EP0144099A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Pipeline plough
Assignee: Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd
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Filing: 1984-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-29
Abstract
Abstract The plough has a front and a rear lifting assembly (60, 62) each including an arm (64, 80) which is extensible and angularly adjustable by hydraulic rams (65, 68; 81, 84). The arms carry rollers (74, 76, 78; 94, 96, 98) upon which the pipeline (110) is lifted by the arms. The plough can be positioned beneath the pipeline as the arms retract while supporting the pipeline as the plough approaches the pipeline from one side. Having been positioned, the plough advances to cut a trench, the pipeline being supported in yielding manner by the two arms, having their lifting rams (68, 84) connected to hydraulic accumulators. Pressurised gas in the accumulators maintains the rollers (74, 76; 94,96) in contact with the pipeline as the plough moves up and down and pitches relatively to the pipeline, during ploughing.The plough requires no structure over the pipeline. The plough body (12) is not required to comprise parts which separate to allow positioning of the plough of the plough in relation to the pipeline.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy William Grinstead
- 👤 Alan Richard Reece
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:18
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F5/00; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/104; E02F5/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A pipeline plough comprising a plough body, characterised in that the plough body (12) is part of a base structure (10) which carries two adjustable lifting assemblies (60, 62) which are spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the plough and which include respective bearers (74, 76; 94, 96) and actuators (65, 68, 81, 84) operable to adjust the assemblies to lift the pipeline (110) supported by the bearers (74, 76; 94, 96) while the plough is positioned to one side of the pipeline (110) and to support the pipeline (110) while the plough approaches the pipeline (110) from that one side to position the plough body (12) beneath the pipeline (110).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A pipeline plough comprising a plough body, characterised in that the plough body (12) is part of a base structure (10) which carries two adjustable lifting assemblies (60, 62) which are spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the plough and which include respective bearers (74, 76; 94, 96) and actuators (65, 68, 81, 84) operable to adjust the assemblies to lift the pipeline (110) supported by the bearers (74, 76; 94, 96) while the plough is positioned to one side of the pipeline (110) and to support the pipeline (110) while the plough approaches the pipeline (110) from that one side to position the plough body (12) beneath the pipeline (110).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A plough according to Claim 1, characterised in that each of the assemblies (60, 62) comprises an arm (64, 80) which carries the respective bearer (74, 76; 94, 96) and which is adjustable by change in length and by angular movement about a horizontal axis (66, 82).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A plough according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the base structure includes a horizontal transverse beam (14) adjacent the front end of the structure and in that one assembly (60) is mounted on the beam (14) at a location adjacent one end thereof and in that the other assembly (62) is mounted on the plough body at a location adjacent the rear end of the base structure, both locations being offset towards one side of the base structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A plough according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the base structure includes a longitudinal beam (16) which connects the plough body (12) to adjustable mechanism such as skids (18) arranged ahead of the plough body and by which the depth of ploughing can be adjusted and in that the plough body (12).and the beam (16) have upper surfaces defining a longitudinal trough (104) which accommodates the lower portion of the superimposed length of pipeline (110) when the plough has assumed its ploughing position beneath the pipeline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A plough according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the actuator (68, 84) of at least one of the assemblies (60, 62) is connectable during ploughing to mechanism (118) operable to force the respective bearer (74, 76, 94, 96) against the pipeline (110) while allowing the assembly to adjust automatically to accommodate pitching and up and down movements of the plough relative to the pipeline (110).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A plough according to Claim 5, characterised in that the or each actuator is a hydraulic ram and in that the mechanism is a hydraulic accumulator (118), which is connectable to the ram (68, 84) by a valve (112).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A plough according to any preceding claim, characterised in that at least one assembly (60, 62) comprises an extension (130) which by adjustment of the respective assembly can be engaged with the underside of the pipeline (11B) as it lies on the ground and which facilitates lifting of the pipeline (110).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A plough according to any claim of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least one assembly (60, 62) comprises an elongate member (200) which is angularly adjustable between two positions in the first of which the member (200) is, by adjustment of the assembly, advanceable endwise to pass beneath the pipeline (110) resting on the ground, and in the second of which the member (200) is raised relatively to the first position to capture the pipeline and retain the pipeline upon the respective bearer (74, 76; 94, 96).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A plough according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that mechanisms such as skids (18), provided at each side of the base structure, are adjustable to adjust the depth of ploughing and are independently adjustable to tilt the base structure (10) sideways to reduce the maximum height to which the pipeline need be lifted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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