Pipe testing system

Claim 2

A pipe testing system for testing a pipe section having a bell end and a complementary spigot end comprising: a. rail means extending parallel to the axis of said pipe section being tested, b. a bell adapter complementary to and adapted to engage said bell end of said pipe section and a spigot adapter complementary to and adapted to engage said spigot end of said pipe section whereby joint testing may be effected simultaneously with pipe testing, c. carriage means carrying said adapters and movable along said rail means, d. means for moving said carriage means along said rail means, e. means for the selective application to the interior of said pipe section of: i. a negative pressure, or ii. a positive pressure, f. means for venting the interior of said pipe section while said pipe section is engaged by said adapters, and g. means for releasing said adapters from engagement with said ends of said pipe section after testing thereof.

Claim 3

A pipe testing system for testing a pipe section comprising: a. adapters adapted to engage open ends of said pipe section, b. rail means extending parallel to said pipe section to be tested, c. carriage means carrying said adapters and mounted for movement along said rail means, d. means for moving said carriage means along said rail means to engage said ends of said pipe section with said adapters, e. means for selective application to the interior of said pipe section of: i. a negative pressure, or ii. a positive pressure, f. means for venting the interior of said pipe section while said pipe section is engaged by said adapters, and g. means for releasing said adapters from engagement with the ends of said pipe section after testing thereof.

Claim 4

A pipe testing system for testing a pipe section comprising: a. adapters adapted to engage open ends of said pipe section, b. rail means extending parallel to said pipe section to be tested, c. carriage means carrying said adapters and mounted for movement along said rail means, d. means for moving said carriage means along said rail means to engage said ends of said pipe section with said adapters, e. means for selective application to the interior of said pipe section of: i. a negative pressure, or ii. a positive pressure, f. means for venting the interior of said pipe section while said pipe section is engaged by said adapters, and g. means for releasing said adapters from engagement with the ends of said pipe section after testing thereof.

Claim 5

The system of claim 2 further comprising: a. means for adjusting said moving means and said carriage means longitudinally of said rail means to permit pipe sections of different lengths to be tested.

Claim 6

The system of claim 2 further comprisinG: a. means for moving said rail means perpendicularly to its length to permit pipe sections of different diameters to be tested.

Claim 7

The system of claim 2 wherein said rail means comprises: a. overhead rail means adapted to extend above a pipe section being tested.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4 further comprising: a. means for adjusting said moving means and said carriage means longitudinally of said rail means to permit pipe section of different lengths to be tested.

Claim 9

The system of claim 2 further comprising: a. track means for conveying pipe sections to said adapters.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7 further comprising: a. stop means associated with said track means for positioning pipe sections at said adapters for engagement thereby.

Claim 11

The system of claim 2 wherein said means for selection application of a positive pressure to the interior of a pipe section comprises means for selective pumping into the interior thereof either: a. a gas under pressure, or b. a liquid under pressure.

Claim 12

The system of claim 2 wherein said pressure application means comprises: a. a manifold, b. means placing said manifold in fluid communication with the interior of a pipe section through said adapters, and c. means associated with said manifold for placing said manifold in communication selectively with either: i. a source of negative fluid pressure, or ii. a source of positive fluid pressure.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein said means for placing said manifold in communication selectively with a source of positive fluid pressure comprises means for placing said manifold in communication with either: a. a source of gas under pressure, or b. a source of liquid under pressure.

Claim 14

The system of claim 2 further comprising: a. means for monitoring the pressure in the interior of a pipe section to which pressure has been applied.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein said monitoring means comprise: a. first signal means for indicating when the pressure applied to the interior of a pipe section reaches a first value, b. second signal means for indicating when the pressure applied to the interior of a pipe section has changed from said first value to a second value, and c. timer means for indicating the elapsed time between the time said first signal means is actuated and the time said second signal means is actuated.

Claim 16

A pipe testing system comprising: a. means for engaging the open ends of a pipe section to be tested, b. means associated with said engaging means for selective application to the interior of said pipe section of: i. a negative pressure, or ii. a positive pressure, c. means for venting the interior of said pipe section while said pipe section is engaged by said engaging means, d. means for releasing said engaging means from engagement with the ends of said pipe section after testing thereof, e. track means for conveying pipe section to said end engaging means, f. roller means positioned adjacent an upstream end of said track means in spaced relationship to said end engaging means, g. means mounting said roller means for rotation about axes parallel to said track means, h. deflector means positioned adjacent said roller means for aligning pipe sections with respect to said track means as pipe sections pass over said roller means.

Claim 17

A pipe testing system comprising: a. means for engaging the open ends of a pipe section to be tested, b. means associated with said engaging means for selective application to the interior of said pipe section of: i. a negative pressure, or ii. a positive pressure, c. means for venting the interior of said pipe section while said pipe section is engaged by said engaging means, d. means for releasing said engaging means from engagement with the ends of said pipe section after testing thereof, e. track means for conveying pipe section to said end engaging means, f. roller means positioned adjacent an upstream end of said track means in spaced relationship to said end engaging means, g. means mounting said roller means for rotation about axes parallel to said track means, h. deflector means positioned adjacent said roller means for aligning pipe sections with respect to said track means as pipe sections pass over said roller means.

Claim 18

A pipe testing system comprising: a. a pipe trackway including pipe centering means adjacent one end thereof and stop means spaced from said centering means, b. an overhead rail positioned above and crossing said track means substantially perpendicularly thereto adjacent said stop means, c. a pair of spaced carriage members having downwardly depending portions mounted on said rail for movement therealong, d. complementary bell and spigot adapter plates mounted on said downwardly depending portions in opposed relationship to each other for engagement With bell and spigot ends of a pipe to be tested, e. a piston and cylinder mounted on said overhead rail and connected to each of said carriages to shift said carriages along said rail to clamp a pipe section between said adapters, f. means for adjusting the position of each of said pistons and cylinders and said carriages along said overhead rail to accommodate pipe sections of different lengths, g. means for shifting said overhead rail toward and away from said trackway to accommodate pipe sections of different diameters, h. a manifold having means for communicating with the interior of a pipe section through one of said adapter plates, i. means for applying through said manifold to the interior of a pipe section engaged by said adapter plates either: i. a negative pressure, ii. a positive gas pressure, or iii. a positive water pressure, j. pressure sensitive means mounted in one of said adapter plates to sense pressure changes in the interior of a pipe section being tested, k. signal means to indicate changes in pressure in the interior of a pipe being tested, and l. automatic timer means for determining the elapsed time from one predetermined pressure valve to a second predetermined pressure valve.

Claim 19

A pipe testing system comprising: a. a pipe trackway including pipe centering means adjacent one end thereof and stop means spaced from said centering means, b. an overhead rail positioned above and crossing said track means substantially perpendicularly thereto adjacent said stop means, c. a pair of spaced carriage members having downwardly depending portions mounted on said rail for movement therealong, d. complementary bell and spigot adapter plates mounted on said downwardly depending portions in opposed relationship to each other for engagement With bell and spigot ends of a pipe to be tested, e. a piston and cylinder mounted on said overhead rail and connected to each of said carriages to shift said carriages along said rail to clamp a pipe section between said adapters, f. means for adjusting the position of each of said pistons and cylinders and said carriages along said overhead rail to accommodate pipe sections of different lengths, g. means for shifting said overhead rail toward and away from said trackway to accommodate pipe sections of different diameters, h. a manifold having means for communicating with the interior of a pipe section through one of said adapter plates, i. means for applying through said manifold to the interior of a pipe section engaged by said adapter plates either: i. a negative pressure, ii. a positive gas pressure, or iii. a positive water pressure, j. pressure sensitive means mounted in one of said adapter plates to sense pressure changes in the interior of a pipe section being tested, k. signal means to indicate changes in pressure in the interior of a pipe being tested, and l. automatic timer means for determining the elapsed time from one predetermined pressure valve to a second predetermined pressure valve.