Pipe laying device and pipe laying method herewith

Abstract

Pipe laying device (1) comprising an assembly unit (10) designed for connection to an excavator arm, wherein the assembly unit (10) carries a lifting fork (20) with a first and a second fork tine (21, 22), wherein the first and second fork tines (21, 22) are aligned parallel to each other, have support surfaces (23, 24) for a pipe (100) to be lifted, and are designed to grip the pipe (100) to be lifted, and wherein the assembly unit (10) carries a hold-down device (40) which is arranged above the first and second fork tines (21, 22) and is mounted to be movable towards and away from the first and second fork tines (21, 22) and is designed to clamp the pipe (100) to be lifted onto the first and second fork tines (21, 22), characterized in that these have a thrust crossbeam (50) has a length (L) that can be changed by axially displaceable bearing between two thrust traverse elements (51, 52),wherein, on the one hand, the fork tines (21, 22) and the hold-down device (40) are arranged on the side of one of the first of the two sliding traverse elements (51) and, on the other hand, the assembly unit (10) is arranged on the side of the second of the two sliding traverse elements (52), wherein a ground support (60) is arranged on the side of the second sliding traverse element (52), the support length (SL) of which extends below the first and second fork tines (21, 22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pipe laying device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for mounting a pipe to be lifted on another pipe according to claim 17.

[0002] Concrete pipes are typically used for sewers. They can be circular, oval, or rectangular in cross-section and have diameters ranging from 300 mm to 2,500 mm. A typical pipe length for reinforced concrete pipes, for example, is 2.5 m. Sealing elements are usually placed between the pipe sections to ensure a tight connection when the pipes are joined. This is important because leaky sewer systems pose a risk of soil and groundwater contamination. Furthermore, groundwater could enter the sewers from outside, thereby removing groundwater and increasing the amount of wastewater.

[0003] Therefore, the pipes must be carefully and precisely fitted together during installation to ensure the integrated seals can take effect. Such installation requires tools – especially for heavy and large-diameter pipes – that allow them to be lifted for transport, lowered to the desired location, and positioned close to an existing pipe or system connection.

[0004] Mechanical pipe-laying devices are known for this purpose, which use grippers, pipe clamps, or straps to raise and lower the pipe. An additional tensioning or pushing device pulls or pushes adjacent pipes axially into each other to achieve a tight connection.

[0005] DE 36 10 836 C2, for example, uses two parallel pipe grippers that engage the two ends of the pipes to be connected with hydraulically actuated clamping arms and are longitudinally connected by a crossbeam and pulling cylinders. This grips both pipe ends to pull the new pipe with its free end into the bell-shaped socket of the existing pipe.

[0006] DE 20 2004 019 874 U1 describes a pipe-laying device for sewers designed as a pipe-lifting and pushing device. It has a connecting body for connection to an excavator-change system, as well as a rotating unit that engages the connecting body and is connected to an angled bracket. The bracket, equipped with a support arm, holds at least one support mandrel, which is inserted into the pipe to be laid. The pipe is secured to the support mandrel using a hydraulic clamping unit. A disadvantage is that when the pipe-laying device is moved out of the pipe, a relatively large amount of space is required in front of the laid pipe. The excavator cannot therefore stand in this area, but must be able to lift the pipe with a large reach. A larger excavator is therefore required.If the excavator is positioned to the side of the trench, it must also be of a larger design, because the insertion forces are then triggered by the slewing ring between the upper and lower carriage, which is rather weakly driven compared to the lifting cylinders of the excavator arm.

[0007] JP H09-240 982 A describes an attachment grab for gripping steel beams. It has a fork with two lower, manually telescoping forks and a hold-down device. This serves to fix a steel beam, aligned transversely to the forks, on one of its cheeks on the fork in such a way that it does not tip over. To prevent the cheek from slipping onto the fork tines and the hold-down device due to the torque, there are holders on both the fork tines and the hold-down device that grip the edge of the vertical cheek of the steel beam. The hold-down device is hydraulically driven and can therefore move from above towards the forks. According to the exemplary embodiment, the attachment grab is mounted on an excavator with a telescopic excavator arm.

[0008] DE 87 15 091 U1 discloses a pipe-laying device comprising a fork with two fork tines. The fork tines are axially movable along a horizontal connecting link such that the distance between the fork tines can be manually adjusted. To lift the fork, a boom is provided. This boom is attached to the connecting link and extends parallel to and centrally between the fork tines with a boom arm. A plurality of attachment points for a lifting device are provided on the boom arm, allowing the fork to be aligned horizontally depending on the load.

[0009] KR 10 1 635 375 B1 describes a pipe-laying device that has a fork with two fork tines whose width can be adjusted using a lifting cylinder. In addition, a hold-down device is arranged above each of the two fork tines, the distance between the hold-down device and the fork tine can be adjusted using a lifting cylinder in order to support itself on the inner wall of a picked-up pipe. All of this is arranged in an inner box that is located in an outer box and can be moved axially in the direction of the fork tines. A displacement cylinder allows the inner box, and thus the fork, to be moved slightly back and forth. The outer box is connected to a mounting plate for installation on an excavator via a vertically aligned swivel joint.

[0010] The aim of the invention is to overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art and to develop a pipe-laying device for trench-laying pipes, particularly for sewers, that is constructed cost-effectively using simple means and enables the rapid, material-friendly, and well-sealed connection of adjacent pipes on-site, using comparatively small excavators. In particular, the aim is to enable pipe laying in confined spaces, for example, in built-up trenches. Furthermore, ease of handling and high operational reliability are also sought.

[0011] Main features of the invention are defined in claim 1 and claim 17. Embodiments are the subject of claims 2 to 16 and 18.

[0012] In a pipe-laying device having a mounting unit designed for connection to an excavator arm, the invention provides that the mounting unit carries a lifting fork with a first and a second fork tine, wherein the first and second fork tines are aligned parallel to one another, have support surfaces for a pipe to be lifted, and are designed to grip underneath the pipe to be lifted. Preferably, the first and second fork tines are aligned at least substantially horizontally in the intended device orientation. As a result of the gripping underneath, the support surfaces come into contact, in particular, with an outer circumferential surface of the pipe to be lifted.Furthermore, the assembly unit carries a hold-down device, which (in the intended device orientation) is arranged above the first and second fork tines and is mounted so that it can be moved toward and away from the first and second fork tines. It is designed to clamp the pipe to be lifted onto the first and second fork tines. The hold-down device is specifically designed to contact the outer surface of the pipe to be lifted.

[0013] The advantage of the pipe-laying device is that even pipes more than twice as long as the forks do not tip over thanks to the hold-down device. Short forks can be used in relation to the length of the pipe to be laid. Accordingly, the clearance for removing the pipe-laying device after the pipe to be lifted has been installed can be limited. The underhand grip allows for great maneuverability when lifting the pipe-laying device from a trench, because the forks are not embedded inside the pipe. The greatest width of the pipe-laying device should be defined by the outer edges of the forks. This allows for narrow trenches with minimal excavation.

[0014] The hold-down device can be pivoted around a horizontally aligned holder axis. This creates a good lever arm for applying high holding forces to the pipe. It also allows for more flexibility in the orientation of the holder drive.

[0015] The hold-down device can be manually adjusted. However, a holder drive is preferably provided, with which the hold-down device can be driven to move toward and away from the first and second fork tines. This facilitates handling and reduces the risk of injury. The holder drive can be an actuating cylinder, preferably a hydraulic cylinder. In the intended device orientation, the actuating cylinder is preferably aligned at least substantially horizontally. Thus, it does not hinder the actuators, in particular those of an excavator arm operating above the assembly unit. The assembly unit should (in the intended device orientation) form the upper end of the pipe-laying device.

[0016] The mounting unit is preferably designed as an interface to a quick-change system of an excavator. For this purpose, the mounting unit can, for example, have a screw plate to which various components of a quick-change system can be attached.

[0017] In addition, one embodiment of the invention provides that the lifting fork has a spreading device with which the distance between the first and second fork tines can be changed. This allows adaptation to different pipe diameters. In addition to the option of first pulling the pipe laying device axially down from the pipe or laterally under the pipe and then lifting it away, there is also the additional option of moving the fork tines upwards next to the pipe that has just been lifted by spreading them. The distance between the fork tines should be designed to be expandable so that the pipe fits between the fork tines. The pipe is then moved relatively speaking between the fork tines. When picking up the pipe, the pipe laying device can also be simply lowered from above, and only below the pipe can the tine spacing then be reduced.This means that neither at the pick-up location nor at the installation location does a large amount of free space in front of the end of the pipe to be lifted need to be provided.

[0018] An optional development provides for the spreading device to have an articulated connection via which the first and / or second fork tines are pivotally mounted, in particular such that they can be displaced laterally without changing their alignment. An articulated connection can absorb high forces and is low-wear, even under dirty operating conditions.

[0019] Specifically, the articulated connection can each have a pivot axis for the first and second fork tines, with the pivot axes aligned parallel to each other and preferably arranged at the same height (in the intended device orientation). This distributes the load of the pipe to be lifted across two pivot axes. Furthermore, it is technically easier to relocate the articulated connection further upwards.

[0020] In a special embodiment, the articulated joint is positioned higher than the contact surfaces of the first and second fork tines. This allows the forks to hang below the articulated joint.

[0021] Preferably, the articulated connection is positioned higher than a contact surface of the hold-down device. This almost inevitably ensures that the articulated connection is positioned higher than the pipe to be lifted. This provides space for elongated and thus torsion-resistant pivot axes. The pivot axes can, in particular, extend from an area axially in front of the fork tines or the pipe to be lifted to above the fork tines or the pipe to be lifted.

[0022] According to a more detailed embodiment, the spreading device has a spreading drive with which the distance between the first and second fork tines can be adjusted by drive. This allows for automated adjustment to the pipe diameter and / or upward removal of the pipe laying device.

[0023] Furthermore, the first fork tine can be connected to the articulated joint via a first arm, and the second fork tine via a second arm. The arm can hold the fork tines at a distance from the articulated joint.

[0024] Specifically, the spreading drive can be arranged between the first and second arms, with the spreading drive preferably being an actuating cylinder, particularly preferably a hydraulic cylinder. Instead of a hydraulic cylinder, a self-locking rack with an oil motor or a self-locking spindle with an oil motor can be used. The spreading drive between the arms allows the area of ​​the fork tines to remain free of drives.

[0025] It proves to be advantageous with regard to the necessary installation space if the first arm is aligned at least substantially or exactly perpendicular to the first fork tine and the second arm is aligned at least substantially or exactly perpendicular to the second fork tine.

[0026] Optionally, the first and second arms can be positioned so that they extend through a gap in front of the end face of the pipe to be lifted. They then do not have to reach around the circumference of the pipe, allowing the trench to be excavated narrowly. In particular, space must be left exclusively for the forks to pass when lifting upwards.

[0027] Furthermore, it is possible for at least one or both of the first and second arms to have a stop surface for contacting an end face of the pipe to be lifted. This allows pressure to be exerted against the end face of the pipe to push the pipe to be lifted axially toward another pipe. Preferably, the stop surface is flat and vertically aligned from top to bottom along the arm(s). This allows contact to be made with the end face of pipes of different thicknesses to be picked up, both from the bottom and from the top. The local pressure load on the end face when the pipes are moved closer together is thus minimal.

[0028] Furthermore, a design is recommended in which the contact surfaces of the first and second fork tines leave a gap to accommodate a bell-shaped sleeve of the pipe to be lifted. Even if the bell-shaped sleeve has a larger diameter than the rest of the pipe, the contact surfaces can still contact the outer surface of the pipe. The gap preferably extends up to the arms. This allows the arms to make contact with the end face despite the bell-shaped sleeve.

[0029] For precise joining of the pipes, the invention advantageously provides that the pipe laying device has a push beam (in the intended orientation of the device in particular at least substantially or exactly horizontally aligned) whose length can be changed by axially displaceable mounting between two push beam elements, wherein on the one hand the forks and the hold-down device are arranged on the side of a first of the two push beam elements and on the other hand the assembly unit is arranged on the side of the second of the two push beam elements. Instead of using the actuators of the excavator, this can primarily be used to finally guide the pipe to be lifted towards the other pipe using the push beam. The push beam preferably has an internal pressure cylinder, preferably a hydraulic cylinder.This ensures low friction between the thrust beam elements because no torque is exerted by the internal pressure cylinder. Furthermore, the pressure cylinder is protected from contamination.

[0030] In general, hydraulic drives are inexpensive because they can be easily connected to an excavator's existing hydraulic connections and can be controlled directly by the excavator operator.

[0031] Specifically, the second thrust beam element can be inserted into the first thrust beam element and mounted therein for axial displacement. The optional two pivot axes of the articulated connection can be located on opposite sides of the first thrust beam element. Furthermore, the retainer drive of the hold-down device can be located on the upper side of the first thrust beam element. The contact surface of the hold-down device can, in particular, be arranged below the first thrust beam element.

[0032] According to the invention, a ground support is arranged on the side of the second thrust beam element, the support length of which extends below the first and second fork tines and is preferably adjustable. This allows the excavator to be relieved of load by placing the support and allows more precise maneuvering of the pipe to be lifted. In the simplest case, the ground support is used as a sliding carriage on the ground. However, particularly in conjunction with actuators on the pipelayer's side, a fixed contact with the ground is recommended, for example in conjunction with the thrust beam. The picked-up pipe can thus be pushed precisely and powerfully horizontally towards an adjacent pipe, quite independently of the available excavator forces. The excavator then essentially serves to fix the ground support, which can absorb a large portion of the thrust forces.

[0033] In particular, the ground support should be aligned at least substantially or exactly vertically when the device is properly aligned. This allows the excavator to apply a high load to the ground support from the top center to secure it to the ground.

[0034] The ground support is preferably positioned vertically beneath the assembly unit, particularly in line with it. This allows the excavator to push upwards on the support without causing leverage and swaying movements. Up to 50% of the excavator's weight is then supported on the ground support.

[0035] Due to the variable nature of the installation environment, the ground support should be telescopic. This allows for adjustable length, keeping the raised pipe correctly aligned and at the correct height above the ground.

[0036] The floor support optionally features plug holes for adjusting the support length to discrete values ​​using a plug pin. This allows for quick adjustment. Alternatively or additionally, the floor support features an optional spindle thread for continuously adjustable support length. This allows for precise length adjustment. When combining a plug pin and spindle thread, coarse adjustment is preferably performed via the plug pin, and fine adjustment via the spindle thread.

[0037] Furthermore, the ground support can have a ground spike at the bottom. Penetrating into the ground prevents slipping.

[0038] In addition, the ground support can have a stop plate positioned upwards relative to its lower end. This prevents excessive penetration into the subsoil and provides a contact surface for the support load on the subsoil. Optionally, the stop plate can be moved downwards, or the ground spike can be retracted or removed. The stop plate can then form a support plate. This is helpful for subsoils that cannot or should not be penetrated.

[0039] Optionally, a swivel joint with a rotation axis (in the intended orientation of the device, in particular at least substantially or exactly vertically aligned) can be arranged between the mounting unit and the lifting fork, especially between the mounting unit and the push beam. Such a swivel joint is unnecessary if the excavator itself is equipped with one. However, most shovel excavators do not have such a swivel joint; these are usually only provided on the less common clamshell grab excavators and are then sometimes fixed to the bucket side.

[0040] The swivel joint makes pipe laying much easier and makes the pipe laying device more universally applicable.

[0041] Preferably, the swivel joint is part of a rotary drive. This allows the pipe to be aligned with the aid of the drive.

[0042] Preferably, the pipe-laying device is modularly designed so that it can be mounted either with or without a floor support and / or either with or without a swivel joint. For this purpose, the interface between the mounting unit and the swivel joint can be designed to match the interface between the swivel joint and the lifting fork or push beam. Furthermore, a removable connection can be provided between the floor support and the floor support. If necessary, a user can then also modify the pipe-laying device.

[0043] The invention also relates to a method for mounting a pipe to be lifted on another pipe using a pipe laying device as described above and below, comprising the following steps: a) Grip the pipe to be lifted with the forks; b) Holding down the pipe to be lifted with the hold-down device on the forks; c) Manoeuvring the pipe to be lifted into the assembly position on or in the further pipe, in particular by pushing the pipe to be lifted into the further pipe or pushing the pipe to be lifted onto the further pipe; c0) Adjusting the push beam to a short length before manoeuvring the pipe to be lifted into the assembly position on or in the further pipe; c1) Manoeuvring the pipe to be lifted in front of the other pipe and bringing a subsoil into contact with the ground support and / or engaging the ground support with the subsoil; c2) pushing the pipe to be lifted towards the other pipe by increasing the length of the push beam while the ground support is in contact with the ground and / or is engaged with the ground; d) Remove the pipe laying device from the pipe to be lifted.

[0044] This allows for easy, efficient pipe laying. The contact surfaces of the forks should be in contact with the outer surface of the pipe. It also allows for precise guidance of the pipe being lifted to the next pipe.

[0045] According to a variant of the method, the lifting fork has a spreading device with which the distance between the first and second fork tines can be changed, wherein the following steps are carried out when removing the pipe laying device from the pipe to be lifted: d1) increasing the distance between the first and second fork tines; d2) Lifting the pipe-laying device and lifting the first and second fork tines laterally past the pipe to be lifted, in particular on both sides of the pipe.

[0046] This means that little additional space is required in front of the pipe end and the excavator can be positioned close to the pipe to be lifted.

[0047] The device features can each optionally be the subject of the method, whereby their functional properties can be optional, procedural steps.

[0048] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective side view of a pipe laying device with a pipe accommodated; Fig. 2 a perspective side view of the pipe laying device according to Fig. 1 with different functional position; Fig. 3a a front view of the pipe laying device according to Fig. 1; and Fig. 3b a front view of the pipe laying device according to Fig. 3 with different functional position.

[0049] The Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b each show a pipe laying device 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a pipe laying device 1 with a pipe 100 accommodated in a first functional position and Fig. 2 shows a second functional position of this. Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b are a front view of the pipe laying device 1 according to Fig. 1, where the Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b shows different functional positions of the pipe laying device 1. The same reference numbers therefore refer to the same components.

[0050] In Fig. 1 shows that the pipe-laying device 1 has a mounting unit 10 in the form of a horizontally oriented screw plate with screw holes, which is designed for connection to an excavator arm. All information regarding the orientation and height of an arrangement position refers to the intended device orientation, which can be easily deviated from depending on the installation location and excavator arm orientation. Various components of a quick-change system can be attached to the mounting unit 10, facilitating its attachment to the excavator arm.

[0051] The assembly unit 10 indirectly carries a pipe holder 19. The pipe holder 19 is essentially formed by a lifting fork 20 and a hold-down device 40. The lifting fork 20 has a first and a second fork tine 21, 22, which are aligned parallel and spaced from one another. Each of the fork tines 21, 22 in turn has support surfaces 23, 24 (reference number 24 see Fig. 3b) for the pipe 100 to be lifted and, as shown, is designed to grip underneath the pipe 100 to be lifted. The first and second fork tines 21, 22 are aligned at least substantially horizontally in the intended device orientation. The support surfaces 23, 24 come into contact with an outer surface 104 of the pipe 100 to be lifted by gripping underneath. The pipe 100 also has a bell-shaped sleeve 101 with a larger outer diameter than the rest of the outer surface 101 and a mounting end 103. In this case, the mounting end 103 has a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the outer surface 104. In this case, the pipe 100 is held by the side of the bell-shaped sleeve 101 with the pipe holder 19. However, the pipe laying device 1 is also suitable for holding the pipe 100 in the opposite orientation.As can be seen, the support surfaces 23, 24 of the first and second fork tines 21, 22 leave a free space FR for receiving the bell-shaped sleeve 101 of the pipe 100 to be lifted. The support surfaces 23 are raised for this purpose. They can be formed by either rubber pads or replaceable spacer plates in order to accommodate even large bell-shaped sleeves 101 in addition to the raised position of the support surfaces 23.

[0052] Furthermore, the assembly unit 10 indirectly carries a hold-down device 40, which is arranged above the first and second fork tines 21, 22 and which is driven by a holder drive 41, namely a hydraulic cylinder, to move towards and away from the first and second fork tines 21, 22. The hold-down device 40 is located approximately halfway along the length of the fork tines 21, 22 and is designed to clamp the pipe 100 to be lifted onto the first and second fork tines 21, 22. The holder drive 41 is essentially horizontally aligned and connected to a lever arm of the hold-down device 40, wherein the hold-down device 40 is pivotally mounted about a horizontally aligned holder axis 42. The hold-down device 40 is designed to contact the outer surface 104 of the pipe 100 to be lifted. For this purpose, it has a concave orV-shaped contact surface 43, which has a compensating joint to the remaining hold-down device 40, in particular to compensate for the pivoting movement of the remaining hold-down device 40.

[0053] The lifting fork 20 has a spreading device 25, with which the distance A between the first and second fork tines 21, 22 can be changed. For this purpose, the spreading device 25 has an articulated connection 26, via which the first and second fork tines 21, 22 are pivotally mounted, namely in such a way that the first and second fork tines 21, 22 can be displaced laterally without changing their alignment. In particular, the articulated connection 26 each has a pivot axis 27, 28 (reference number 28 see Fig. 3b) for the first and second fork tines 21, 22, wherein the pivot axes 27, 28 are aligned parallel to one another at the same height above the fork tines 21, 22 and above the contact surface 43 of the hold-down device 40.

[0054] Theoretically, manual adjustment and locking of the spreading device 25 is possible. In the present case, however, the spreading device 25 has a spreading drive 29 with which the distance A between the first and second fork tines 21, 22 can be changed by drive. The first fork tine 21 is connected to the articulated connection 26 via a first arm 30 and the second fork tine 22 via a second arm 31. The first arm 30 forms a right interior angle to the first fork tine 21 and the second arm 31 forms a right interior angle to the second fork tine 22. The spreading drive 29, here a hydraulic cylinder, is arranged between the first and second arms 30, 31. As a result of this and the articulated connection 26, the interior angle between the two arms 30, 31 can be changed, whereby the fork tines 21, 22 can be moved sideways while maintaining their parallelism. This changes the distance A between the two fork tines 21, 22.The largest width of the pipe laying device 1 should be defined by the outer edges of the forks 21, 22.

[0055] As can be seen, the first and second arms 30, 31 are arranged in such a way that they extend through a free space in front of an end face 102 of the pipe 100 to be lifted. As a result, they each form a stop surface 32, 33 (reference number 33 see Fig. 2) for contacting the end face 102 of the pipe 100 to be lifted.

[0056] Furthermore, the pipe laying device 1 has a horizontally aligned push-beam 50, the length L of which can be varied by axially displaceable mounting between two push-beam elements 51, 52. The forks 21, 22 and the hold-down device 40 are arranged on the side of a first of the two push-beam elements 51, and the assembly unit 10 is arranged on the side of the second of the two push-beam elements 52. For this purpose, the second push-beam element 52 is inserted into the first push-beam element 51 and mounted therein for axial displacement. The two pivot axes 27, 28 are located on opposite sides of the first push-beam element 51 (are fixed here), while the holder drive 41 is arranged on the upper side of the first push-beam element 51 and the contact surface 43 of the hold-down device 40 is arranged below the first push-beam element 51.

[0057] On the side of the second push-beam element 52, a vertically aligned ground support 60 is arranged, the support length SL of which extends below the first and second fork tines 21, 22 and is designed to be adjustable. This ground support 60 can be used to relieve the load on the excavator arm when pushing the pipe 100. On the one hand, the support length SL can be adjusted to discrete values ​​by virtue of the ground support 60's telescopic design with plug holes 61 and plug pins 62. On the other hand, further adjustment of the support length SL is possible by virtue of the ground support 60's spindle thread 65 for continuously adjusting the support length SL. Plug holes 61 and plug pins 62 are arranged higher than the spindle thread 65.

[0058] The ground support 60 has a ground spike 63 at its lower end and a stop plate 64 arranged upwardly offset from its lower end. Optionally, the ground spike 63 can be removed or retracted, and the stop plate 64 can be used alone.

[0059] Furthermore, the pipe-laying device 1 has a swivel joint 70 with a vertically aligned rotation axis 71 between the mounting unit 10 and the lifting fork 20, in particular between the mounting unit 10 and the thrust beam 50. The lifting fork 20 and the thrust beam 50 can thereby pivot about the rotation axis 71. The swivel joint 70 is part of a rotary drive 72, which has a pressure cylinder, in particular a hydraulic cylinder. The pressure cylinder is fixed on the one hand to a lever arm located on the second thrust beam element 52, and on the other hand to the mounting unit 10. This allows the lifting fork 20 to be pivoted through a defined angle of less than 180 degrees.

[0060] With this pipe-laying device 1, a method can now be implemented in which the pipe 100 to be lifted is gripped underneath with the fork tines 21, 22 and secured by holding it down on the fork tines 21, 22. The pipe 100 is then maneuvered into the assembly position on or in another pipe 110 (not shown, position only indicated). The pipe-laying device 1 is then removed from the pipe 100 to be lifted.

[0061] In particular, the thrust beam 50 can be adjusted to a small length L before maneuvering the pipe 100 to be lifted into the assembly position on or in the further pipe 110 (as in Fig. 2), and the pipe 100 to be lifted must first be maneuvered in front of the further pipe 110. Once here, the pipe 100 to be lifted can be brought together with the further pipe 110 by increasing the length L of the push beam 50 (as shown in Fig. 1). Preferably, the floor support 60 is used, which is fixed to a base B (position in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 only indicated), e.g. a trench bottom, is brought into contact or engagement. The pushing of the pipe 100 to be lifted in the direction of the further pipe 110 by increasing the length L of the thrust cross member 50 then takes place while the ground support 60 contacts the ground B and / or is in engagement with the ground B. As a result, parts of the thrust forces of the thrust cross member 50 are diverted into the ground B. The pipe 100 is held more securely in position because the excavator arm is less likely to sway and twist due to the support.

[0062] Optionally, when removing the pipe laying device 1 from the pipe 100 to be lifted, the distance A between the first and second fork tines 21, 22 can be increased, so that the pipe laying device 1 can then be lifted and the first and second fork tines 21, 22 can be lifted laterally past the pipe 100. Fig. 3a shows the state in which the distance A is smaller and the contact surfaces 23, 24 contact the outer surface 104 of the tube 100. In Fig. 3b, the distance A between the fork tines 21, 22 has been increased so that the tube 100 fits between the fork tines 21, 22. List of reference symbols 1 pipe laying device 10 Assembly unit 19 pipe holders 20 lifting forks 21 first fork tine 22 second fork tine 23 Support surface 24 support surface 25 Spreader device 26 Articulated connection 27 Swivel axis 28 Swivel axis 29 Spreading drive 30 first arm 31 second arm 32 Stop surface (arm) 33 Stop surface (arm) 40 hold-down clamps 41 Holder drive 42 Holder axis 43 contact surface 50 Shear beam 51 first shear beam element 52 second shear beam element 60 floor support 61 plug hole 62 socket pins 63 Earth tip 64 stop plates 65 spindle thread 70 swivel joint 71 axis of rotation 72 rotary drive 100 pipe to be lifted 101 Bell socket (pipe) 102 End face (pipe to be lifted) 103 End of assembly 104 outer surface 110 additional pipe A Distance (between forks) B Subsoil or trench bottom FR free space (bell socket) L Length (thrust beam) SL support length

Claims

[1] Pipe-laying device (1) comprising a mounting unit (10) designed for connection to an excavator arm, wherein the mounting unit (10) carries a lifting fork (20) with a first and a second fork tine (21, 22), wherein the first and second fork tines (21, 22) are aligned parallel to one another, have support surfaces (23, 24) for a pipe (100) to be lifted, and are designed to engage underneath the pipe (100) to be lifted, and wherein the mounting unit (10) carries a hold-down device (40) arranged above the first and second fork tines (21, 22) and mounted so as to be movable towards and away from the first and second fork tines (21, 22) and designed to clamp the pipe (100) to be lifted onto the first and second fork tines (21, 22), characterized byin that it has a push-beam (50) whose length (L) can be changed by axially displaceable mounting between two push-beam elements (51, 52), wherein on the one hand the fork tines (21, 22) and the hold-down device (40) are arranged on the side of a first of the two push-beam elements (51) and on the other hand the assembly unit (10) is arranged on the side of the second of the two push-beam elements (52), wherein on the side of the second push-beam element (52) a floor support (60) is arranged, the support length (SL) of which extends below the first and second fork tines (21, 22). [2] Pipe laying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the lifting fork (20) has a spreading device (25) with which the distance (A) between the first and second fork tines (21, 22) can be changed. [3] Pipe laying device (1) according to claim 2, characterized bythat the spreading device (25) has an articulated connection (26) via which the first and / or second fork tines (21, 22) are pivotally mounted. [4] Pipe laying device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the articulated connection (26) has a pivot axis (27, 28) for each of the first and second fork tines (21, 22), wherein the pivot axes (27, 28) are aligned parallel to one another. [5] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized by that the articulated connection (26) is arranged higher than the support surfaces (23, 24) of the first and second fork tines (21, 22). [6] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by that the articulated connection (26) is arranged higher than a contact surface (43) of the hold-down device (40). [7] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized bythat the spreading device (25) has a spreading drive (29) with which the distance (A) between the first and second fork tines (21, 22) can be changed by drive. [8] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by that the first fork tine (21) is connected to the articulated connection (26) via a first arm (30) and the second fork tine (22) is connected to the articulated connection (26) via a second arm (31). [9] Pipe laying device (1) according to the combination of claims 7 and 8, characterized by that the spreading drive (29) is arranged between the first and second arm (30, 31). [10] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by that the first arm (30) is aligned at least substantially or exactly perpendicular to the first fork tine (21) and the second arm (31) is aligned at least substantially or exactly perpendicular to the second fork tine (22). [11] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by that the first and second arms (30, 31) are arranged such that they pass through a free space in front of an end face (102) of the pipe (100) to be lifted. [12] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by that at least one or both of the first and second arms (30, 31) have a stop surface (32, 33) for contacting an end face (102) of the pipe (100) to be lifted. [13] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support surfaces (23, 24) of the first and second fork tines (21, 22) leave a free space (FR) for receiving a bell sleeve (101) of the pipe (100) to be lifted. [14] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support length (SL) of the floor support (60) is adjustable. [15] Pipe laying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a rotary joint (70) with a rotary axis (71) is arranged between the mounting unit (10) and the lifting fork (20). [16] Pipe laying device (1) according to claim 15, characterized by that the rotary joint (70) is part of a rotary drive (72). [17] Method for mounting a pipe (100) to be lifted on another pipe (110) with a pipe laying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: a) gripping the pipe (100) to be lifted with the fork tines (21, 22); b) holding down the pipe (100) to be lifted with the hold-down device (40) on the fork tines (21, 22); c) Maneuvering the pipe (100) to be lifted into the mounting position on or in the further pipe (110); c0) adjusting the thrust beam (50) to a small length (L) before maneuvering the pipe (100) to be lifted into the assembly position on or in the further pipe (110); c1) Maneuvering the pipe (100) to be lifted in front of the further pipe (110) and contacting a ground (B) with the ground support (60) and / or engaging the ground support (60) with the ground (B); c2) pushing the pipe (100) to be lifted towards the further pipe (110) by increasing the length (L) of the push beam (50) while the ground support (60) is in contact with the ground and / or is in engagement with the ground; d) Removing the pipe laying device (1) from the pipe to be lifted (100). [18] Method according to claim 17, wherein the lifting fork (20) has a spreading device (25) with which the distance (A) between the first and second fork tines (21, 22) can be changed and comprising the following steps when removing the pipe laying device (1) from the pipe (100) to be lifted: d1) increasing the distance (A) between the first and second fork tines (21, 22); d2) Lifting the pipe laying device (1) and lifting the first and second fork tines (21, 22) laterally past the pipe (100) to be lifted.

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