Pipe laying apparatus

Claim 2

Pipe laying apparatus, adapted to be moved along a pipe receiving trench upon which a string of joined sections of pipe is being laid, comprising: at least one frame having bottom runner means for sliding engagement with the surface and inclined main support means for supporting, in alignment, the last section of pipe joined to the string and the next section of pipe to be joined to the string; said main support means being inclined upwardly from the frame trailing end toward the frame leading end; said main support means including a trough portion for supporting and laterally locating the enlarged coupling end of the last section of pipe joined to the string and a forward section raised relative to said trough portion for supporting the shank of the next section of pipe to be joined whereby the shank of the next section is supported in axial alignment with the supported coupling end; said trough portion comprising a plate member supported on said frame defining a longitudinally extending concave trough for receiving the enlarged coupling end of a pipe section; and wherein said forward section defines a supporting surface lying above the base of said trough to support the shank portion of a pipe section in alignment with the coupling end of the last section joined to the string.

Claim 3

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a rearward section for engaging and supporting the string of pipe; and wherein said forward and rearward pipe supporting sections are defined by roller means for engaging and supporting the pipe.

Claim 4

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including implement means mounted on said frame for forming a ridge of loose material at the bottom of said trench to provide a supporting bed for the string of pipe.

Claim 5

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bottom runner means comprises at least one pair of spaced parallel runners; and blade means mounted on said runners, providing scraping edges in the plane of said runners for forming a ridge of said loose ground material between said runners to provide a supporting bed for the string of pipe.

Claim 6

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including centralizing means for laterally centering the apparatus in the trench; said centralizing means comprising a guide member mounted on each side of said frame for lateral swinging movement into engagement with the walls of the trench; and spring means yieldably urging each of said guide members outwardly relative to saId frame into engagement with the trench walls.

Claim 7

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including centralizing means for laterally centering the apparatus in the trench; said centralizing means comprising longitudinal, outwardly bowed spring members mounted on each side of said frame; and spring means associated with each spring member for urging said member outward relative to said frame into engagement with the wall of a ground trench.

Claim 8

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said spring elongated members is pivotally attached at one end to said frame; and wherein the other end of said members is attached to said frame by means of a sliding coupling to permit longitudinal movement of said other end relative to said frame.

Claim 9

Pipe laying apparatus, adapted to be moved along a pipe receiving trench upon which a string of joined sections of pipe is being laid, comprising: at least one frame having bottom runner means for sliding engagement with the surface and inclined main support means for supporting, in alignment, the last section of pipe joined to the string and the next section of pipe to be joined to the string; said main support means being inclined upwardly from the frame trailing end toward the frame leading end; said main support means including a trough portion for supporting and laterally locating the enlarged coupling end of the last section of pipe joined to the string and a forward section raised relative to said trough portion for supporting the shank of the next section of pipe to be joined whereby the shank of the next section is supported in axial alignment with the supported coupling end; at least one trailer frame having bottom runner means and inclined pipe supporting means; said first named main frame and said trailer frame providing a generally aligned pipe supporting surface; said at least one trailer frame providing a pipe supporting surface between said main support means and the bottom of the trench; means coupling said trailer frame to said main frame to provide for vertical and lateral articulation of said frame; each of said trailer frames and said main frame includes roller means defining the pipe supporting surfaces; and wherein said trailer frame supporting surface includes a downwardly inclined forward edge to engage the enlarged diameter portions of the pipe sections.

Claim 10

Pipe laying apparatus, adapted to be moved along a pipe receiving trench upon which a string of joined sections of pipe is being laid, comprising: at least one frame having bottom runner means for sliding engagement with the surface and inclined main support means for supporting, in alignment, the last section of pipe joined to the string and the next section of pipe to be joined to the string; said main support means being inclined upwardly from the frame trailing end toward the frame leading end; said main support means including a trough portion for supporting and laterally locating the enlarged coupling end of the last section of pipe joined to the string and a forward section raised relative to said trough portion for supporting the shank of the next section of pipe to be joined whereby the shank of the next section is supported in axial alignment with the supported coupling end; at least one trailer frame having bottom runner means and inclined pipe supporting means; said first named main frame and said trailer frame providing a generally aligned pipe supporting surface; said at least one trailer frame providing a pipe supporting surface between said main support means and the bottom of the trench; means coupling said trailer frame to said main frame to provide for vertical and lateral articulation of said frame; each of said trailer frames and said main frame includes roller means defining the pipe supporting surfaces; and wherein said trailer frame supporting surface includes a downwardly inclined forward edge to engage the enlarged diameter portions of the pipe sections.

Claim 11

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said coupling means comprises a pair of parallel tow bars pivotally connected to both the main frame and the trailer frame adjacent to the sides thereof, said tow bars being pivoted about horizontal axes; and one end of each of said tow bars having a longitudinally elongated slot means defining a respective pivotal connection and permitting longitudinal movement of the tow bar and pivot means to provide for limited lateral articulation of the trailer frame relative to the main frame.

Claim 12

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said coupling means includes a pair of laterally spaced tow bars pivotally connected between said main frame and the trailer frame; each end of the tow bar and the associated frame defining pivot means for vertical articulation of the trailer frame relative to the main frame; and the pivot means on one end of each of said tow bars including means permitting relative longitudinal movement of the tow bar relative to the frame to provide for limited lateral articulation of the trailer frame relative to the main frame.

Claim 13

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of said tow bars includes a longitudinally elongated slot at one end coacting with a horizontal pivot shaft to define a lost motion connection providing for limited lateral articulation of said trailer frame relative to said main frame.

Claim 14

Pipe laying apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including means mounted on said main frame for laterally centering the apparatus in the trench.

Claim 15

Pipe laying apParatus, adapted to be moved along a pipe receiving trench upon which a string of joined sections of pipe is being laid, comprising: a main frame having bottom runner means for sliding engagement with the surface and inclined support means for supporting in alignment the last section of pipe joined to the string and the next section of pipe to be joined to the string; said support means being inclined upwardly from the frame trailing end toward the frame leading end; said main frame inclined support means including forward and rearward sections defined by roller means for engaging and supporting the pipe, and a trough portion defined by a curved plate member mounted on said frame between said forward and rearward support sections for supporting and laterally confining the enlarged coupling end of the last pipe section joined; said forward support section defining a supporting surface lying above the base of said trough to support the shank portion of the next pipe section to be joined in alignment with the coupling end of the last section joined to the string; at least one trailer frame having bottom runner means and an inclined pipe supporting surface defined by roller means, said main frame and said at least one trailer frame providing a generally aligned pipe supporting surface, with said at least one trailer frame providing a pipe supporting surface between said main frame and the bottom of the trench; means coupling said trailer frame to said main frame comprising a pair of parallel tow bars pivotally connected to both the main frame and the trailer frame adjacent to the sides thereof; said tow bars being pivoted about horizontal axis, and one end of each of said tow bars having a longitudinally elongated slot means defining a respective pivotal connection and permitting longitudinal movement of the tow bar and pivot means to provide for limited lateral articulation of the trailer frame relative to the main frame; centralizing means mounted on said main frame for centering the apparatus in the trench; said centralizing means comprising a guide member mounted on each side of said frame for lateral swinging movement, and spring means yieldably urging each of said guide members outwardly relative to said frame into engagement with the trench walls; and implement means mounted on said frame for forming a ridge of loose material at the bottom of said trench between said runners to provide a supporting bed for the string of pipe.

Claim 16

Pipe laying apParatus, adapted to be moved along a pipe receiving trench upon which a string of joined sections of pipe is being laid, comprising: a main frame having bottom runner means for sliding engagement with the surface and inclined support means for supporting in alignment the last section of pipe joined to the string and the next section of pipe to be joined to the string; said support means being inclined upwardly from the frame trailing end toward the frame leading end; said main frame inclined support means including forward and rearward sections defined by roller means for engaging and supporting the pipe, and a trough portion defined by a curved plate member mounted on said frame between said forward and rearward support sections for supporting and laterally confining the enlarged coupling end of the last pipe section joined; said forward support section defining a supporting surface lying above the base of said trough to support the shank portion of the next pipe section to be joined in alignment with the coupling end of the last section joined to the string; at least one trailer frame having bottom runner means and an inclined pipe supporting surface defined by roller means, said main frame and said at least one trailer frame providing a generally aligned pipe supporting surface, with said at least one trailer frame providing a pipe supporting surface between said main frame and the bottom of the trench; means coupling said trailer frame to said main frame comprising a pair of parallel tow bars pivotally connected to both the main frame and the trailer frame adjacent to the sides thereof; said tow bars being pivoted about horizontal axis, and one end of each of said tow bars having a longitudinally elongated slot means defining a respective pivotal connection and permitting longitudinal movement of the tow bar and pivot means to provide for limited lateral articulation of the trailer frame relative to the main frame; centralizing means mounted on said main frame for centering the apparatus in the trench; said centralizing means comprising a guide member mounted on each side of said frame for lateral swinging movement, and spring means yieldably urging each of said guide members outwardly relative to said frame into engagement with the trench walls; and implement means mounted on said frame for forming a ridge of loose material at the bottom of said trench between said runners to provide a supporting bed for the string of pipe.