The present invention relates to a utility support framing system and method of use for structurally suspended concrete slabs of slab-on-voidform foundations. The inventive utility support framing system and method of use isolates utilities, hanger assemblies, and framing system components from soil so as to avoid problems created by volumetric soil changes which otherwise would damage utility lines under foundation systems. The inventive utility support framing system permits suspending utility pipes under a slab of a slab-on-voidform foundation while avoiding the problems of the prior art. The invention also relates to a novel mountable pipe clamp and method of use and a novel protective utility counterweight and method of use for transitioning a utility system from a suspended condition to a soil supported condition.

A pipe replacement system and cable guide frame are shown. Configurations are shown that include plurality of guide pulleys attached to the cable guide frame to define a curved path between a pipe to be replaced and a cable pulling system. Configurations are shown where a pipe breaking tool is pulled over the plurality of guide pulleys for ease of removal after a replacement operation. Configurations are also shown that include a stationary splitter adjacent to the cable pulling system to prevent jamming of the cable pulling system.

A pipe replacement system and cable guide frame are shown. Configurations are shown that include plurality of guide pulleys attached to the cable guide frame to define a curved path between a pipe to be replaced and a cable pulling system. Configurations are shown where a pipe breaking tool is pulled over the plurality of guide pulleys for ease of removal after a replacement operation. Configurations are also shown that include a stationary splitter adjacent to the cable pulling system to prevent jamming of the cable pulling system.

A conduit weighting device has a container to contain ballast. The container is formed from flexible sheet material and has a top opening to receive the ballast. The device has flaps extending from respective opposite edges of the top opening of the container. The container forms an underside channel sized and shaped to receive a conduit for conforming placement of the conduit weighting device on the conduit to weight the conduit. The flaps are sized and shaped: when in an open arrangement, to extend beyond edges of a trench containing the conduit to hold open the top opening while receiving the ballast material; and when in a closed arrangement, to close the top opening of the container. The weighting device may be placed on an entrenched conduit before filling, and then filled in place with locally-available backfill. The device may be transported to the site in a collapsed compact form.

A conduit weighting device has a container to contain ballast. The container is formed from flexible sheet material and has a top opening to receive the ballast. The device has flaps extending from respective opposite edges of the top opening of the container. The container forms an underside channel sized and shaped to receive a conduit for conforming placement of the conduit weighting device on the conduit to weight the conduit. The flaps are sized and shaped: when in an open arrangement, to extend beyond edges of a trench containing the conduit to hold open the top opening while receiving the ballast material; and when in a closed arrangement, to close the top opening of the container. The weighting device may be placed on an entrenched conduit before filling, and then filled in place with locally-available backfill. The device may be transported to the site in a collapsed compact form.

A machine for extracting a ductile pipe. The machine has a vise which can grip the pipe, and a wire clamp. Each of the wire clamp and vise are supported on a carriage which is movable relative to a frame. This enables the vise to grip and pull the ductile pipe. Additionally, a wire strand may be disposed through the pipe from a far end to the end at which the machine is placed. The wire clamp allows the machine to pre-stress the strand to improve the extraction of the ductile pipe.

A machine for extracting a ductile pipe. The machine has a vise which can grip the pipe, and a wire clamp. Each of the wire clamp and vise are supported on a carriage which is movable relative to a frame. This enables the vise to grip and pull the ductile pipe. Additionally, a wire strand may be disposed through the pipe from a far end to the end at which the machine is placed. The wire clamp allows the machine to pre-stress the strand to improve the extraction of the ductile pipe.

A filled trench is disclosed. The filled trench comprises: a pair of conduits (3a, 3b) for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits, the pair of conduits being surrounded by filling material; a first section (5a) filled with a filling material of a first type (4a), wherein the first filled section (5a) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a first conduit (3a) of the pair of conduits; and a second section (5b) filled with a filling material of a second type (4b), wherein the second filled section (5b) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a second conduit (3b) of the pair of conduits. The filling material of the first type (4a) has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of the second type (4b) has a second thermal conduction coefficient, the second thermal conduction coefficient being different from the first thermal conduction coefficient.

A filled trench is disclosed. The filled trench comprises: a pair of conduits (3a, 3b) for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits, the pair of conduits being surrounded by filling material; a first section (5a) filled with a filling material of a first type (4a), wherein the first filled section (5a) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a first conduit (3a) of the pair of conduits; and a second section (5b) filled with a filling material of a second type (4b), wherein the second filled section (5b) of the filled trench occupies a space surrounding a second conduit (3b) of the pair of conduits. The filling material of the first type (4a) has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of the second type (4b) has a second thermal conduction coefficient, the second thermal conduction coefficient being different from the first thermal conduction coefficient.

Provided is a drainage grouting pipe and a method of use thereof. The drainage grouting pipe comprises a perforated steel pipe, a plurality of elastic anti-filtration geotextiles, a movable stopper, and a grouting pipe. The perforated steel pipe consists of a front conical tip, a middle grouting section, a rear hole-free section, and a steel pipe seal. The middle grouting section is provided with a plurality of grouting holes. The surface of the middle grouting section of the perforated steel pipe is seamlessly, and circumferentially wrapped by the plurality of elastic anti-filtration geotextiles, and gaps are formed between adjacent elastic anti-filtration geotextiles. Firstly, the geotechnical layer is drained by a pumping system, and then the grouting position in the geotechnical layer is located and controlled by pulling out the grouting pipe to control the plunging depth of the movable stopper, thus achieving the prevention and treatment of groundwater seepage damage.