Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
405184300 | Pipe splitting, breaking, or expanding | 29 |
20080317554 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PIPE SPLITTING - A device and method for pipe replacement is shown. A pipe replacement device is shown that includes at least one scoring wheel to provide a more progressive cut that provides consistency in the split of the pipe. A pulling force is reduced using pipe replacement devices and methods in a splitting operation. A pipe replacement device is shown that includes at least one skid structures with a long and consistent profile. In methods shown, friction between a pipe replacement device and the pipe being split is reduced. | 12-25-2008 |
20090175689 | REPLACEMENT OF UNDERGROUND PIPES - This document discusses, among other things, devices, apparatuses, and methods for the replacement of existing underground pipes. In general, an apparatus comprises a body, including a receiving portion, and a breaking assembly adapted to be positioned within the receiving portion and detachably coupled to the body. In one example, the body and the breaking assembly are adapted, when coupled, to split the existing underground pipe when pulled therethrough using one or more cutting wheels. In varying examples, each cutting wheel radially protrudes out of a breaking assembly housing an increasing amount along a length of the apparatus allowing for a clean, progressive cut of the existing pipe. In another example, the body and the breaking assembly are adapted, when coupled, to burst the existing pipe when pulled therethrough. Advantageously, the present devices, apparatuses, and methods may provide replacement of underground pipes requiring minimal excavation and making economical use of parts. | 07-09-2009 |
20090285635 | DEVICE AND METHOD TO SPLIT PIPE NEAR UTILITIES - A splitter system and methods are shown. Examples of splitter systems provide limited possibility of damage to adjacent utilities in the ground. Further, examples of splitter systems relax a shape memory of split pipe, which in turn reduces friction in a splitting operation. Configurations are further shown that provide lubrication to splitting operations in a number of locations along a splitter system. Configurations are also shown that provide electrical isolation to cutting blades. | 11-19-2009 |
20100067988 | PULLING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR - A puller is provided with a number of advantages. Pullers are described that have a high power to weight ratio, and a high power to volume ratio. Examples of pullers and pulling systems include configurations that provide high cable friction in a small device volume. Examples of pullers and pulling systems also include constant force pulling which is desirable in particular for small diameter pipe replacement. Using pullers and pulling systems as described, minimally invasive pipe replacement operations are possible. Reversible pullers are also provided that decrease the amount of time needed to burst or split multiple segments of pipe. | 03-18-2010 |
20100178113 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING A CABLE IN A PIPE SPLITTER - A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable. | 07-15-2010 |
20100329793 | SMALL DIAMETER SPLITTER AND METHOD - A pipe splitter is shown including a splitter body having a central opening configured to accept a pulling or pushing member. An expander has an entry profile smaller than an inner diameter of a pipe to be split and an expanded profile that is larger than the inner diameter of the pipe to be split. A protrusion is disposed on the expander. The protrusion is configured to concentrate splitting stress at a location on the pipe. The concentrated splitting stress is greater than a threshold stress of the pipe to burst the pipe. In some examples, a method of pipe splitting is described. | 12-30-2010 |
20110081205 | PIPE SPLITTING APPARATUS WITH CABLE ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM - Pipe splitting apparatuses and systems including a replaceable blade, and methods therefor, are provided. In various examples, a cable retention and release mechanism is configured to releasably engage a cable and includes one or more segments of a pipe splitting apparatus including a cable passage. A segmented collet includes tapered segments and is disposed within a tapered portion of a cable passage of the one or more segments. Channel surfaces of the tapered segments together form a cable channel through the segmented collet. The cable channel is configured to widen in a disengaged position of the segmented collet and narrow in an engaged position of the segmented collet. A spring is disposed within the spring pocket of the one or more segments to bias the segmented collet distally in the engaged position. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081206 | JOINTED PIPE SPLITTER WITH PNEUMATIC HAMMER - A pipe splitting assembly includes an articulating hammer nose assembly having a pipe splitting cutter and a rotatable joint coupled with the pipe splitting cutter. A pneumatic hammer is distal to the articulating hammer nose assembly, The pneumatic hammer is configured to drive the articulating hammer nose assembly proximally away from the pneumatic hammer. The rotatable joint is coupled between the pipe splitting cutter and the pneumatic hammer, and the articulating hammer nose assembly is rotatable into one or more angles relative to the pneumatic hammer through the rotatable joint. A cable coupling is interposed between the pneumatic hammer and the articulated hammer nose assembly. The cable coupling is configured to attach a cable to the pipe splitting assembly. The cable coupling and the rotatable joint are configured to transmit to the pipe splitting cutter a compression force from the cable coupling and dynamic percussive forces from the pneumatic hammer. | 04-07-2011 |
20110150577 | TOOL FOR LONGITUDINALLY SUBDIVIDING SEWER PIPES - The invention relates to a tool for longitudinally subdividing buried sewer pipes having an asymmetric, generally oval cross section, made substantially of a support shoe opposing a cutting blade acting in the direction of the pipe axis. The device also has two side cutting blades and is moved through the old pipe by means of a rod and a cylindrical calibration mandrel. | 06-23-2011 |
20110188943 | Rod Pulling And Pushing Machine For Pipe Bursting - A rod pushing and pulling machine includes at least one hydraulic cylinder having a front end thereof engagable with a reaction surface at an entry opening of an existing pipeline or borehole, a spindle assembly, and a dual vise assembly. The spindle assembly includes a frame, a spindle shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a distal end of the spindle shaft being threaded for engagement with a mating thread of a rod, a drive system for rotating the spindle shaft in threading and unthreading directions, the spindle frame being secured to a rear end of the hydraulic cylinder for pushing or pulling of a rod string engaged to the spindle shaft upon extension or retraction of the hydraulic cylinder, and a support assembly for the spindle shaft. The support assembly includes a set of roller bearings rotatably supporting the spindle shaft, a radial flange on the spindle shaft, and a load flange secured to the spindle frame positioned to engage the radial flange, whereby the radial flange comes into engagement with the load flange during pulling operation to prevent rotation of the spindle shaft during pulling operation, and leaves engagement with the load flange during pushing operation so that the spindle shaft may rotate during pushing operation supported by the roller bearings. The dual vise assembly has two pairs of separately actuable jaws positioned to grip a rod nearest the spindle shaft and a rod adjacent the rod nearest the spindle shaft. | 08-04-2011 |
20110206462 | HIGH PRESSURE WATER SPRAY PLASTIC PIPE REPLACEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus for replacing underground plastic pipe consisting of a mole, flexible cable, pulling devise and water pump. The mole is a cone shaped tool consisting of a nose section, cutting blades, water nozzles and a hose barb. The flexible cable is inserted through the existing pipe, one end is attached to the pulling devise and the other end is attached to the nose section of the mole. Replacement pipe is attached to the hose barb section of the mole on one end and to the water pump on the other end. | 08-25-2011 |
20110222967 | COLD ASSISTED PIPE SPLITTING AND BURSTING - A method and system for repairing, replacing or installing an underground pipeline using an appropriate tool head. A coolant, preferably a cryogenic liquid, is injected in front of the tool head to embrittle or otherwise reduce the toughness of the material ahead of the tool head. Although suitable for use involving boring or drilling of the ground to install the underground pipeline, the method and system of this invention are particularly suitable for use in connection with pipe splitting and pipe bursting, where a pig disposed within the underground pipeline is connected with the appropriate tool head forming a space between the pig and the tool head into which the coolant is introduced. The pipe between the pig and the tool head is embrittled by the coolant, reducing the resistance of a pipe to splitting or bursting which, in turn, reduces the force required for the pig to pull the tool head as the pig is motivated through the pipe. | 09-15-2011 |
20110250020 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TRENCHLESS REPLACEMENT OF UNDERGROUND PIPE - An embodiment of the invention comprises a pipe parting mole, a length of cable that is engagable to the mole, a cable pulling device and a cable pulling device engagement frame that provides a mounting structure for the cable pulling device. The cable pulling device engagement frame comprises a reaction plate and an annulus member for removably engaging the cable pulling device with the frame. The frame is configured for the sideways engagement of the cable within the frame and the annulus member. Two pairs of cable engagement collets are preferably utilized; a first pair being disposed within the cable pulling device to engage the cable on a pulling stroke, and a second pair may be disposed within the frame or the cable pulling device to engage the cable on a recovery stroke. In an embodiment the cable pulling device comprises a post tensioning ram (PTR). | 10-13-2011 |
20120093586 | PORTABLE WINCH - A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris. | 04-19-2012 |
20120321391 | CENTER HOLE RAM CABLE PULLER - A center hole ram can have a barrel, and a piston that is moveable relative to the barrel. The piston can define an axial hole that extends through the piston. A gripping assembly can be attached to the ram. The gripping assembly can be configured to grip a cable and pull the cable through the axial hole in response to multiple actuating strokes of the ram. Also, a bursting head can be attached to a cable. The cable can be pulled through a tunnel (such as an existing pipe) and through a piston of a ram. Pulling the cable can result in the cable pulling the bursting head through the tunnel toward the ram. Also, pulling the cable can include gripping the cable with a gripping assembly attached to the ram, and actuating the ram. | 12-20-2012 |
20130058726 | DEVICE AND METHOD TO SPLIT PIPE NEAR UTILITIES - A splitter system and methods are shown. Examples of splitter systems provide limited possibility of damage to adjacent utilities in the ground. Further, examples of splitter systems relax a shape memory of split pipe, which in turn reduces friction in a splitting operation. Configurations are further shown that provide lubrication to splitting operations in a number of locations along a splitter system. Configurations are also shown that provide electrical isolation to cutting blades. | 03-07-2013 |
20130094911 | PIPE SPLITTING APPARATUS WITH REPLACEABLE BLADE - Pipe splitting apparatuses and systems including a replaceable blade, and methods therefor, are provided. In various examples, a pipe splitting apparatus includes an outer surface including a recess. A blade including a portion is disposed within the recess. A hardenable material is disposed within the recess. The hardenable material is configured to flow upon application to fill empty space within the recess and at least partially around the portion of the blade disposed within the recess. The hardenable material is further configured to harden after application to secure the portion of the blade within the recess and fix the blade to the pipe splitting apparatus. | 04-18-2013 |
20130156507 | PIPE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM - Pipe replacement devices, and systems are shown. Devices and systems may include jointed cutters and floating cutters to navigate difficult pipe replacement conditions. Devices and systems may also include replacement pipe with pre-installed supply hoses, such as lubricant supply and/or pneumatic supply hoses. Methods of pipe replacement are also described, including splitting old pipe and pulling in new pipe behind the equipment as splitting progresses. | 06-20-2013 |
20140037386 | WINCH BOOM AND METHOD FOR TRENCHLESS REPLACEMENT - A pipe replacement system and method are shown. Configurations are shown that include a pulley that does not damage a bursting tool, as the bursting tool is pulled into a pit. Configurations are also shown that include a boom that does not need an extraction cage for the bursting tool. | 02-06-2014 |
20140086689 | PIPE SPLITTING APPARATUS WITH REPLACEABLE BLADE - Pipe splitting apparatuses and systems including a replaceable blade, and methods therefor, are provided. In various examples, a pipe splitting apparatus includes an outer surface including a recess. A blade including a portion is disposed within the recess. A hardenable material is disposed within the recess. The hardenable material is configured to flow upon application to fill empty space within the recess and at least partially around the portion of the blade disposed within the recess. The hardenable material is further configured to harden after application to secure the portion of the blade within the recess and fix the blade to the pipe splitting apparatus. | 03-27-2014 |
20140241813 | PIPE SPLITTING APPARATUS WITH CABLE ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM - Pipe splitting apparatuses and systems including a replaceable blade, and methods therefor, are provided. In various examples, a cable retention and release mechanism is configured to releasably engage a cable and includes one or more segments of a pipe splitting apparatus including a cable passage. A segmented collet includes tapered segments and is disposed within a tapered portion of a cable passage of the one or more segments. Channel surfaces of the tapered segments together form a cable channel through the segmented collet. The cable channel is configured to widen in a disengaged position of the segmented collet and narrow in an engaged position of the segmented collet. A spring is disposed within the spring pocket of the one or more segments to bias the segmented collet distally in the engaged position. | 08-28-2014 |
20140248089 | Wire Rope Payout Upon Tensile Demand - A control system for a capstan assembly for use with a winch during wire rope payout. The control system comprises a sensor that detects the rope when it is in a predetermined position indicative of tension placed on the rope by an operator. The control system further comprises an actuator for rotating the capstans such that the wire rope is paid out from the winch when the actuator is in a first position. The control system causes the capstans to rotate and the wire rope to pay out when the rope is in the predetermined position and the actuator is in the first position. The control system ceases rotation when the actuator is removed from the first position or the rope is no longer in the predetermined location. | 09-04-2014 |
20140270970 | Stepped Load Pull Back Using Rams - A thrust apparatus for a rod string. The apparatus has a stationary frame, a thrust frame with a rod gripper, two hydraulic cylinders and two rams in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinders. During low-load operations, the hydraulic cylinders act alone, providing the load to the grippers to pull or push the rod string. When higher loads are required, a check valve is activated, allowing fluid from the hydraulic cylinders to activate the rams. The rams provide additional force to the grippers, and may be activated without mechanical or significant hydraulic changes to the apparatus. | 09-18-2014 |
20140348591 | Method and Structure for in situ Field Repair of Severed Drain Tile - The current disclosure is a structure for repairing drain tile or any other conduit found in the construction of underground utilities, which conduit severed by the digging of a ditch. The first element is spray-in-place or pre-manufactured polymeric foam, such as polyurethane foam, that is placed so as to span the ditch and rest upon a pipeline located in the ditch. Next, sandbags, foam shims, or similar slope adjustments are placed atop the foam. Finally, a stiff, elongate member (e.g., H-beam, I-Beam, guardrail) is placed atop the sandbags spanning the entire ditch from one end of the severed utility to the other end of the drain tile or other conduit. In broader contexts, the disclosed structure will find use in repairing severed conduit due to an excavation regardless of whether a utility lies in the ditch. Additionally, such pre-manufactured foam bridges can be used as breakers to support underground utilities, such as large pipe. | 11-27-2014 |
20150098765 | Pipe Slitter - A pipe expander assembly for replacing an existing pipe with a new pipe. The expander assembly has a slitter disposed about a wire rope and abutting an expander at a spherical joint. The expander comprises a cone to expand a slit pipe and is internally connected to the wire rope by jaws that expand and contract about the wire rope due to threading of a jam nut into the cone. A pipe puller is connected to the back of the expander at a clevis and is adapted for connection to a new pipe, either through a jaw system, an adaptor, or fusion to the pipe. | 04-09-2015 |
20150308604 | JOINTED PIPE SPLITTER WITH PNEUMATIC HAMMER - A pipe splitting assembly includes an articulating hammer nose assembly having a pipe splitting cutter and a rotatable joint coupled with the pipe splitting cutter. A pneumatic hammer is distal to the articulating hammer nose assembly. The pneumatic hammer is configured to drive the articulating hammer nose assembly proximally away from the pneumatic hammer. The rotatable joint is coupled between the pipe splitting cutter and the pneumatic hammer, and the articulating hammer nose assembly is rotatable into one or more angles relative to the pneumatic hammer through the rotatable joint. A cable coupling is interposed between the pneumatic hammer and the articulated hammer nose assembly. The cable coupling is configured to attach a cable to the pipe splitting assembly. The cable coupling and the rotatable joint are configured to transmit to the pipe splitting cutter a compression force from the cable coupling and dynamic percussive forces from the pneumatic hammer. | 10-29-2015 |
20160123516 | WINCH BOOM AND METHOD FOR TRENCHLESS REPLACEMENT - A pipe replacement system and method are shown. Configurations are shown that include a pulley that does not damage a bursting tool, as the bursting tool is pulled into a pit. Configurations are also shown that include a boom that does not need an extraction cage for the bursting tool. | 05-05-2016 |
20160195212 | Obstructive Tap and Sleeve | 07-07-2016 |
20180023746 | WINCH BOOM AND METHOD FOR TRENCHLESS REPLACEMENT | 01-25-2018 |