AU6172399A - Pipe layer - Google Patents

Description

Complete Specification Standard Patent Pipe Layer This invention relates to the laying of flexible piping, tubing or cabling, in the ground, in a single pass, in such a manner as to leave no open trench and no need to backfill.

Definition of words used: Trench: The 'cutting' or'slicing' action of the cutting device mentioned herein is not creating a trench or a ditch in either the common, or dictionary meanings of the words. The ward 'trench' when used in relation to, and in description of, the'slice' or'cur made by the machine, in this specification sheet, is in deference to the industry practice of referring to the 'area' in which the piping, cabling or tubing is laid, as 'the trench'.

Piping: refers to flexible piping, tubing, cabling or wiring.

There are many industries, the irrigation and reticulation industry being a primary one, in which there is a need to lay piping with minimal disturbance to :the overlaying surface at relatively shallow and consistent depths, such as in grass fields, golf courses and the like.

There have been many methods used to lay piping; Most common is the use of a digging machine such as a Ditch Witch

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to make a narrow trench, into which the piping is laid the trench then has to be covered up. This has a number of drawbacks including; numerous passes by the operator required, a stage at which there is an ugly and dangerous open trench in the ground, and the final visible resultant 'scar in the surface which takes a substantial amount of time to repair and completely hide the trench's existence.

Another method is to fix one end of the piping to the back of a 'torpedo' shaped implement which is attached to the lower part of a tine. The tine is lowered into the ground and dragged along, drawing the pipe along behind it at the bottom of the trench being made by the tine. The drawbacks to this are that the pipe experienced friction, jammed, tore and stretched as it was dragged along underground. By dragging the tine through the ground, clumps were raised and unevenness was created, grass was torn out in lumps. In some types of ground and on longer runs this system was unusable.

All the problems of these above-mentioned systems, and other methods that have been tried, are solved with this invention.

This invention utilises components from a variety of machines and tools in industries that are totally unrelated to the inventions current usage.

The invention is self-propelled, however could also be successfully configured in a manner allowing it to be towed or attached (eg to a three-point linkage) on a tractor or other transport mechanism.

The invention comprises a mechanically operated cutting device, used to make a neat slice/cut/trench in the ground, a tine (which tracks behind the S° cutting implement in the trench) which protects the piping and guides the piping to the correct depth in the trench, and a spinning jenny which holds and unrolls the piping as the machine progresses.

The cutting device comprises a disc, blade, chain or other component, which its movement, rotation, reciprocating or other motion, cuts a narrow slice into the ground.

The depth to which the cutting device makes its trench can be controlled by adjustment of a wheel (which can also be replaced by a ski-shaped plate or guide), the specifics of which will be tailored to individual requirements, an item which is herein irrelevant. Some uses for the implement will require no adjustment and will therefore require no adjustment apparatus.

The tine is fitted closely behind the cutting device and follows in the cut, pushing the ground open sufficiently to enable the piping to be automatically laid in the trench at the required depth in the trench.

The depth at which the tine lays the piping in the trench can also be adjusted by the raising or lowering of the tine in relation to the cutting device depth setting.

Pipe which is 'loaded' onto the spinning jenny is fed from the spinning jenny down to the trench behind (or inside) the tine, protected by the tine, and is laid in the trench at the required depth in the trench as the machine moves along in the required direction.

As the machine progresses, the earth behind the tine closes up of its own accord, with any minor amounts of soil still on the surface guided back into the trench by an angled guide bar.

The positioning of a rear wheel of the machine is designed to follow over the path of the trench, flattening and levelling any minor remaining disturbance to the soil surface.

By utilising this invention the user will be able to lay piping underground in a single pass operation, resulting in no open trench and a surface with minimal visible disturbance and rapid regeneration.

Claims (3)

1. A pipe layer comprising a mechanical cutting device and a pipe feeder

2. A mechanical cutter to slice the 'trench' for the piping.

3. A tine which opens the 'trench' and provides guidance for the piping into the trench. eApplicant Name Date