Patent Application
20240337163
The present invention relates generally to the field of directional boring. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pipe-securing clamp device that allows a user to secure a pipe in place while directional boring. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
While directional boring, pipes are used for creating stable channels in the ground. Said pipes must be precisely positioned and often held in place for extended periods. However, holding cumbersome and heavy pipes in place with pneumatic tools during boring operations presents a significant challenge that is both difficult and hazardous.
More specifically, one of the most prevalent risks in this process involves sustaining hand injuries, which are frequently a result of the traditional practice of using metal ropes to secure the pipes. These metal ropes, while intended to provide a firm grip and stability, can be unpredictable and unwieldy, leading to accidents. The method of manually securing pipes with metal ropes not only poses significant safety concerns but also tends to be time-consuming and inefficient. The manual handling of these heavy pipes and the process of securing them with ropes requires considerable effort and attention to detail, increasing the likelihood of human error and accidents, thereby reducing overall work efficiency.
Furthermore, the process of setting up and maintaining this method of pipe stabilization involves several intricate steps, which can significantly slow down the workflow. Each pipe must be aligned correctly, secured firmly, and constantly monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness. This labor-intensive process often leads to delays in project completion, impacting deadlines and potentially increasing labor costs. Additionally, the physical strain on workers handling these heavy pipes can lead to fatigue, further compromising safety and efficiency.
Moreover, in the context of boring operations, the precision and stability of these pipes are critical. Any misalignment or instability can result in inaccurate drilling, potential damage to the equipment, or even catastrophic failures that could have severe environmental and safety implications. Therefore, finding more efficient, safe, and reliable methods for holding and securing these pipes is of paramount importance in the boring industry, not only to improve the safety and well-being of the workers but also to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the boring operations.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that can be used during directional boring operations. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool without the need to use metal ropes or other potentially dangerous securing methods.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a pipe-securing clamp device. The device is comprised of a body with a first end and a second end, an opening, and a ratcheting mechanism. During use, a ratchet strap can be placed through the second opening into the body, run through an opening of the body to the outside of the body, and attached to the ratcheting mechanism. During use, the strap may be attached to any structure of any pipe, pipe positioning or controlling tool and/or boring tool known in the art (including but not limited to a boring missile), wherein the strap can then be attached to the mechanism can tighten to ensure that a pipe (placed through the body) is tight and secure to the back of a boring missile. As a result, the device allows for the pipe to be pulled with the boring tool and ensures a successful bore for each application.
In this manner, the pipe-securing clamp device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides a device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool. Further, the device does so without the need to use metal ropes or other potentially dangerous securing methods.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a pipe-securing clamp device comprised of a body having a first end and a second end. Both ends are comprised of at least one opening that extends through the body. The second end may be comprised of at least one fastener, such as but not limited to male or female threads that allow the device to attach to a pipe positioning or controlling boring tool known in the art. The openings also allow a piping, tubing, or other similar structure to be fed through the body during directional boring, wherein the device can be used to hold a pipe in place before the pipe is bored with a pneumatic piercing tool.
The body is also comprised of at least one rachet assembly fixedly attached to the body. The assembly is comprised of at least one ratcheting mechanism. The body is also comprised of at least one opening that allows at least one ratchet strap to be placed through the opening into the body, run through the opening to the outside of the body, and attached to the ratcheting mechanism.
During use, the strap may be attached to any structure of any pipe, pipe positioning or controlling tool and/or boring tool known in the art (including but not limited to a boring missile), wherein the strap can then be attached to the mechanism can tighten to ensure that a pipe (placed through the body) is tight and secure to the back of a boring missile. As a result, the device allows for the pipe to be pulled with the boring tool and ensures a successful bore for each application.
Accordingly, the pipe-securing clamp device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool. Further, the device does so without the need to use metal ropes or other potentially dangerous securing methods. In this manner, the pipe-securing clamp device overcomes the limitations of existing devices and methods used to stabilize pipe while directional boring.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that can be used during directional boring operations. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a pipe-securing clamp device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool without the need to use metal ropes or other potentially dangerous securing methods.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a pipe-securing clamp device. The device is comprised of a body having a first end and a second end, wherein both ends are comprised of at least one opening that extends through the body. The second end may be comprised of at least one fastener, such as but not limited to male or female threads. This allows the device to attach to a pipe positioning or controlling boring tool known in the art. The openings also allow a piping, tubing, or other similar structure to be fed through the body during directional boring, wherein the device can be used to hold a pipe in place before the pipe is bored with a pneumatic piercing tool.
The body is also comprised of at least one rachet assembly fixedly attached to the body. The assembly is comprised of at least one ratcheting mechanism. The body is also comprised of at least one opening that allows at least one ratchet strap to be placed through the opening into the body, run through the opening to the outside of the body, and attached to the ratcheting mechanism.
During use, the strap may be attached to any structure of any pipe, pipe positioning or controlling tool and/or boring tool known in the art (including but not limited to a boring missile), wherein the strap can then be attached to the mechanism can tighten to ensure that a pipe (placed through the body) is tight and secure to the back of a boring missile. As a result, the device allows for the pipe to be pulled with the boring tool and ensures a successful bore for each application.
Accordingly, the pipe-securing clamp device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can be used during directional boring operations to secure a pipe in place for piercing via a pneumatic piercing tool. Further, the device does so without the need to use metal ropes or other potentially dangerous securing methods. In this manner, the pipe-securing clamp device overcomes the limitations of existing devices and methods used to stabilize pipe while directional boring.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 110 is comprised of a first end 120 and a second end 130. Both ends 120,130 are comprised of at least one opening 122, 132 that extends through the body 110. The second end 130 may be comprised of at least one fastener 134, such as but not limited to male or female threads. The fastener 134 allows the device 100 to attach to a pipe positioning or controlling boring tool known in the art. In one embodiment, the threads are tapered to allow the second end 130 to attach to pipes of various lengths. The openings 122,132 also allow a piping, tubing, or other similar structure to be fed through the body 110 during directional boring, wherein the device 100 can be used to hold a pipe in place before the pipe is bored with a pneumatic piercing tool.
The body 110 is also comprised of at least one rachet assembly 140. The assembly 140 is fixedly attached to the body 110. The assembly 140 is comprised of at least one ratcheting mechanism 144 of any type. The assembly 140 is also comprised of at least one handle 142. The handle 142 can be grabbed by a user to allow the user to tighten the ratcheting mechanism 144 by manipulating the ratcheting mechanism 144. The mechanism 144 can be released by at least one release lever 146.
The body 110 is also comprised of at least one opening 112. The opening 112 allows at least one ratchet strap 150 to be placed through the opening 132 into the body 110, ran through the opening 112 to the outside of the body 110, and attached to the ratcheting mechanism 144. The strap 150 may be any type of ratcheting strap in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the strap 150 is a metal rope. During use, the strap 150 may be attached to any structure of any pipe, pipe positioning or controlling tool and/or boring tool known in the art (including but not limited to a boring missile), wherein the strap 150 can then be attached to the mechanism 144 can tighten to ensure that a pipe (placed through the body 110) is tight and secure to the back of a boring missile. As a result, the device 100 allows for the pipe to be pulled with the boring tool and ensures a successful bore for each application.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “pipe-securing clamp device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the pipe-securing clamp device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the pipe-securing clamp device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the pipe-securing clamp device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the pipe-securing clamp device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the pipe-securing clamp device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the pipe-securing clamp device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/494,574, which was filed on Apr. 6, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63494574 | Apr 2023 | US |
