초록 ▼

A pipeline replacement system incorporating an expansion and line replacement mandrel and having a power system for imparting linear movement and rotation to the mandrel. Within the scope of the invention, the mandrel may be pushed or pulled or both pushed and pulled through an existing buried pipel

A pipeline replacement system incorporating an expansion and line replacement mandrel and having a power system for imparting linear movement and rotation to the mandrel. Within the scope of the invention, the mandrel may be pushed or pulled or both pushed and pulled through an existing buried pipeline by the power system while being rotated by the power system. The mechanism, in a single pass, breaks up the existing pipeline, forces the broken fragments of the pipeline into the surrounding earth and positions a replacement pipe of the same dimension or larger dimension in place of the existing pipeline. A swivel system allows the replacement pipe to be moved linearly into the expanded passage behind the mandrel without rotation. The power system includes a mechanism or mechanisms for applying pushing, rotational and pulling forces to the mandrel.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of replacing buried nonmetal tile pipe with replacement pipe having an internal diameter that may exceed the internal diameter of the existing buried tile pipe comprising: (a) locating pipe fracturing and replacement apparatus in axial registry with the centerline of the pipe to be replaced

A method of replacing buried nonmetal tile pipe with replacement pipe having an internal diameter that may exceed the internal diameter of the existing buried tile pipe comprising: (a) locating pipe fracturing and replacement apparatus in axial registry with the centerline of the pipe to be replaced, said pipe fracturing and replacement apparatus having a pipe fracturing mandrel of generally frusto-conical configuration and having a diameter at its leading extremity not greater than the internal diameter of said buried nonmetal tile pipe and a diameter at its trailing extremity which is greater than the outer diameter of said replacement pipe; (b) simultaneously forcing said pipe fracturing mandrel through said buried tile pipe, reducing the pipe to be replaced to a fractured form having a multitude of pipe fragments of irregular form and forcing each of the pipe fragments of the fractured tile pipe radially outwardly into the surrounding earth formation thus forming a replacement pipe passage of a dimension exceeding the external dimension of the replacement pipe; and (c) extending a replacement pipe into the passage simultaneously with passage of said pipe fracturing mandrel through said buried nonmetal tile pipe.