Systems and methods for underground pipe installation and soil clearing
Systems and methods for installing pipe underground are disclosed. The system includes a pneumatic rammer configured to provide a percussive force to a section of pipe. The system also includes a main jacking frame coupled to the pneumatic rammer, the main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe. The system also includes one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a hydraulic force to the section of pipe. The system also includes a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide in a longitudinal direction. An independently displaceable soil-clearing system can be included to clear dirt coming inside the pipe during the installation and add extra jacking force as needed.
1. A system for clearing soil from a section of pipe oriented substantially horizontally with respect to a ground plane during underground installation, the system comprising:
a main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe;
a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide along a longitudinal direction; and
a soil-clearing system having a base frame coupled to the set of tracks, the soil-clearing system configured to extract dirt from inside the section of pipe, the soil-clearing system moveable along the longitudinal direction independent of the main jacking frame during underground installation of the section of pipe and including a non-continuous auger assembly mounted in a frame coupled to the set of tracks that can move along the longitudinal direction independently of the main jacking frame, the auger assembly oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the ground plane and comprising at least a first auger section, a second auger section, and at least one augerless clearing rod disposed between the first auger section and the second auger section, the augerless clearing rod separable from the first auger section and the second auger section.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein a cutting head of the auger assembly has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the section of pipe.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein a cutting head of the auger assembly remains within the section of pipe during underground installation.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the auger assembly comprises the at least one clearing rod disposed between the first auger section and the second auger section.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the section of pipe has a diameter of 72 inches or less.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the base frame of the soil-clearing system moves forward and backward along a longitudinal direction by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder acting between the base frame and a locking system.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pneumatic rammer coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a percussive force to the section of pipe.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a static hydraulic force to the section of pipe.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the percussive force and the static hydraulic force combine to drive the section of pipe underground.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein the pneumatic rammer is a high frequency rammer from 160 to 580 blows per minute.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the main jacking frame includes a pusher plate having at least one window to permit passage of dirt extracted by the soil-clearing system.
12. A method for clearing soil from a section of pipe oriented substantially horizontally with respect to a ground plane during underground installation, the method comprising:
rotating a non-continuous auger assembly oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the ground plane and comprising at least a first auger section, a second auger section, and at least one augerless clearing rod disposed between the first auger section and the second auger section, the auger assembly attached to an axially displaceable rail-mounted frame slideable over a set of tracks, the set of tracks coupled to a main jacking frame, the augerless clearing rod separable from the first auger section and the second auger section; and
displacing longitudinally the rail-mounted frame to remove soil from the section of pipe during underground installation, the rail-mounted frame independently moveable with respect to the main jacking frame, the main jacking frame independently driving the section of pipe underground.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the auger assembly comprises the at least one clearing rod disposed between the first auger section and the second auger section.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein a cutting head of the auger assembly remains within the section of pipe during underground installation.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein a cutting head of the auger assembly has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the section of pipe.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the section of pipe has a diameter of 72 inches or less.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the railed-mounted frame moves forward and backward along a longitudinal direction by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder acting between the rail-mounted frame and a locking system.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising removing the soil through an open section in the main jacking frame.
19. A system for clearing soil from a section of pipe during underground installation, the system comprising:
a main jacking frame including a surface for contacting the section of pipe;
a set of tracks coupled to the main jacking frame, the set of tracks permitting the main jacking frame to slide along a longitudinal direction;
a soil-clearing system having a base frame coupled to the set of tracks, the soil-clearing system configured to extract dirt from inside the section of pipe, the soil-clearing system moveable along the longitudinal direction independent of the main jacking frame during underground installation of the section of pipe and including a non-continuous auger assembly mounted in a frame coupled to the set of tracks that can move along the longitudinal direction independently of the main jacking frame, the auger assembly comprising at least a first auger section, a second auger section, and at least one augerless clearing rod disposed between the first auger section and the second auger section, the augerless clearing rod separable from the first auger section and the second auger section;
a pneumatic rammer coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a percussive force to the section of pipe; and
one or more hydraulic jacks coupled to the main jacking frame and configured to provide a static hydraulic force to the section of pipe.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the percussive force and the static hydraulic force combine to drive the section of pipe underground.