Pipe Laying Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to compactor mechanism for compacting of aggregate material about a pipe in a trench, the pipe having a predetermined pipe gradient, wherein the compactor mechanism comprises a single powered compacting element, the compacting element being configured to be moveable in a reciprocating motion along the length of a placed pipe for simultaneously compacting the aggregate to a pre-defined minimum density about the bed and sides of the pipe along the length of the pipe to maintain the pipe gradient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compactor apparatus for compacting aggregate material about a pipe in a trench comprising:
 a single elongated powered compacting element, wherein
 the compacting element is oriented along a first axis that is approximately perpendicular to a second axis that runs through the center and along a length of a pipe that is seated in a trench, 
 the compacting element is configured to be moveable in a reciprocating motion along the length of a pipe disposed on a bed of aggregate material, 
 the compacting element simultaneously compacts the aggregate material to a pre-defined minimum density about the bed, about a first sides of the pipe, and about a second side of the pipe, wherein the first side and the second side of the pipe run along a length of the pipe, and wherein 
 compacting the aggregate material maintains a pipe gradient, wherein, in use, the compacting element is submerged beneath the aggregate material at all times when compacting the aggregate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a rotator mechanically coupled to the compacting element, wherein the rotator element is configured to rotate the compacting element from the first side of the pipe to the second side of the pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the rotator is configured to rotate from a central position through an angle of at least 90 degrees in a first direction for positioning the compacting element alongside the first side of the pipe and through an angle of at least 90 degrees in a second direction for positioning the compacting element alongside the second side of the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the compactor apparatus is integrated into a quick hitch coupler. 
     
     
         5 . The compacter apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the compactor apparatus is coupled to a hydraulic circuit of an excavator arm. 
     
     
         6 . The compacter apparatus of  claim 5  wherein (a) the compactor apparatus further comprises two-hose connections, and (b) the compactor apparatus is coupled to the hydraulic circuit of an excavator arm via the two hose connections. 
     
     
         7 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compacting element has stroke reciprocating distance of about 50 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein compactor element reciprocates at a frequency that can be adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pipe is at least 400 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 1 , the compactor apparatus further comprising means configured to offset the compacting element to either the first side of the pipe or the second side of the pipe when connected to an excavator arm such that the excavator arm remains aligned with the second axis. 
     
     
         11 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the means configured to offset the single elongate powered compacting element comprises a sliding rail. 
     
     
         12 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the single elongate powered compacting element is hingeable at one or more points along its length. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A compactor apparatus for compacting of aggregate material about a pipe in a trench comprising:
 (a) a single compacting element, wherein
 (i) the compacting element comprises a rod with a rod length and a head at a first end of the rod, 
 (ii) the rod length of the compacting element is oriented along a first axis that is approximately perpendicular to a second axis that runs through the center and along a length of a pipe that is seated in a trench, 
 (iii) an aggregate material at least partially surrounds a first side of the pipe, a bottom of the pipe, and a second side of the pipe, and wherein 
 (iv) the compacting element is mechanically coupled to a power source that is configured to reciprocate the compacting element along the first axis while the compacting element is either submerged in the aggregate material on the first side of the pipe or submerged in the aggregate material second side of the pipe; 
   (b) rotator, mechanically coupled to the compacting element, wherein the rotator element is configured to rotate the compacting element from the first side of the pipe to the second side of the pipe.   
     
     
         16 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the power source is selected from a hydraulic power source, an electrical power source, or a pneumatic power source. 
     
     
         17 . The compactor apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the compacting element and rotator are coupled to an excavator arm. 
     
     
         18 . The compacter apparatus of  claim 17  wherein (a) the compactor apparatus further comprises two-hose connections, and (b) the compactor apparatus is coupled to a hydraulic circuit of the excavator via the two hose connections. 
     
     
         19 . A method for compacting aggregate about a pipe having a predetermined pipe gradient: the method comprising:
 inserting a single elongated powered compacting element beneath a surface of an aggregate material that partially surrounds a first side, a bottom, and a second side of a pipe having a gradient relative to surrounding ground;   providing a reciprocating motion to the single elongated powered compacting element to compact the aggregate material on the first side of the pipe, while maintaining the single elongated powered compacting element submerged beneath the surface of the aggregate material at all times when compacting the aggregate;   extracting the single elongated powered compacting element from beneath the surface when the aggregate material is compacted to a pre-defined minimum density about the bottom and the sides of the pipe along a length of the pipe to maintain the pipe gradient.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 moving the single elongate powered compacting element along the length of the pipe about the first side of the pipe before extracting the single elongate powered compacting element from beneath the aggregate surface;   inserting a single elongated powered compacting element beneath the surface of the aggregate material about the second side of the pipe;   moving the single elongate powered compacting element along the length of the pipe about the second side of the pipe while providing a reciprocating motion to the single elongated powered compacting element to compact the aggregate material on the second side of the pipe, while maintaining the single elongated powered compacting element submerged beneath the surface of the aggregate material at all times when compacting the aggregate on the second side of the pipe.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 moving the single elongate powered compacting element along the length of the pipe about the first side of the pipe before extracting the single elongate powered compacting element from beneath the aggregate surface;   inserting a single elongated powered compacting element beneath the surface of the aggregate material about the second side of the pipe;   moving the single elongate powered compacting element along the length of the pipe about the second side of the pipe while providing a reciprocating motion to the single elongated powered compacting element to compact the aggregate material on the second side of the pipe, while maintaining the single elongated powered compacting element submerged beneath the surface of the aggregate material at all times when compacting the aggregate on the second side of the pipe.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the single elongated powered compacting element is submerged beneath the depth of the aggregate at a depth of approximately 150 mm, and wherein the pipe has a diameter of at least 400 mm.