US4007705A — Apparatus for treating a cylindrical object

Claim 1

Independent Claim 164 words

Apparatus for temporary positioning about a generally cylindrical object for indexing a tool across the surface thereof, comprising: a frame assembly and means for temporarily opening said frame assembly to receive a cylindrical object; a boom assembly including a boom and a boom head, said boom head including tool mount means adapted to mount a tool for movement with said boom head; indexing means for moving said boom assembly longitudinally and circumferentially of said pipe surface thereby positioning said tool to perform a designated treatment on said cylindrical object; said indexing means including rotation hydraulic control means for moving said boom assembly through a predesignated angular increment and boom hydraulic control means for moving said boom assembly through a predesignated length of movement in first and second longitudinal directions; and said index means including intercontrol means operatively interconnecting said rotation hydraulic control means and said boom hydraulic control means for operating said boom assembly for movement longitudinally and circumferentially in any desired time relationship.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 164 words

Apparatus for temporary positioning about a generally cylindrical object for indexing a tool across the surface thereof, comprising: a frame assembly and means for temporarily opening said frame assembly to receive a cylindrical object; a boom assembly including a boom and a boom head, said boom head including tool mount means adapted to mount a tool for movement with said boom head; indexing means for moving said boom assembly longitudinally and circumferentially of said pipe surface thereby positioning said tool to perform a designated treatment on said cylindrical object; said indexing means including rotation hydraulic control means for moving said boom assembly through a predesignated angular increment and boom hydraulic control means for moving said boom assembly through a predesignated length of movement in first and second longitudinal directions; and said index means including intercontrol means operatively interconnecting said rotation hydraulic control means and said boom hydraulic control means for operating said boom assembly for movement longitudinally and circumferentially in any desired time relationship.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said indexing means includes: travel adjustment means for adjusting the distance of longitudinal movement of said boom assembly in said first and second directions; and rotation adjustment means for adjusting the amount of rotation of said boom assembly between longitudinal travel thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame assembly includes: first and second semi-cylindrical frame sections pivotally connected together; and pivot means for pivoting said frame sections between an open position to receive said pipe and a closed position with said cylindrical object positioned within said frame sections.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

The structure set forth in claim 3, including: a latch assembly mounted with said first frame section, said latch assembly including a latch arm; and latch actuator means mounting said latch arm for rotational and lateral movement for locking said second frame section in a closed position with said first frame section.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein said latch actuator means includes: a cam element mounted onto said first frame section for pivotal movement with respect thereto; a power unit pivotally attached between said first frame section and said cam element for rotating said cam element; and

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

said latch arm being pivotally connected to said cam element whereby a pivoting of said cam element by said power unit causes rotational and lateral movement of said latch arm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

said latch arm being pivotally connected to said cam element whereby a pivoting of said cam element by said power unit causes rotational and lateral movement of said latch arm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 62 words

The structure set forth in claim 3, including: a central frame member; frame connector means attaching said central frame member to said first and second frame sections; and said central frame member having a landing post attached thereto for initially engaging said cylindrical object with said frame sections open in order to initially position said frame section for closure about said object.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

The structure set forth in claim 3, including: a plurality of circumferentially spaced centering shoes for centering said frame sections in a closed position about said object, said centering shoes including a first group for engaging one portion of the surface of said object and a second group for engaging an opposite portion of said object surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The structure set forth in claim 7, including: means for pre-setting the radial position of said first group of shoes in order to initially engage said object with said frame section in a closed position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The structure set forth in claim 8, including: shoe power means for radially moving said second group of shoes to a clamped position after said first group of shoes has engaged said object.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The structure set forth in claim 9, including: remote control means for remotely actuating said shoe power means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 94 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame assembly includes: a first semi-cylindrical frame section including semi-circular end members joined by bracing; a second semi-cylindrical frame section including semi-circular end members joined by bracing; a central frame member; pivot connection means pivotally connecting said end members of said first and second sections together for pivotal movement between an open position to receive said pipe and a closed position; and said pivotal connection means further connecting said central frame member for pivotal movement with respect to both said first and second frame sections.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The structure set forth in claim 11, including: a landing post attached to said central frame member for initially engaging said object with said frame end members in said open position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The structure set forth in claim 12, including: said landing post being pivotally movable with said central frame member; and opposing spring members attached between said landing post and said frame sections.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: rotational mount means mounting said boom assembly for circumferential movement; and counterbalance means for substantially balancing the weight of said boom assembly.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, including: boom mount means mounting said boom assembly for movement longitudinally of said generally cylindrical object, said boom mount means including opposing track sections having rollers thereon for engaging and rollably supporting said boom member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said indexing means includes: an annular gear ring and means mounting said annular gear ring on said frame assembly for rotation with respect thereto.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The structure set forth in claim 16, including: boom mount means mounting said boom for longitudinal movement with respect to said object; said boom being elongated and having flat side portions; and said boom mount means including opposing track portions having rollers positioned to engage said boom flat side portions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The structure set forth in claim 17, wherein said indexing means includes: a rack gear mounted onto said boom; and boom drive means mounted onto one of said opposing track portions and including a drive gear engaging said boom rack gear for moving said boom in opposite, longitudinal directions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The structure set forth in claim 16, including: circumferential drive means mounted with said frame assembly and including a gear drive for engaging said annular gear to rotate same in opposite circumferential directions.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said boom head includes: tool support means for mounting said tool; and pivot means mounting said tool support means onto said boom for pivotal movement toward and away from said object surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The structure set forth in claim 20, including: hydraulic power means for urging said tool support means toward said object surface; said tool utilizing a fluid for application to said object surface; and said hydraulic power means utilizing said tool fluid.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

The structure set forth in claim 21, including: spring means attached between said boom and said tool support means for urging said tool support means away from said object surface.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 37 words

The structure set forth in claim 20, wherein said tool support means includes: angular position means for adjusting the angular position of said tool within a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical object.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 66 words

The structure set forth in claim 20, including: said pivot means including parallel link arms pivotally attached between said boom and tool support; and one or more substantially hemispherical members mounted for movement with said tool support means for continually engaging said object surface in spite of variations therein and for maintaining said tool in said tool support at a predetermined distance from said object surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 46 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said indexing means includes: a rotation hydraulic drive; and said rotation hydraulic control means including a constant displacement hydraulic network for driving said rotation hydraulic drive and boom assembly through a rotational cycle of a predesignated angular increment.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The structure set forth in claim 25, wherein said rotation hydraulic control means includes: first switch means creating a pressure build-up in response to completion of said rotational cycle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 57 words

The structure set forth in claim 26, including: a boom hydraulic drive for moving said boom between extended and retracted positions longitudinally of said object; and said boom hydraulic control means actuating said boom hydraulic drive for moving said boom in a first longitudinal direction in response to said pressure build-up caused by said first switch means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 42 words

The structure set forth in claim 27, including: said boom hydraulic control means including second switch means positioned in part with said boom for creating a pressure build-up in response to completion of movement of said boom in a first longitudinal direction.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

The structure set forth in claim 28, including: said rotation hydraulic control means including means for driving said rotation hydraulic drive and boom assembly through another predesignated angular increment in response to said pressure build-up caused by said second switch means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 57 words

The structure set forth in claim 29, including: said first switch means creating a pressure buildup in response to completion of said predesignated angular increment; and said boom hydraulic control means actuating said boom hydraulic drive for moving said boom in a second longitudinal direction opposite to said first longitudinal direction in response to said pressure build-up.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 49 words

The structure set forth in claim 25, wherein said hydraulic network includes: a hydraulic cylinder having a piston mounted therein, one side of hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication with said rotation hydraulic drive such that said rotation hydraulic drive is driven in response to displacement of said piston.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 53 words

The structure set forth in claim 25, including: an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder having a piston mounted therein, said hydraulic cylinder being in selective fluid communication with said rotation hydraulic drive; and means for adjusting the stroke of said auxiliary hydraulic cylinder piston in order to adjust the angular increment movement of said boom.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 63 words

The structure set forth in claim 28, wherein said second switch means includes: a hydraulic cylinder and piston-rod assembly mounted on said frame; said boom having mounted therewith means for engaging and displacing said piston-rod assembly in order to create a pressure build-up; and means for deactuating said boom hydraulic drive and actuating said rotation hydraulic drive in response to said pressure build-up.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 54 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said intercontrol means includes: means activating said boom hydraulic control means and said rotation hydraulic control means in response to pressure signals generated by said intercontrol means at the end of said boom travelling a predesignated distance in either a longitudinal direction or a circumferential direction.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 67 words

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said intercontrol means includes: signal means for generating pressure signals at the end of predesignated circumferential or longitudinal travel of said boom assembly; and activation means for activating said boom hydraulic control means and said rotation hydraulic control means in response to said pressure signals to move said boom in a longitudinal direction or in a circumferential direction, respectively.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 172 words

Apparatus for temporary positioning about a generally cylindrical object for indexing a tool across the surface thereof, comprising: a frame assembly and means for temporarily opening said frame assembly to receive a cylindrical object; a boom assembly including a boom and a boom head, said boom head including tool mount means adapted to mount a tool for movement with said boom head; indexing means for moving said boom assembly longitudinally and circumferentially of said pipe surface thereby positioning said tool to perform a designated treatment on said cylindrical object; said frame assembly including first and second semi-cylindrical frame sections pivotally connected together and pivot means for pivoting said frame sections between an open position to receive said pipe and a closed position with said cylindrical object positioned within said frame sections; an annular gear ring having first and second gear sections mounted with said first and second frame sections; and gear pivot means mounting said gear sections for pivotal movement between open and closed positions with said first and second frame sections.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 172 words

Apparatus for temporary positioning about a generally cylindrical object for indexing a tool across the surface thereof, comprising: a frame assembly and means for temporarily opening said frame assembly to receive a cylindrical object; a boom assembly including a boom and a boom head, said boom head including tool mount means adapted to mount a tool for movement with said boom head; indexing means for moving said boom assembly longitudinally and circumferentially of said pipe surface thereby positioning said tool to perform a designated treatment on said cylindrical object; said frame assembly including first and second semi-cylindrical frame sections pivotally connected together and pivot means for pivoting said frame sections between an open position to receive said pipe and a closed position with said cylindrical object positioned within said frame sections; an annular gear ring having first and second gear sections mounted with said first and second frame sections; and gear pivot means mounting said gear sections for pivotal movement between open and closed positions with said first and second frame sections.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 27 words

The structure set forth in claim 36, including: means mounting said gear ring for rotational movement about said first and second frame sections in a closed position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-02-15	1980-08-16	1981-02-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-02-15	1984-08-16	1985-02-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-02-15	1988-08-16	1989-02-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for treating a cylindrical object

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