Internal tensioning system for laying pipeline

Claim 2

An internal tool for use in a pipelaying operation, the tool comprising: rotatable, elongated mandrel means disposed generally centrally of said tool; power transfer means carried by said elongated mandrel means, and including elongated fluid transfer means extending generally centrally of said tool, and operable to transfer fluid power from adjacent one end of said mandrel longitudinally thereof to locations spaced from said one end; at least one trolley means connected to said elongated mandrel means, said trolley means including: wheel means operable to support the internal tool for translation internally of a pipeline, and trolley motor means for driving said wheel means; clamping means carried by said elongated mandrel means and movable generally radially of said mandrel means in response to rotation thereof, said clamping means, in a radially outward position, being operable to engage the internal surface of a pipeline; clamping means position control means for controlling the generally radial position of said clamping means with respect to said elongated mandrel means, said position control means including: actuating means for moving said clamping means generally radially outwardly of said elongated mandrel means, and clamp motor means for rotating said mandrel means to control movement of said actuating means, said acTuating means being operable to maintain said clamping means in a generally radially outward position independently of continued operation of said clamp motor means; said elongated, fluid transfer means of said power transfer means being operatively connected to said trolley motor means and said clamp motor means for supplying fluid power thereto.

Claim 3

An internal tool according to claim 1 wherein: said elongated mandrel means is rotatable about a generally longitudinal axis and with respect to said clamping means, said actuating means including: a threaded portion of said elongated mandrel means, and wedge means threadedly engaged with said threaded portion of said elongated mandrel means for controlling the generally radial position of said clamping means in response to generally axial movement of said wedge means produced by rotation of said elongated mandrel means, said clamping means further including: anti-rotation means, operatively connected to said power transfer means, for maintaining said clamping means in a stationary angular position with respect to said elongated mandrel means during rotation thereof.

Claim 4

An internal tool according to claim 2 wherein said elongated fluid transfer means comprises: fluid port means extending generally longitudinally through said mandrel means, and wherein said power transfer means further comprises: housing means mounted on said elongated mandrel means and provided with fluid passage means communicating with said fluid port means, and hose means connecting said fluid passage means to said trolley motor means and said clamp motor means.

Claim 5

An internal tool according to claim 1 and further including: at least one housing means carried by said elongated mandrel means and mounted thereon for rotation with respect to said elongated mandrel means and limited translation with respect to said elongated mandrel means, said at least one housing means including: radially movable pipe engaging means, operably connected to said fluid transfer means, for engaging a section of pipe and maintaining said at least one housing means stationary with respect thereto.

Claim 6

An internal tool according to claim 1 including: roundness restoring means for applying a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially directed, forces to a pipe internally thereof.

Claim 7

An internal tool for use in a pipelaying operation, the tool comprising: an elongated mandrel having a plurality of elongated fluid port means therethrough; a slip retainer body mounted on said mandrel generally concentrically therewith; said mandrel including an externally threaded portion adjacent said slip retainer body; a power screw tapered nut mounted on said mandrel and threadably engaging said externally threaded portion thereof; a plurality of slips positioned within said slip retainer body and in engagement with said power screw tapered nut; said slips being movable generally radially of said slip retainer body in response to translation of said power screw tapered nut caused by rotation of said elongated mandrel; an hydraulic motor means for rotating said elongated mandrel; an hydraulic powered trolley operatively connected to said mandrel and supporting the internal tool for translation internally of a pipeline; first housing means carried by said mandrel and mounted generally concentrically thereabout; fluid passage means in said first housing means for fluidly connecting said hydraulically power trolley and said hydraulic motor with said fluid port means in said mandrel; bearing means supporting said first housing means for rotation with respect to said mandrel and resisting translation of said first housing means with respect to said mandrel; second housing means carried by said mandrel and mounted generally concentrically thereof; second bearing means supporting said second housing means for rotation with respect to said mandrel anD limited translation with respect to said mandrel; and, anti-rotation means included on each of said slip retainer body and said first and second housing means, and coupled to said fluid port means in said elongated mandrel, adapted to internally engage a pipeline while maintaining said slip retainer body and said first and second housing means in a stationary angular position with respect to said elongated mandrel during rotation thereof.

Claim 8

An internal tool for use in a pipelaying operation, the tool comprising: an elongated mandrel having a plurality of elongated fluid port means therethrough; a slip retainer body mounted on said mandrel generally concentrically therewith; said mandrel including an externally threaded portion adjacent said slip retainer body; a power screw tapered nut mounted on said mandrel and threadably engaging said externally threaded portion thereof; a plurality of slips positioned within said slip retainer body and in engagement with said power screw tapered nut; said slips being movable generally radially of said slip retainer body in response to translation of said power screw tapered nut caused by rotation of said elongated mandrel; an hydraulic motor means for rotating said elongated mandrel; an hydraulic powered trolley operatively connected to said mandrel and supporting the internal tool for translation internally of a pipeline; first housing means carried by said mandrel and mounted generally concentrically thereabout; fluid passage means in said first housing means for fluidly connecting said hydraulically power trolley and said hydraulic motor with said fluid port means in said mandrel; bearing means supporting said first housing means for rotation with respect to said mandrel and resisting translation of said first housing means with respect to said mandrel; second housing means carried by said mandrel and mounted generally concentrically thereof; second bearing means supporting said second housing means for rotation with respect to said mandrel anD limited translation with respect to said mandrel; and, anti-rotation means included on each of said slip retainer body and said first and second housing means, and coupled to said fluid port means in said elongated mandrel, adapted to internally engage a pipeline while maintaining said slip retainer body and said first and second housing means in a stationary angular position with respect to said elongated mandrel during rotation thereof.

Claim 9

An internal tool according to claim 6 wherein: said anti-rotation means is adapted to apply a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially directed roundness restoring forces to a pipe internally thereof.