Pipe loosening device and method
A pipe loosening device and methods are shown. In one example, the pipe loosening device enables a method wherein a pipe to be replaced is deformed but not burst, and a portion of a sidewall of the pipe is forced outward into the surrounding soil to compact a local region of the surrounding soil and loosen the existing pipe. The pipe may then pulled from the ground along an axis of the pipe.
1. A pipe loosening device, comprising:
a deforming die, including:
a cylinder portion sized with a cylinder diameter to fit closely within an inner diameter of a pipe to be replaced, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis; and
one or more inserts coupled to a side of the cylinder portion, wherein the one or more inserts protrude from the cylinder portion by a distance, wherein the one or more inserts include two inserts on a same side of the cylinder portion, the two inserts spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis, and a central insert on a side of the cylinder portion opposite the two inserts, and located longitudinally between the two inserts.
2. The pipe loosening device of claim 1 , wherein the distance is between 5 and 10 percent of the cylinder diameter.
3. The pipe loosening device of claim 2 , wherein the distance is approximately 7 percent of the cylinder diameter.
4. The pipe loosening device of claim 1 , further including a threaded connection on the cylinder portion that is adapted to couple to a directional drill rod section.
5. The pipe loosening device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inserts are formed from tungsten carbide.
6. The pipe loosening device of claim 1 , wherein a protrusion direction of each of the one or more inserts all protrude in a common plane.
7. The pipe loosening device of claim 6 , further including reduced width sides of the deforming die along all of the longitudinal axis in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.
8. A pipe loosening device, comprising:
a deforming die, including:
a cylinder portion sized with a cylinder diameter to fit closely within an inner diameter of a pipe to be replaced, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis;
one or more inserts coupled to a side of the cylinder portion, wherein the one or more inserts protrude from the cylinder portion by a distance, wherein the one or more inserts include two inserts on a same side of the cylinder portion, the two inserts spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis, and a central insert on a side of the cylinder portion opposite the two inserts, and located longitudinally between the two inserts; and
a threaded connection on the cylinder portion that is adapted to couple to a directional drill rod section.
9. The pipe loosening device of claim 8 , wherein the threaded connection is a female threaded connection.
10. The pipe loosening device of claim 8 , wherein the threaded connection is a male threaded connection.
11. The pipe loosening device of claim 8 , wherein a protrusion direction of each of the one or more inserts all protrude in a common plane.
12. The pipe loosening device of claim 11 , further including reduced width sides of the deforming die along all of the longitudinal axis in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.
13. A pipe loosening system, comprising:
a directional drill;
one or more drill stem sections coupled to the directional drill;
a deforming die coupled to a distal end of the one or more drill stem sections, including:
a cylinder portion sized with a cylinder diameter to fit closely within an inner diameter of a pipe to be replaced, the cylinder having a longitudinal axis; and
one or more inserts coupled to a side of the cylinder portion, wherein the one or more inserts protrude from the cylinder portion by a distance, wherein the one or more inserts include two inserts on a same side of the cylinder portion, the two inserts spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis, and a central insert on a side of the cylinder portion opposite the two inserts, and located longitudinally between the two inserts.
14. The pipe loosening system of claim 13 , wherein the distance is between 5 and 10 percent of the cylinder diameter.
15. The pipe loosening system of claim 14 , wherein the distance is approximately 7 percent of the cylinder diameter.
16. The pipe loosening system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more inserts are formed from tungsten carbide.
17. The pipe loosening system of claim 13 , wherein a protrusion direction of each of the one or more inserts all protrude in a common plane.
18. The pipe loosening system of claim 17 , further including reduced width sides of the deforming die along all of the longitudinal axis in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.