Automated system for laying pipe
An automated vehicle system for laying pipe includes a vehicle (e.g., a stringing trailer) with a bed for storing a plurality of pipes. Tilted gravity members extend across the bed of the vehicle to feed the pipes toward a chute with conveyor running toward the rear of the vehicle. A gate arm and rocker arm mechanism ensure that pipes are fed one at a time onto the conveyor to lay a series of pipes on the ground. Optionally, a joining trailer can be connected behind the vehicle for joining the pipes together before the pipe is placed on the ground.
1. An apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes in series, comprising:
a vehicle including a bed for carrying said plurality of pipes;
a plurality of tilted gravity members located in said bed, said tilted gravity members directing said plurality of pipes to exit said bed;
a plurality of gate arms spaced apart within said bed;
an opening defined beneath said plurality of gate arms;
said plurality of gate arms being adjustable to vary a size of said opening which moves independent of an actuator mechanism to allow one of said pipes to pass toward a conveyor.
2. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes in series of claim 1 , wherein movement of said gate arms allows for larger or smaller pipes to pass through said opening.
3. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes in series of claim 1 , said bed having a longitudinal axis.
4. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes in series of claim 3 , said plurality of pipes positioned parallel to said longitudinal axis.
5. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes in series of claim 3 , said tilted gravity members extending at an angle to said longitudinal axis.
6. An apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes, comprising:
a vehicle bed which carries said plurality of pipes;
a conveyor which extends from near a forward end of said vehicle bed to near a rear end of said vehicle bed;
at least one tilted gravity member located in said vehicle bed;
a gate arm defining an upper bound of an opening through which said plurality of pipes pass individually;
said gate arm being adjustable to vary a size of said opening;
an actuator mechanism disposed near said opening which feeds said plurality of pipes individually through said opening, said actuator mechanism moving separately of said gate arm.
7. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes of claim 6 , said actuator mechanism comprising a rocker arm.
8. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes of claim 7 , said rocker arm pivoting to feed said plurality of pipes individually.
9. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes of claim 7 , said rocker arm being w-shaped.
10. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes of claim 6 , said opening having a lower bound defined by said bed.
11. The apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes of claim 6 , said opening having a lower bound defined by said at least one tilted gravity member.
12. An apparatus for laying a plurality of pipes, comprising:
a vehicle bed wherein said plurality of pipes may be stored;
a plurality of tilted gravity members directing the plurality of pipes toward a conveyor;
a gate arm disposed above said bed and defining an opening through which said plurality of pipes may pass one at a time;
said gate arm being adjustable to increase or decrease said opening;
an actuator mechanism which feeds pipes toward said conveyor, said actuator mechanism disposed near said opening and operable independently of said gate arm.