PIPE-LAYING VEHICLE WITH ROTATOR PLATFORM LEVELING SYSTEM

Abstract

A self-propelled vehicle used to lay pipe sections within trenches located on sloped terrain, and a method for using it, including: an undercarriage carrying a vehicle chassis and capable of climbing sloped terrain; a rotating platform which can be maintained level relative to the sloped terrain; and a boom with an angled boom head, capable of using two independent winch cables to lift and position individual pipe sections having differing lengths and diameters. The vehicle may be used to sequentially lift two or more pipe sections, one at a time, and to swing and position the pipe sections in a trench, end-to-end.

Claims

1. A self-propelled vehicle used to lay two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections within trenches located on sloped terrain, comprising: an undercarriage supporting a vehicle chassis, the undercarriage capable of climbing the sloped terrain; a rotating platform carried by the vehicle chassis; two independent winch cables configured to lift and position the two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections; and a boom carried by the rotating platform, the boom having an independently-powered-boom head positionable at a tilt angle offset from a longitudinal axis forming a centerline of the boom, wherein the angled boom head is capable of using the two independent winch cables to lift and position the two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections; whereby the vehicle is useable to sequentially lift the two or more unaligned pipe sections, one at a time, and to swing and position the pipe sections in a trench, end-to-end, without the need to relocate the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tilt angle of the angled boom head is angle of between about 50?-59?.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the individual pipe sections have differing lengths and differing diameters.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rotating platform is capable of being maintained in a level, horizontal plane relative to the sloped terrain, while the vehicle is used to lay the two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections in the trenches.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a pivot of the angled boom head, and a pivot of the two winch cables, share a common center point, thereby enabling an insubstantial change in hook height when a tilt angle of the angled boom head is changed to align one of the individual pipe sections with the trench.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rotating platform is capable of continuous 360? rotation, and an engine is mounted to the rotating platform.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the undercarriage comprises a tracked undercarriage.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is capable of moving along grades up to about 45?-50? front-to-back and up to 15? side-to-side.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein movement of the vehicles and laying of the pipe sections are controlled remotely.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom is extendible, and has an extended capacity of at least 20,000 pounds at a 30? boom angle.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is capable of trench-laying pipe sections up to 42-inches OD and up to 40-feet long.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising dual 35,000-pound winches and wherein the boom is capable of achieving a boom angle of at least about 60?.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising stabilizer winches mounted to a front and rear of the undercarriage.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an uphill winch to facilitate the vehicle climbing up steep grades.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a downhill winch useable to pull a pipe cart up-grade, and to deliver additional pipe sections.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rotating platform incorporates an extendible counterweight.

17. A method for using a self-propelled vehicle to lay two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections within trenches located on sloped terrain, the vehicle having an undercarriage capable of climbing the sloped terrain, a vehicle chassis supporting a rotating platform, and a boom carried by the rotating platform, the boom having an angled boom head positionable at a tilt angle offset from a longitudinal axis forming a centerline of the boom, comprising the steps of: while maintaining the rotating platform in a substantially level, horizontal plane relative to the sloped terrain, using the boom and the angled boom head to manipulate two independent winch cables in order to lift and position the two or more individual, unaligned pipe sections, whereby the vehicle is useable to sequentially lift the individual pipe sections, one at a time, and to swing and position the individual pipe sections in a trench, end-to-end, without the need to relocate the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the individual pipe sections have differing lengths and differing diameters.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a pivot of the angled boom head, and a pivot of the two winch cables, share a common center point, thereby enabling an insubstantial change in hook height when the tilt angle of the angled boom head is changed to align a pipe section with the trench.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of maintaining the rotating platform in a level, horizontal plane relative to the sloped terrain, while the vehicle is used to lay the pipe sections in the trenches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a top and side perspective view of a pipe-laying vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a top and side perspective view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1, in the act of laying a pipe on sloped terrain;

[0025] FIGS. 3 and 4 are top (aerial) and side views of the vehicle shown in FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of the boom of the vehicle shown in the above drawings;

[0027] FIGS. 6 and 7 are top (aerial) views of the vehicle illustrating the ability of the boom head to rotate in a horizontal plane;

[0028] FIGS. 8-10 are side perspective views illustrating the platform leveling ability of the preferred embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 11 is a view from the right side of FIG. 9, showing the side tilt at the maximum angle;

[0030] FIG. 12 is a front view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing the side tilt at a proposed maximum angle;

[0031] FIG. 13-15 are top, and top-and-side perspective views of the extendable boom third stage and angle boom in the preferred embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 16 is a sectional view along section line 16-16 of FIG. 13;

[0033] FIG. 17 is a partial side and top perspective view of the end of the extendable boom assembly, in the preferred embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the end of the extendable boom assembly, with the redirection sheave mounting plates hidden for clarity (compare with FIGS. 14 and 19);

[0035] FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of FIG. 18;

[0036] FIG. 20 is a front view of FIG. 18;

[0037] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the extendable boom assembly and the angle boom assembly, in the preferred embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 22 is a partial, cut-away, side and top perspective view of the tilt frame assembly; and

[0039] FIG. 23 is a side and bottom perspective view of the tilt frame assembly shown in FIG. 22.

[0040] The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0041] The following parts list is provided for convenience in reading the following description of the preferred embodiment, in conjunction with the drawings. This parts list is not intended to limit the claimed invention in any way, as persons of ordinary skill will readily understand and appreciate that the claimed invention may still be effectuated using different, additional or omitted parts.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference Numeral Description 1 upper rotator frame assembly 2 extendable boom assembly 3 tilt frame assembly 4 crawler frame assembly 5 angle boom assembly 6 angle boom cylinder 7 angle boom pivot shaft 8a lower redirection sheaves 8b upper redirection sheaves 9 sheave head assembly 10 angle boom 10a angle boom cylinder portion 11 angle boom pivot bushings 12 angle boom cylinder rod shaft 13 angle boom cylinder base shaft 14 redirection sheave bottom mounting plate 15 redirection sheave center mounting plate 16 redirection sheave top mounting plate 17 redirection sheave pivot shaft 18 angle boom pivot shaft retainer plate 19 angle boom pivot shaft retainer nut 20 extendable boom third stage 21 rotation bearing 22 boom winch 23 boom lift cylinder 24 rotator platform leveling cylinder 25 rotator platform side leveling cylinder 26 leveling frame 27 rotator platform 28 front stabilizer winch 29 rear stabilizer winch 30 winch cable 31 winch cable hook 32 lifting sling 33 pipe section 34 trench 35 sheave head pivot tube 36 extendable boom outer stage 37 extendable boom second stage 38 crawler frame 39 rotator platform leveling cylinder shaft 40 rotator platform leveling pivot shaft 41 rotator platform side leveling cylinder shaft 42 rotator platform side leveling pivot shaft 43 rotator platform side leveling cylinder pivot plate

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pipe-laying vehicle, is shown and designated generally with the reference numeral 100. Pipe-laying vehicle 100 may include an upper rotator frame assembly 1 carrying an extendible boom assembly 2, a tilt frame assembly 3 supporting upper rotator frame assembly 1, and a crawler frame assembly 4 to support and propel vehicle 100.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1, 13-16 and 21, extendable boom assembly 2 may include boom winches 22, winch cables 30, extendable boom outer stage 36, extendable boom second stage 37 and extendable boom third stage 20. Angle boom assembly 5 may be attached to extendable boom third stage 20, and may include the parts assembled as shown in FIGS. 1, 13-16 and 21, including angle boom cylinder 6, angle boom pivot shaft 7, redirection sheave 8 and sheave head assembly 9 (standard wrecker sheave head assemblies, currently available from Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc., for example, which allow the winch cables to align with the load). Angle boom 10 is the weldment of the angle boom, and includes angle boom pivot bushings 11, angle boom cylinder rod shaft 12 (the pivot shaft that attaches angle boom cylinders 6 to angle boom 10), and angle boom cylinder base shaft 13 (the pivot shaft that attaches angle boom cylinders 6 to extendable boom third stage 20). Angle boom cylindrical portions 10a are part of angle boom 10 (see, e.g., FIGS. 13, 15 and 19).

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 17-20, angle boom assembly 5 includes redirection sheave bottom mounting plate 14, redirection sheave center mounting plate 15 and redirection sheave top mounting plate 16, which together hold redirection sheaves 8 in place. The two lower redirection sheaves 8a redirect one winch cable to right sheave head assembly 9. The two upper redirection sheaves 8b redirect the other winch cable to left sheave head assembly 9. The first set of redirection sheaves 8a-1, 8b-1, pivot on angle boom pivot shaft 7 so there is a common pivot point for the angle boom and sheaves. The second set of redirection sheaves 8a-2, 8b-2, turn the winch cables running through sheave head pivot tubes 35 (carried by angle boom cylinder portions 10a) to sheave head assembly 9.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 13-16, extendable boom third stage 20 is the inner-most boom stage of extendable boom assembly 2, and is the stage that angle boom pivot shaft 7 and angle boom assembly 5 mount to. Dual boom winches 22 may be carried on a top portion of extendable boom assembly 2, to spool winch cables 30 along angle boom assembly 5, terminating in dual winch hooks 31. Boom lift cylinder 23 provides the motive force to lift extendable boom assembly 2. Referring to FIG. 21, extendable boom outer stage 36 is the weldment that boom winches 22 mount to.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 13-16, angle boom pivot shaft retainer plate 18 connects angle boom pivot shaft 7 to extendable boom third stage 20. Retainer nut 19 holds redirection sheaves 8 and redirection plates 14, 15, 16 in place.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 22-23, tilt frame assembly 3 includes leveling frame 26 and rotator platform 27, supported by crawler frame 38. As shown in FIGS. 8-12, tilt frame assembly 3 may be selectively tilted by rotator platform leveling cylinders 24 and rotator platform side leveling cylinders 25. Rotator platform leveling cylinder shaft 39 attaches the rotator platform leveling cylinders 24 between the crawler frame 38 and the leveling frame 26. Rotator platform leveling pivot shaft 40 attaches the leveling frame 26 to the crawler frame 38 (the shaft the leveling frame 26 pivots on). Rotator platform side leveling cylinder shaft 41 attaches the rotator platform side leveling cylinders 25 to the rotator platform 27. Rotator platform side leveling pivot shaft 42 attaches the rotator platform 27 to the leveling frame 26 (the shaft the rotator platform pivots on). Rotator platform side leveling cylinder pivot plate 43 attaches the rotator platform side leveling cylinders 25 to the leveling frame 26.

[0049] Rotation bearing 21 allows upper rotator frame assembly 1 to rotate relative to tilt frame assembly 3.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 1, front stabilizer winch 29 may be used to secure vehicle 100 to support vehicles or fixed objects located above vehicle 100 on a steep hill, to secure vehicle 100. Rear stabilizer winch 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 11) may be used to pull a pipe cart up-grade, for example, to deliver additional pipe sections.

[0051] It will now be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that pipe-laying vehicle 100 which forms a preferred embodiment of the present invention, can be provided with one or more of the following capabilities, as desired:

[0052] 1. Use of two independent winch cables for lifting and positioning pipe sections up to 42-inches diameter by 40-feet long.

[0053] 2. Continuous 360 degrees rotation is preferred, but not necessary.

[0054] 3. Self-propelled tracked undercarriage capable of climbing grades.

[0055] 4. Engine mounted in the upper rotating assembly.

[0056] 5. For operator safety and visibility, all functions are preferably remote-controlled.

[0057] 6. Capable of operating with the platform at a substantially level condition relative to horizontal on grades up to 45?-50? front-to-back, up to 5? to back, and ?15? side-to-side.

[0058] 7. Upper rotator assembly has the ability to be leveled to the slope, providing a horizontal plane of rotation.

[0059] 8. Desired maximum working radius may be, e.g., 30 feet.

[0060] 9. Boom may be capable of, e.g., a 60? maximum boom angle.

[0061] 10. Dual, e.g., 35,000-pound winches.

[0062] 11. Boom may have an extended capacity of, e.g., 20,000-pounds at a 30 degrees boom angle.

[0063] 12. Unit may be capable of lifting, e.g., two 40-foot pipe sections, one at a time, from a location at its centerline of travel, and then swinging and positioning them in a trench, end-to-end, with minimum relocation. Because the pipe can be rotated by the unit, the pipe can be located anywhere within its 180? swing, i.e., anywhere from the side next to the trench, all the way around to the opposite side from the trench (as long as the load is within the capacity of the radius). A normal working radius to the trench may be, e.g., between 15-20 feet.

[0064] 13. For aligning the pipe parallel with the trench, the boom head is preferably designed so that it can be offset in angle to the centerline of the boom.

[0065] 14. The boom head is preferably designed so angle function has little effect on the hook height.

[0066] 15. Stabilizer winches may be mounted to the front and rear of the undercarriage.

[0067] 16. An uphill winch is preferably used for anchoring and climbing on steep grades.

[0068] 17. A downhill winch may be used to pull a pipe cart up-grade to deliver additional pipe sections.

[0069] 18. The upper rotator frame of the vehicle may incorporate an extendable counterweight.

[0070] 19. The vehicle may be used as a material-handling crane around the job site.

[0071] The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. For example, while preferred embodiments involving a rotator platform having both side-to-side and front-to-back movement have been disclosed, in other embodiments the rotator platform may only be capable of side-to-side movement, or only front-to-back movement. It is contemplated that these additional examples, as well as future modifications in structure, function, or result to that disclosed here, will exist that are not substantial changes to what is claimed here, and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.