US4091630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermediate sleeve for installing pipeline by propelling pipes underground
Assignee: Kubota Corp
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Filing: 1977-05-03
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Granted: 1978-05-30
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Expires: 1997-05-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved form of intermediate sleeve for installing a pipeline by forcing pipes into earth, incorporating the sleeve into the resulting pipe assembly at an intermediate portion thereof, and pushing the rear end of the pipe assembly and telescopically extending the sleeve alternately in repetition to thereby propel the assembly. The intermediate sleeve comprises a socket member, a spigot member slidably fitting in the socket member and includes a sealing portion in the vicinity of a sliding portion between the members. The intermediate sleeve is usable as part of the pipeline after the completion of the propulsion without the necessity of providing any additional special seal. The intermediate sleeve can be equipped with a feeder device for feeding a lubricant into the sliding portion and for withdrawing the same therefrom during collapsing movement to completely prevent the ingress of soil or sand into the sliding portion. The intermediate sleeve can be further provided with a special jack supporting structure by which intermediate jacks are readily progressively mountable on circumferentially spaced portions of the sleeve via progressive mounting thereof at its lower portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukiyasu Nemoto
- 👤 Kyosuke Nanba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:54
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/20; E21B7/205; E21D; E21D9/00; E21D9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
An improved intermediate sleeve means for use in installing and becoming an integral part of an underground pipeline unable to be installed via conventional excavating of an open ditch, but which pipeline is installed by propelling in a known manner successive sections of pipe forming a pipeline assembly through a sub-terrainean medium with the aid of expansible-contractible jack means in an initial starting pit, and with the aid of an intermediate sleeve means together with associated intermediate expansible-contractible jack means collectively interposed between collective pluralities of interjoined pipeline sections, with said intermediate sleeve means thus becoming integrally incorporated in one or more intermediate portions of the completed pipeline assembly; said improved intermediate sleeve means comprising the combination of: (a) an annular sleeve-like socket member constituting an outer pipe member; (b) an annular sleeve-like spigot member constituting an inner pipe member; (c) said inner and outer pipe members including, respectively, complementally formed annular sleeve portions adapted for telescopic relative movement; (d) annular sealing means interposed between radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members at an area generally intermediate opposite ends thereof for effectively sealing off predetermined portions of said spigot and socket members while permitting relative sliding movement of said members; and (e) said sealing means including an annular compressively resilient seal of a self-sealing type adapted to be progressively flattened during telescopic assembly of and between said socket and spigot members, and which provides surface pressure required to assure sealing of the interior from the exterior when subjected to predetermined internal pressures which may flow through said improved intermediate sleeve means and finished pipeline assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
An improved intermediate sleeve means for use in installing and becoming an integral part of an underground pipeline unable to be installed via conventional excavating of an open ditch, but which pipeline is installed by propelling in a known manner successive sections of pipe forming a pipeline assembly through a sub-terrainean medium with the aid of expansible-contractible jack means in an initial starting pit, and with the aid of an intermediate sleeve means together with associated intermediate expansible-contractible jack means collectively interposed between collective pluralities of interjoined pipeline sections, with said intermediate sleeve means thus becoming integrally incorporated in one or more intermediate portions of the completed pipeline assembly; said improved intermediate sleeve means comprising the combination of: (a) an annular sleeve-like socket member constituting an outer pipe member; (b) an annular sleeve-like spigot member constituting an inner pipe member; (c) said inner and outer pipe members including, respectively, complementally formed annular sleeve portions adapted for telescopic relative movement; (d) annular sealing means interposed between radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members at an area generally intermediate opposite ends thereof for effectively sealing off predetermined portions of said spigot and socket members while permitting relative sliding movement of said members; and (e) said sealing means including an annular compressively resilient seal of a self-sealing type adapted to be progressively flattened during telescopic assembly of and between said socket and spigot members, and which provides surface pressure required to assure sealing of the interior from the exterior when subjected to predetermined internal pressures which may flow through said improved intermediate sleeve means and finished pipeline assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
151 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said socket and spigot members are provided with radial flange means disposed interiorly of the intermediate sleeve means and transversely to a common longitudinal axis thereof; said respective radial flange means being provided in association with respectively rearward portions of said respective socket and spigot members, and in an axially spaced-apart relation; said spigot members further having a radially outward flange at a generally forward end portion and adapted for bearing contact with an adjacent portion of a pipe section being installed in said pipeline assembly; the aforesaid first-mentioned radial flange means of said socket and spigot members adapted to receive therebetween opposite operative ends of intermediate expansible-collapsible jack means removably interposable therebetween for imparting supplemental driving pressure to the telescopically expansible spigot member and to the pipeline sections being installed via said radially outward flange of said spigot member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 1, further comprising an annular outer cover plate covering the relative sliding portions of said socket and spigot members which otherwise would be exteriorly exposed, the cover plate adapted to prevent ingress of soil or sand of the sub-terrainean medium; said spigot member having an aperture through a wall portion to provide communication from the interior of the intermediate sleeve with an annular space beneath said outer cover, the space providing a sliding area for telescopic movement of said annular sleeve portion socket member upon an annular sleeve portion of the said spigot member; lubricant-feeding means connected with said aperture for feeding a lubricant under pressure into the said annular space and for withdrawing the lubricant therefrom via said aperture responsive to respective increase and decrease of the space beneath said cover plate resulting from the relative telescopic movement of said socket and spigot members, thus more positively excluding ingress of soil or sand into the moving parts of the intermediate sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 2, further comprising: an annular outer cover plate covering the relative sliding portions of said socket and spigot members which otherwise would be exteriorly exposed, the cover plate adapted to prevent ingress of soil or sand of the sub-terrainean medium; said spigot member having an aperture through a wall portion to provide communication from the interior of the intermediate sleeve with an annular space beneath said outer cover, the space providing a sliding area for telescopic movement of said annular sleeve portion socket member upon an annular sleeve portion of the said spigot member; lubricant-feeding means connected with said aperture for feeding a lubricant under pressure into the said annular space and for withdrawing the lubricant therefrom via said aperture responsive to respective increase and decrease of the space beneath said cover plate resulting from the relative telescopic movement of said socket and spigot members, thus more positively excluding ingress of soil or sand into the moving parts of the intermediate sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 3, wherein said annular sealing means interposed between radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members, further include two axially spaced annular sealing rings; one of said rings interposed between forwardmost portions of said outer annular cover and said socket member; and the other of said rings interposed also between the radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members spaced axially rearward from said first-mentioned ring, but axially forward of said initially first-mentioned annular compressively resilient self-sealing type seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 4, wherein said annular sealing means interposed between radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members, further include two axially spaced annular sealing rings; one of said rings interposed between forwardmost portions of said outer annular cover and said socket member; and the other of said rings interposed also between the radially adjacent movable portions of said spigot and socket members spaced axially rearward from said first-mentioned ring, but axially forward of said initially first-mentioned annular compressively resilient self-sealing type seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arcuate unit assemblies with means for circumferentially interconnecting them to comprise a circular jack-mounting means for mounting therewith a plurality of circumferentially-spaced intermediate expansible-contractible jacks; said circular jack-mounting means arranged along the inner peripheral surface of said socket member near a rearward end thereof; each of said unit assemblies including a pair of axially spaced apart support plates for supporting and including a roller therebetween having an axis disposed parallel to the center axis of said intermediate sleeve; said rollers adapted to rollably engage the inner peripheral surface of said socket member; the aforesaid means for circumferentially interconnecting said arcuate unit assemblies also constituting support means for the intermediate jacks; and a plurality of intermediate expansible-contractible jacks supported within said circular jack-mounting means in circumferentially predetermined places adjacent the inner peripheral surface of said socket member, with opposite axial ends of said jack means adapted to operatively engage force-bearing-surfaces provided at corresponding circumferentially disposed places on generally rearward but spaced-apart portions of said respective spigot and socket members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
178 words
Intermediate sleeve means as defined in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of arcuate unit assemblies with means for circumferentially interconnecting them to comprise a circular jack mounting means for mounting therewith a plurality of circumferentially-spaced intermediate expansible-contractible jacks; said circular jack-mounting means arranged along the inner peripheral surface of said socket member near a rearward end thereof; each of said unit assemblies including a pair of axially spaced apart support plates for supporting and including a roller therebetween having an axis disposed parallel to the center axis of said intermediate sleeve; said rollers adapted to rollably engage the inner peripheral surface of said socket member; the aforesaid means for circumferentially interconnecting said arcuate unit assemblies also constituting support means for the intermediate jacks; and a plurality of intermediate expansible-contractible jacks supported within said circular jack-mounting means in circumferentially predetermined places adjacent the inner peripheral surface of said socket member, with opposite axial ends of said jack means adapted to operatively engage force-bearing-surfaces constituted by said radial flange means disposed interiorly of said respective socket and spigot members.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-29 | 1981-11-28 | 1982-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-29 | 1985-11-28 | 1986-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-28 | 1990-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |