Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An on site pipe forming and laying machine comprising: a frame member movable along a pre-formed ditch; a guide means contacting the side walls of said ditch carried by said frame member for lateral support and guiding of said machine along said ditch; a pair of nested rotatable sleeves disposed on said frame; supply means for supplying uncured solidifiable cementitious material between said sleeves at a selected location; reinforcing wire supply means for supplying longitudinal and circumferential reinforcing wire within said solidifiable cementitious material; slip form means carried by said frame, rearward of said sleeves and substantially centered along the bottom of said ditch; and means for moving said machine along said ditch and rotating said sleeves, whereby wire reinforced concrete pipe is formed between said sleeves and as said machine moves along said ditch newly-formed pipe exits said sleeves and is temporarily supported by said slip form means while initially curing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An on site pipe forming and laying machine comprising: a frame member movable along a pre-formed ditch; a guide means contacting the side walls of said ditch carried by said frame member for lateral support and guiding of said machine along said ditch; a pair of nested rotatable sleeves disposed on said frame; supply means for supplying uncured solidifiable cementitious material between said sleeves at a selected location; reinforcing wire supply means for supplying longitudinal and circumferential reinforcing wire within said solidifiable cementitious material; slip form means carried by said frame, rearward of said sleeves and substantially centered along the bottom of said ditch; and means for moving said machine along said ditch and rotating said sleeves, whereby wire reinforced concrete pipe is formed between said sleeves and as said machine moves along said ditch newly-formed pipe exits said sleeves and is temporarily supported by said slip form means while initially curing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame member is constructed of material suitable for supporting the weight of said machine and said uncured concrete.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises; a scraper for preparing the bottom surface of said ditch for machine movement; a pair of separately selectively translatable linear actuators; and a pair of wheels, one attached to the distal end of the translatable portion of each linear actuator, whereby said translatable linear actuators are translated so that each wheel rides along its adjacent ditch wall for maintaining said machine in its operable position as it moves along said ditch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said linear actuators are pneumatically operated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeves have a spiral opening therebetween with a leading and trailing outer edge and said solidifiable cementitious material is deposited therebetween said circumferential reinforcing wire is introduced at the leading edge thereof and both said solidifiable cementitious material and circumferential reinforcing wire exit the trailing edge thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein a space is provided between said sleeves to allow the longitudinal reinforcing wires to pass therebetween as the machine moves along said ditch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said solidifiable cementitious material supply means comprises; a conduit leading from a source of solidifiable cementitious material; a rotatable tube attached to said conduit through a sealed slip joint; and a placement head attached to said rotatable tube and rotatable therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said rotatable tube and placement head are different and their cross-sectional areas are substantially equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the supply means for said longitudinal reinforcing wire is forward of said machine and is spacedly guided between said sleeves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for supplying said circumferential reinforcing wire comprises a drum which rotates with said sleeves wherein the wire, in plural spaced-apart strands, is fed into a spiral opening between said sleeves through said solidifiable cementitious material supply means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for moving said machine along said ditch and rotating said sleeves comprises a motor-driven transmission interconnected to said sleeves and rotatable traction means positioned between said machine and its supporting surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of spaced apart vibrator means positioned between said sleeves adjacent to said selected location of said solidifiable cementitious material for compacting said material and lubricating sleeve movement with respect to said uncured concrete.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising compactor means for compacting the bottom of said ditch to provide immediate support for said pipe as it exits said machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a housing around said machine for operation within a vertical bore to prevent foreign matter from contact with the working mechanism of said machine.