Technical Background

This invention relates to two phase containers for holding down, by adding weight, a buried pipeline to secure the pipeline in place, and related methods.

Background Art

Pipelines are typically used to communicate liquids and gasses from one point to another. Often, it is necessary or advisable to bury a pipeline or a length of the pipeline to a given depth in the soil. This allows vehicles, among other things, to traverse or otherwise cross the ground above the buried pipeline. It is unlikely that damage will occur to the pipeline while it rests in its buried position. Experience has shown that an unweighted buried pipeline (of welded mild steel, for example) tends to move upwardly during and after both trench compaction of surrounding soil and upon completion of the entire burying process as well. To prevent pipeline migration or movement, pre-formed concrete weights, of desired shape, are connected to the pipeline at selected locations, usually in joined pairs.

The use of such concrete weights to so hold down a pipeline presents certain serious problems. Among these problems are:

1. The relatively high cost of manufacturing the concrete weights, including the cost of raw materials, material handling equipment, molding and forming equipment, and a large space in which to store the blocks or weights for the several weeks required for the concrete to set, cure, and strengthen;

2. The large cost of equipment to and expense of transporting the cured concrete weights from a manufacturing and inventory site to several remote installation sites;

3. The risks of injury and death associated with and the labor-intensive nature of moving, storing, and installing the cured concrete weights.

A less expensive, lower risk, highly effective, and less equipment and labor-intensive way, when contrast with the above-mentioned use of concrete weights, would be highly advantageous.

Disclosure of the Invention

In brief summary, the present invention overcomes or substantially alleviates the problems associated with producing, storing, transporting, and installing concrete weights for use on pipelines. Low cost, empty containers, vessels, receptacles, or envelopes are inexpensively and easily formed. No significant curing time is needed and storage of an inventory of containers is optional. The empty containers are light weight and require no mechanical equipment to handle. However, the containers can be packaged in groups and moved from one location to another using mechanized equipment, if desired. Manual relocation is, nevertheless, satisfactory.

No significant danger is created by the containers per se; indeed safety in the manufacture, transportation, and installation of containers in accordance with the present invention typifies the approach.

At a selected installation site, one or more containers are associated or combined with a desired pipeline and filled with relatively heavy, though inexpensive material. Preferably the material is flowable, such as sand, gravel, soil, or water, so it can be poured from a supply or source into each container, usually after the container is associated with the pipeline. However, where advisable, the material can be added to each container before the container becomes associated with the pipeline.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a less expensive, lower risk, highly effective, and lower equipment and labor-intensive way to hold a buried pipeline in place.

Another object of significance is the provision of one or more novel, light \Veight containers for use in holding down or anchoring a segment of pipeline, and related methods.

A further object is the provision of a low cost technique for adding hold down weights to a segment of pipe, where the weight is added at the installation site to one or more weight receptacles, and related methods.

An important object of the present invention is avoidance of high equipment costs and significant labor investment required to produce, cure, store, ship, and install weights on a pipeline, and related methods.

Another paramount object is to limit the cost to a very low level associated with adding stabilizing weights to a segment of pipe, and related methods.

A further dominant object of the present mvention is to dramatically reduce cost associated with adding weight to a pipeline for the purpose of holding the pipeline in place.

An additional valuable object of the invention is the provision of a system, including empty containers, vessels, receptacles or envelopes for and a novel method by which weights are added to a length of pipe in a greatly simplified way.

An additional object of consequence is the provision of a system, including apparatus and methods for the purpose of adding weight to a buried pipeline, which requires a lower level of technical training and creates appreciably lower levels of risk of death and/or injury.

An object paramount in its nature is the provision of a technique of weighting a pipeline using containers which do not possess negative characteristics over a wide temperature range from very hot to very cold.

A further object of importance is to avoid any chemical reaction between the pipe or a protective coating thereon and containers of the present invention.

Another valuable object is the avoidance of damage to a pipe or protective coating

3 SUBSTITUTE Si IZET (RULE 26)

thereon by a container of this invention.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a top perspective of one pair of containers in their installed condition so as to clamp against a length of pipe at a desired location;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective of the pair of containers attached to the segment of pipe as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective of the pair of containers illustrated in Figure 1 showing the manner in which the containers are assembled and connected together to clamp against the pipe segment;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation illustrating a first way in which a container may be filled with ballast at an installation site;

Figure 7 is a schematic representation illustrating a second way in which the pair of containers of Figure 1 can be filled with ballast at an installation site;

Figure 8 is a schematic of still a third way in which the pair of containers of Figure 1 can be filled with ballast at the installation site;

Figure 9 is a top perspective representation of another vessel to be singularly set upon a length of pipe at a desired location to weight it down, the vessel having an open top through which granular or other weight-adding material can be placed into the hollow interior of the set-down container;

Figure 10 is a bottom perspective representation of the container of Figure 9 shown

from the underside thereof; and

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure 9 further comprising a clamp for securing the container to a pipe.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Reference is specifically made to the drawings wherein like numerals are used throughout to designate like parts. Three specific forms of containers are illustrated, although the present invention is not limited to any particular form of container, vessel, receptacle, or envelope.

One form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1-8, which comprises pairs of identical though opposite hand containers, generally designated 20 and 22. A second type of set-on container is illustrated in Figures 9 through 10 and is generally designated 24. Furthermore, the embodiment of Figure 11 constitutes a variation from that which is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, i.e. in addition to the set-on container 24, the embodiment 24' of Figure 11 comprises at least one clamp on fastener to insure retention of the set-on container 24' in its installed position on a pipe. The size of containers according to the present invention may vary, depending on the size of the associated pipe and other variables.

With reference to Figures 1-5, except for being opposite hand, containers 20 and 22 (aka envelopes, receptacles, vessels, and receptors) are illustrated as being of identical construction. With reference to Figure 5, each container 20, 22, with the exception of an ingress opening, is impervious to flowable material including particulate material such as sand, gravel, and soil as well as a suitable liquid, such as water. All of these materials are relatively inexpensive and most can be found at or near any pipeline installation site so that little if any transportation of such material is needed.

Any conventional mode of manufacture may be used to form the containers. The

containers are preferably of synthetic resinous materials which, in the form of containers 20, 22, are rigid and shape-retaining. Processes which are suitable include centrifugal molding, vacuum molding, blow molding, and the like.

Each container 20, 22 comprises a top access opening 26, which typically is selectively opened and closed by a closure or lid 28 to accommodate placement and retention of ballast, such as sand, gravel, soil, or a liquid, such as water, in each container 20, 22. When closed, the lid 28 may seal against the edge of the opening 26. Of course, it is necessary for a lid to close opening 26, since opening 26 can be left open after the contamer is filled with weight-adding material. The weight-adding material is added through the ingress opening 26 with the lid 28 removed while the opening is in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 5. To seal the opening 26, either when the associated container 20, 22 is being stored empty or following placement of a weight-adding material through the opening 26 into the hollow interior 30 of the container 20, 22, the closure 28 is force-fit (compression-fit) within the port 26. The hollow interior 30 of each container 20, 22 is best illustrated in Figure 3.

Each container or encapsulator 20, 22 defines the hollow interior 30 thereof by reason of a contoured wall 32, the shape of which may vary as desired by those of skill in the art. Thus, the shape of such containers or enclosures in accordance with the present invention will not be restricted to the shapes illustrated in the Figures. The thickness of each wall 32 may vary as appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. This thickness will depend, to some extent, upon the size of the containers, which size may vary, and the amount of weight, which weight may vary, to be added to each container to hold down a pipeline in a desired, buried location.

Each container 20, 22 is adapted to be positioned in the vertical orientation, as

illustrated in Figures 1 through 5. To accommodate placement on the ground, prior to installation, in a stable disposition, the wall 32 of each container defines a flat, large area support base wall portion 34, shaped and positioned to reliably hold the container 20, 22 of which it forms a part in an erect position, independent of whether the container is empty, partially filled with weight-adding material, or entirely filled with weight-adding material.

Each base wall portion 34 merges as one piece with a diagonal portion 36 of each wall as well as across an inside corner segment 38 at each end of the base wall portion 34 and to a stepped or offset wall portion 40. Each portion 40 is stepped or offset so as to accommodate flange-received fasteners to hold the containers 20, 22 together in clamped relationship upon a pipe 42, as hereinafter more fully described.

Diagonal wall portion 36 and each stepped wall portion 40 merge with each other and with a vertically directed recessed or offset end wall portion 44. Each container 20, 22 comprises two distal wall portions 44 and two proximal wall portions 44. Each wall portion 44 is stepped or offset to accommodate flange connection of fasteners whereby pairs of containers 20 and 22 are secured together around the pipe 42, as hereinafter more fully described.

Opposed top and bottom proximal end wall portions 44 merge across corners or shoulders 46 with a blunt main proximal end wall portion 48, while opposed distal wall portions 44 merge across corner segments 46 with blunt main distal wall portion 50.

Diagonal lower wall portion 36 merges with centrally-disposed, vertically-directed wall portion 64. It is to be understood that while this description speaks of wall portions, each forming a part of wall 32, preferably each container in accordance with the present invention is formed as one piece.

The singular top opening 26 in each container 20, 22 is recessed or downwardly

offset directly adjacent to lip 52. Lip 52 is continuous, oval, and stepped at shoulder 54 from a top wall portion 56, which surrounds the lip 52 and the opening 26 with which lip 52 is associated. The outside limits of top wall portion 56 are essentially rectangular and serve as an elevated area to accommodate ready access to the interior 30 of the container 20, 22, when the lid 28 has been removed, as best shown in Figure 5.

The horizontally-disposed top wall portion 56 which surrounds opening 26 is, therefore, part of an elevated pedestal which also comprises proximal and distal wall portions 58 and 60, both of which are illustrated as being vertical and a side wall portion 62, which is also shown to be vertical.

Side wall portion 62 is offset from but parallel to a vertical plane containing main vertical side wall portion 64. Vertical wall portions 58, 60, and 62 merge as one piece through 90° outside comers with top wall portion 56. Main vertical side wall portion 64 merges integrally, as one piece, with wall portions 36, 44, 48, and 50 as well as an upper diagonal wall portion 66, which also is formed integrally as one piece with adjacent wall portions 62, 60, 58, and 44, as illustrated in Figures 1 through 5. Main side wall portion 64 also merges as one piece with the four associated comer segments 46.

The access port pedestals comprising wall segments 56, 58, 60, and 62 of container 20, 22 are set above the adjacent two top wall portions 40. Top wall portions 40 and top wall portion 56 are connected together as one piece by 90" inside comer segments 70.

From inspection, it can be readily observed that the top surface of wall portions 56 of a pair of connected containers 20 and 22 are disposed in a common plane, the extension of which includes proximal and distal top surfaces 72 and 74 of L-shaped or right angle comer flanges 76, disposed at all four comers of each container 20, 22 as best seen in Figures 1 through 5. When properly assembled, pairs of comer flanges 76 of the containers

20, 22 are contiguous and parallel. Each comer flange 76 is illustrated as having two apertures 78 and 80 disposed therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the axis of pipe 42. When a pair of containers 20 and 22 are properly placed together around pipe 42, the apertures or bores 78 and 80 of the flanges 76 of the two containers 20, 22, at each comer, are aligned and receive nut and bolt assemblies 82 in a conventional way. The comer flanges are constructed to accommodate reliable connection of pairs of containers with a minimum of connectors or fasteners.

When the nut and bolt assemblies are placed through the apertures 78 and 80, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and the nut and bolt assemblies 82 are tightened, containers or compartments 20 and 22 are secured or locked together in tandem and compressively clamp action against pipe 42, as explained hereinafter in greater detail, thereby preventing inadvertent displacement of the connected pairs of containers 20, 22 along the length of the pipe 42. A thin liner of padding such as felt, can be placed between the pipe and each container at each semi-circular recess or arcuate receptor 92.

The pairs of the flanges 76 at each comer, when the containers 20, 22 are assembled as illustrated in Figure 1, def e a planar interface 86 between the two containers. The interface is defmed by two smooth planar interior surfaces 88 and 90, which comprise an extension of the interior surface of the comers 76 of each container 20, 22. Opposed surfaces 88 and opposed surfaces 90 of containers 20, 22 are contiguous to form said interface when assembled as illustrated in Figure 1.

On each container 20, 22, the vertical planar surfaces 88 and 90, which are disposed at a common plane, are separated by an arcuate concave surface 92, the diameter of which is the same or slightly less than the outside diameter of pipe 42, so that when the two containers 20 and 22 are connected together by the nut and bolt assemblies 82, as illustrated

in Figure 1 , the opposed concave surfaces 92 clamp against the exterior surface of the pipe 42 preventing inadvertent displacement of the containers 20 and 22 in either direction along the length of the pipe 42. In this way, the containers are secured to the pipe 42 without any

requirement for a fastener per se to engage the pipe.

Typically, in most circumstances, the pipe 42 is formed of welded mild steel, although in some instances high integrity pipe of synthetic resinous material may be used. Other materials are also available from which pipe can be formed with which containers in accordance with the present invention may be associated to hold the pipe down, as explained herein.

The containers 20 and 22 are extremely durable, typically formed of shape-retaining synthetic resinous material using conventional forming techniques and accommodate, without rupture or material deflection, insertion of a weight-adding or ballast material such as sand, gravel, soil, or water, through the ports 26. Ports 26 are open by removing the oval-shaped lid 28 from the associated opening 26. Each lid 28 is constructed so as to accommodate being force-fit into the associated opening 26, such that inadvertent removal does not occur. The exposed elevated flange 94 of lid 28 accommodates insertion of a pry-bar or the like thereunder for removal purposes. Similarly, lid 28 can be reinserted in force-fit relation into its associated opening 26 by either manual force or the use of a suitable striking instrument, such as a hammer formed of rubber or elastomeric material.

The procedure by which the containers 20, 22 are formed requires no significant outlay of capital and utilizes existing equipment currently available for forming synthetic resinous material into hollow containers. No curing time is consumed. Storage of an inventory of containers 20, 22 is not required, although it may be desirable in certain instances where peak demands exceed the capacity to manufacture.

Placement of the containers 20, 22 in a storage location and/or on trucks or into box cars for transportation purposes can be manually achieved, although the containers 20, 22 can be placed into boxes or other containers or grouped together within an enclosure netting for loading and unloading purposes, using existing hoisting equipment.

Because the containers 20, 22 are transported in an empty condition from a manufacturing or inventory site to a job site, where installation takes place, cost of transportation is comparatively low. It is contemplated in most if hot all instances that the containers 20, 22 will arrive at the job site empty and that a weight-adding material will be introduced into the containers at or near the installation site.

As illustrated in Figure 6, particulate ballast (such as sand, gravel, or soil) may be added to container 20, 22 while the container is disposed at the top of the ground at 98. Altematively, a flowable liquid, such as water, can be added to the interior of one or more containers 20, 22 while it or they rests on top of the ground or other surface, in the manner illustrated in Figure 6.

In the altemative, a temporary platform 100, formed of planking, sheet steel, or other suitable material may be placed as a bridge across a trench 102 thereby accommodating placement of a paired set of containers 20, 22 in clamped position around the pipeline 42 above the platform 100. The containers 20, 22 may, as illustrated in Figure 7, be filled with a particulate ballast or a liquid to add appropriate amount of weight to the pipe 42, following which hoisting equipment may be used to set the pipe 42 and weighted containers 20, 22 into the trench 102 upon the removal of the temporary platform 100.

In the altemative, the paired set of empty containers 20, 22 may be connected to the pipe 42 and the connected empty containers and the pipe placed at the base of the trench 102, following which particulate ballast or a weight-adding liquid is added to each container to

create the desired hold down relationship with the pipe 42. This technique is illustrated in Figure 8. It should be readily apparent that ballast or a suitable liquid may be added to containers in accordance with the present invention manually or by using any form of

equipment. For example, a hand shovel may be used to add sand, gravel, or soil, while liquid, such as water, can be inserted using a bucket or a hose. More sophisticated automated equipment may also be used as would be well understood by those skilled in the art.

While it is common practice to provide weights in pairs for holding down pipelines, the present invention contemplates use of one or more hold down weights. Thus, a single container, such as container 24 may be used, as opposed to connected pairs of the containers. Further, pull down weights ordinarily are added to pipelines at spaced locations, the present invention contemplates placement at spaced locations of containers to which weight is added at the installation site and which are there associated with the pipeline as well. The invention also may include the addition of a single weighted container or one or more sets of two or more clustered containers.

Reference is now made to Figures 9 through 11 which illustrate two additional embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, set-on container 24, Figures 9 and 10, comprises an open-topped container comprising a bottom wall portion, generally designated 102. Bottom wall portion 102 comprises a substantially uniform thickness wall, preferably formed of a suitable shape-re ining synthetic resinous material, which is durable. The bottom wall portion 102 comprises two axially-directed planar side segments 104 and 106, separated by a axially-directed curved segment 108, which is convex from side-to-side as viewed in Figure 9. Since the entire container 24 is formed as a one-piece article using conventional techniques, the bottom wall segments 104, 106, and 108 are of one piece

integrated construction. The arc or curvature of the linear convex segment 108 comprises a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe 42 over which the arcuate bottom wall segment 108 is placed, as illustrated in Figure 9.

The set-on open top container 24 also comprises identical though opposite hand side sloped wall portions 110 and 112, illustrated as having a uniform thickness. Side wall portions are connected to the bottom wall portion 102 as one piece having been integrally formed together. Side wall portions 110 and 112 are illustrated as being tapered, sloped, or beveled in respect to both the vertical and the horizontal.

Container 24 also comprises proximal end wall portion 114 and distal wall portion 116, illustrated as being disposed in a vertical plane at the respective ends of the open top container 24.

In use, typically the pipeline 42 is positioned in the bottom of a trench, such as trench 102, so as to rest there by force of gravity. The container 24 may be manually placed over or upon the pipe 42 so that the concave surface 109 at the bottom arcuate wall portion 108 rest upon the pipe 42 in substantially contiguous relation. Ballast material, such as sand, gravel, or soil is thereafter added to the hollow interior of the container 24 through the open top thereof. The width of the container 24 may be selected so as to be substantially the same as the width of the trench in which the pipe 42 is placed so that transverse displacement of the container 24 in respect to the pipe 42 is substantially prohibited.

If desired, in lieu of ballast, a liquid may be added to the hollow interior of the container 24. However, this liquid will be co-mingled with soil when the trench is filled, which may require compaction of the soil within the hollow interior of the container 24. The container 24 forms a relatively large surface area which makes it difficult, independent of the interior weight of the container 24 for the container 24 to be moved about by any

tendency of the pipe 42 to displace after burial.

In situations where those skilled in the art desire to provide an ^' interconnection between a single container and the pipe 42 upon which the container is caused to rest,

fasteners may be used to interconnect the pipe and the container. One such configuration is illustrated in Figure 11, which depicts a container 24'. Container 24' is identical to container 24, with the exception that a U-shaped fastener 120 has been added. Fastener 120 comprises a curved bar or rod 122, which fits at opposed ends through appropriately sized spaced apertures in bottom wall segments 104 and 106, respectively, and is secured in place by a washer 124 and a hexagonal nut 126 threaded upon each threaded end 128 of the curved bar 122. While only one fastener 120 is illustrated in Figure 11, any given container may be secured to the pipeline segment 42 by use of more than one fastener or connector of an appropriate configuration.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and are not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.