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 method of pipe extraction, comprising:
forcing a deforming die through an existing pipe in the ground;
deforming but not bursting at least a portion of a sidewall of the existing pipe outward into the surrounding soil to compact a local region of the surrounding soil and loosen the existing pipe, wherein deforming includes deforming within a single plane; and
removing the loosened pipe completely from the ground along an axis of the pipe.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein deforming but not bursting includes deforming by an amount between about 5 and 10 percent of an inside diameter of the existing pipe.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein deforming but not bursting includes deforming by approximately 7 percent of an inside diameter of the existing pipe.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the deforming die includes pulling with a directional drill stem.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the deforming die includes pulling with a winch.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the deforming die includes pushing with a directional drill stem.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the deforming die includes pushing with a rod pusher.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein forcing the deforming die includes pushing with a pneumatic hammer.
9. A method of pipe extraction, comprising:
passing a directional drill rod through an interior of a pipe to be removed;
attaching a deforming die to a distal end of the directional drill rod;
pulling the deforming die through the pipe to be removed;
deforming but not bursting at least a portion of a sidewall of the pipe to be removed outward into the surrounding soil to compact a local region of the surrounding soil and loosen the pipe to be removed; and
pulling the pipe to be removed from the ground along an axis of the pipe.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein attaching the deforming die to a distal end of the directional drill rod includes threading a deforming die to a distal end of the directional drill rod.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein pulling the deforming die through the pipe to be removed includes pulling a deforming die that includes a leading end cylinder portion, a trailing end cylinder portion, and an off axis deforming cylinder portion located between the leading end cylinder portion and the trailing end cylinder portion.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein pulling the deforming die through the pipe to be removed includes pulling a deforming die that includes one or more protrusions coupled to a side of a body portion, wherein the one or more protrusions extend from the body portion by a distance.
13. A method of pipe extraction, comprising:
attaching a deforming die to a distal end of a directional drill rod;
pushing the deforming die through the pipe to be removed;
deforming but not bursting at least a portion of a sidewall of the pipe to be removed outward into the surrounding soil to compact a local region of the surrounding soil and loosen the pipe to be removed, wherein deforming includes deforming within a single plane; and
removing the pipe to be removed completely from the ground along an axis of the pipe.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the deforming die to a distal end of the directional drill rod includes threading a deforming die to a distal end of the directional drill rod.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein pushing the deforming die through the pipe to be removed includes pushing a deforming die that includes a leading end cylinder portion, a trailing end cylinder portion, and an off axis deforming cylinder portion located between the leading end cylinder portion and the trailing end cylinder portion.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein pushing the deforming die through the pipe to be removed includes pushing a deforming die that includes one or more protrusions coupled to a side of a body portion, wherein the one or more protrusions extend from the body portion by a distance.