. 3, 1954

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