US4253792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe nesting apparatus and method of nesting and unnesting pipes with the apparatus
Assignee: Kubota Corp
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Filing: 1979-01-19
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Granted: 1981-03-03
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Expires: 1999-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for and a method of nesting pipes of varying diameters or unnesting the resulting assembly into individual pipes for efficient transport of the pipes. The apparatus comprises a support arm for supporting a pipe with the arm extending therethrough, a support member for supporting the pipe thereon, a lift for raising or lowering one of the support arm and the support member, e.g. the support member, and a carriage movable axially of the pipe and equipped with the above-mentioned one support element, e.g. the liftable support member. By the movement of the carriage, a pipe on one of the support arm and support member is fitted around the other or around another pipe thereon, or nested pipes are separated. In the above-mentioned example, a pipe on the support member is fitted around the support arm or another pipe thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Munehiro Nishikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:23
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F19/00; B65; B65B; B65B17/00; B65B17/02; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A pipe nesting apparatus comprising: a cantilever support arm adapted to be extended through a first pipe and provided with at least two spaced support points arranged on a substantially horizontal line for supporting the first pipe horizontally; a support member having at least two spaced support points arranged on a substantially horizontal line for supporting a second pipe horizontally thereon, said first and second pipes having transverse dimensions which differ to an extent sufficient to enable one of said pipes to be nested within the other of said pipes; lift means for vertically moving one of the support elements consisting of said support arm and said support member while maintaining said arrangement of the two support points whereby said first and second pipes can be substantially axially aligned; and carriage means equipped with one of said support elements for moving said one element in a direction axially of the pipes between a first position in which the support arm and first pipe extend through the second pipe and a second position in which the support arm and the support member are located away from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A pipe nesting apparatus comprising: a cantilever support arm adapted to be extended through a first pipe and provided with at least two spaced support points arranged on a substantially horizontal line for supporting the first pipe horizontally; a support member having at least two spaced support points arranged on a substantially horizontal line for supporting a second pipe horizontally thereon, said first and second pipes having transverse dimensions which differ to an extent sufficient to enable one of said pipes to be nested within the other of said pipes; lift means for vertically moving one of the support elements consisting of said support arm and said support member while maintaining said arrangement of the two support points whereby said first and second pipes can be substantially axially aligned; and carriage means equipped with one of said support elements for moving said one element in a direction axially of the pipes between a first position in which the support arm and first pipe extend through the second pipe and a second position in which the support arm and the support member are located away from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the support arm is fixed to a support frame, and the support member is mounted on the carriage means by the lift means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein a liftable frame is mounted on the carriage means, the support member being mounted on the liftable frame and comprising a pivotable frame extending at right angles to the axis of the pipe and having a pivotably supported one end and the other end supported on the liftable frame so as to be raised or lowered relative to the liftable frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pivotable frame is provided with a pair of pipe supporting rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein means is provided for rotating one of the pair of rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein a guide member having a V-shaped notch for guiding the path onto the pair of rollers is provided independently of the support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a holder for engaging and holding a plurality of nested pipes each at one end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the holder comprises an annular member surrounding the support arm and a plurality of bars extending radially outward from the annular member, each of the bars being provided with pipe end engaging portions suitably spaced apart longitudinally of the bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein cradles are provided at the position of the base end of the support arm for contact with the radially inner ends of the bars provided for the upper half of the pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A nesting apparatus ad defined in claim 8 wherein each of the engaging portions comprises an engaging member fittingly engageable in an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the pipe end, the bars for the upper half of the pipe being fixedly provided with the engaging members, the bars for the lower half of the pipe being detachably provided with the engaging members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each of the engaging portions comprises a hole formed in the bar and positioned in corresponding relation to a bolt hole formed in the pipe end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein a cradle of elastic material is provided on the upper half of the support arm close to its forward end for contact with the inner surface of the pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the support arm is mounted on the carriage means by the lift means, and the support member comprises a stationary support base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the support arm is provided on its upper surface with an elastic member for contact with the inner surface of the pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the support arm extends from a liftable body vertically movable along an upright guide frame on the carriage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the guide frame is supported at an intermediate portion thereof by the carriage means and is pivotally movable in a vertical plane containing the support arm, an abutting member being provided on the carriage means for bearing contact with a side face of the lower end side face of the guide frame opposite to the side face thereof from which the support arm extends.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the abutting member is movable to an adjusted position in a direction in which the guide frame lower end is pivotally movable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the abutting member is mounted on an intermediate portion of a lever having a pivoted one end and the other end connected to means for moving the abutting member in the direction of movement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein pipe transfer means is provided on one side of the path of travel of the carriage means between the support member and the second position of the carriage means, the transfer means extending at right angles to the path of travel and being provided with pipe receiving means at one end of the transfer means close to the path, the pipe receiving means being movable between a projected position in which it extends across the path and a retracted position beside the path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
A nesting apparatus as defined in claim 1 which is provided with spacers to be interposed between nested pipes, each of the spacers comprising a wood piece, an annular metal frame fitting around the wood piece, and contact plates of elastic material attached to a pair of opposed surfaces at right angles to the metal frame fitting surfaces of the wood piece.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of nesting pipes comprising the steps of: placing a first pipe of small diameter on a vertically movable support member of a carriage; moving the carriage to fit the first pipe around a supporting arm; lowering the support member to cause the arm to support the first pipe thereon; moving the carriage with a second pipe of larger diameter subsequently placed on the support member thereof to fit the second pipe around the first pipe; fixing the first and second pipes together by means for spacing said pipes apart from each other; raising the support member to support the resulting fixed assembly of pipes on the carriage; and moving the carriage away from the position of the supporting arm.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of nesting pipes comprising the steps of: placing a first pipe of small diameter on a vertically movable support member of a carriage; moving the carriage to fit the first pipe around a supporting arm; lowering the support member to cause the arm to support the first pipe thereon; moving the carriage with a second pipe of larger diameter subsequently placed on the support member thereof to fit the second pipe around the first pipe; fixing the first and second pipes together by means for spacing said pipes apart from each other; raising the support member to support the resulting fixed assembly of pipes on the carriage; and moving the carriage away from the position of the supporting arm.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of nesting pipes comprising the steps of: placing a first pipe of small diameter in a position between a first position and a second position on the path of travel of carriage means equipped with a vertically movable support arm; placing a second pipe of larger diameter on a support base located at said second position; moving the carriage means to insert the support arm into the first pipe; raising the support arm to support the first pipe thereon; moving the carriage means to insert the first pipe into the second pipe on the support base; and fixing the two pipes together by means for spacing the pipes apart from each other.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of nesting pipes comprising the steps of: placing a first pipe of small diameter in a position between a first position and a second position on the path of travel of carriage means equipped with a vertically movable support arm; placing a second pipe of larger diameter on a support base located at said second position; moving the carriage means to insert the support arm into the first pipe; raising the support arm to support the first pipe thereon; moving the carriage means to insert the first pipe into the second pipe on the support base; and fixing the two pipes together by means for spacing the pipes apart from each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method of nesting pipes as defined in claim 22 further including the steps of: delivering the first pipe onto pipe receiving means projecting over the path of travel of the carriage means by transfer means disposed on one side of said path between said first and second positions; supporting the first pipe on the pipe receiving means while the support arm is inserted into the first pipe; and retracting the pipe receiving means from said path after the support arm has been raised to support the first pipe thereon.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of unnesting pipes comprising the steps of: a. supporting nested pipes on a support arm; b. removing spacing and holding means from the space between the outermost of the pipes and an inner pipe immediately adjacent to the outermost pipe while supporting the outermost pipe by a vertically movable support member on carriage means located in a first position below the support arm; c. removing the outermost pipe from the support member after moving the carriage means from the first position to a second position; d. moving the carriage means again to the first position below the support arm; e. raising the support member to support the outermost of the remaining pipes; and thereafter repeating the above steps b, c, d and e to successively unnest each remaining outermost nested pipe.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of unnesting pipes comprising the steps of: a. supporting nested pipes on a support arm; b. removing spacing and holding means from the space between the outermost of the pipes and an inner pipe immediately adjacent to the outermost pipe while supporting the outermost pipe by a vertically movable support member on carriage means located in a first position below the support arm; c. removing the outermost pipe from the support member after moving the carriage means from the first position to a second position; d. moving the carriage means again to the first position below the support arm; e. raising the support member to support the outermost of the remaining pipes; and thereafter repeating the above steps b, c, d and e to successively unnest each remaining outermost nested pipe.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of unnesting pipes comprising the steps of: a. supporting nested pipes on a support base; b. inserting a vertically movable support arm of a carriage means into the innermost of the pipes; c. removing spacing and holding means from the space between the innermost pipe and an outer pipe immediately adjacent to the innermost pipe while supporting the innermost pipe by the support arm; d. removing the innermost pipe from the support arm after moving the carriage means to withdraw the innermost pipe from said outer pipe; and thereafter repeating the above steps b, c and d to successively unnest each remaining innermost nested pipe.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of unnesting pipes comprising the steps of: a. supporting nested pipes on a support base; b. inserting a vertically movable support arm of a carriage means into the innermost of the pipes; c. removing spacing and holding means from the space between the innermost pipe and an outer pipe immediately adjacent to the innermost pipe while supporting the innermost pipe by the support arm; d. removing the innermost pipe from the support arm after moving the carriage means to withdraw the innermost pipe from said outer pipe; and thereafter repeating the above steps b, c and d to successively unnest each remaining innermost nested pipe.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
107 words
A method of unnesting pipes as defined in claim 25 wherein said step of removing the innermost pipe from the support arm includes the steps of: lowering the support arm toward pipe receiving means projecting over the path of travel of the carriage means to cause the pipe receiving means to support the pipe on the support arm; further moving the carriage means to withdraw the support arm from the pipe; delivering the pipe from the pipe receiving means onto pipe transfer means on one side of the path of travel of the carriage means; and thereafter retracting the pipe receiving means from said path of travel.
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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) | 1984-03-02 | 1984-09-01 | 1985-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-02 | 1988-09-01 | 1989-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-02 | 1992-09-01 | 1993-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |