Pipe laying and handling apparatus and method

摘要

An apparatus for lifting a section of precast concrete pipe and for supporting the pipe at an inclined angle to facilitate the bringing together of alignment hardware on the supported section of pipe and on a previously laid section of pipe. The apparatus includes a lifting frame which has two vertically spaced, parallel horizontal legs. An alignment frame, with spaced pipe supporting working faces, is supported on the lower horizontal leg. The alignment frame supports the section of pipe at an inclined angle during the initial alignment and then lowers the section of pipe into full alignment. The alignment frame is supported by a hydraulic system that allows the section of pipe to be lifted, aligned and released. An adjustable lifting point on the upper leg of the lifting frame enables the lifting frame to tilt so the inclined alignment frame is parallel to the inside surface of a pipe section during the initial lift. The mass of the pipe section will then straighten the lifting frame while leaving the pipe section inclined.