Abstract:
The invention pertains to pipe pulling systems and methods for sequentially adjoining pipes enabling one or more operators to efficiently attach the receiving and adjoining pipe ends together. As part of the pulling system, a pipe pulling apparatus is secured and can easily pull one or more sequential cascading pipes into position for attachment or adjoining from a common location. The pulling apparatus can alternatively be moved to the distal end of the previously adjoined pipe making it the new receiving pipe. Progressively cascading extended pipe systems and clusters with lateral sections and risers are built in short periods of time as compared with typical manual methods of pipe assembly and construction. A variable length pulling member of the pulling system adjoins pipes, fittings, or pipes with fittings located at remote distances with directional turns, typically orthogonal, into their adjoining or attachment position using pulleys with securing members and mechanisms.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/997,787 filed Jun. 10, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to pulling various sizes and types of pipes and fittings, for the purpose of adjoining pipes in sections end-to-end, or progressively adjoining or attaching pipes and fittings to easily build pipe systems or clusters in conjunction with home and business plumbing construction and general piping. Applications include, but are not limited to OEM applications, water mains, and sewer mains. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Plumbers and construction workers have been installing piping for thousands of years possibly starting with lead wrapped and ceramic piping during Roman and medieval times. The basic challenge to interconnecting piping has been to bring two pipes together at the ends for attachment. Larger pipes in excess of approximately 0.2 meters in diameter may be quite heavy and difficult to lift or align for attachment depending on length and the type of material the pipe is made of. Bringing a receiving and an adjoining pipe together typically required force to overcome the weight of the adjoining pipe and associated frictional forces of the at least one pipe end being pulled into an adjoining or attaching position. Opposing axial forces have been needed for bringing the pipe ends together while the receiving and adjoining pipes are aligned. As the axial forces have been applied for joining pipes, alignment forces or positions have been needed, typically orthogonal to the axial forces. These combined forces, orientations, and positions needed for attachment of pipes have historically resulted in troublesome, difficult, slow, inefficient, and tedious procedures. 
         [0004]    One typical method for adjoining two pipes involved the use of a railroad bar or equivalent bar type tool to pry the distal end of the adjoining pipe toward the receiving pipe. Since pipe systems have been typically laid and assembled in crushed stone beds, it has been difficult to use any form of prying bar to actuate the adjoinment of two pipes. 
         [0005]    Piping applications include home construction, business construction, OEM assemblies, e.g., piped systems on skids, and others. In each of these applications the procedures for adjoining pipes should be as efficient, fast, and trouble free as possible. 
         [0006]    In response to the need for efficient, fast, and trouble free adjoining of pipes to produce a piping system, an apparatus and method are desired that can be operated by one person with additional operators optional. In order to adjoin pipes in this manner, a pulling apparatus has been needed that is portable and operable by a single person. A pulling apparatus has been needed to easily attach to a primary receiving pipe at a common pulling position with an attachment mechanism to an adjoining pipe located nearby or may be located in a cluster of pipes including lateral sections and vertical risers. Pulling systems have been needed to work with various pipe diameters, materials, and attachment types (including gluing, welding, etc.). The ability to pull and adjoin pipe sections from a single pulling position has been needed. Furthermore, the ability to easily change pulling positions for the pulling apparatus and set up pulling operations from a previous position has been needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to the idea of enabling as few as one individual operator to easily and efficiently attach or adjoin pipes forming progressive pipe sections and optionally forming clusters of pipes as commonly found in construction sites or plumbing projects. 
         [0008]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjoinment of pipes are done in sections or steps wherein the pipe pulling apparatus of the pipe pulling system is moved forward to a new pulling position at the distal end of the previously adjoined pipe after each adjoinment thus transitioning the previous adjoining pipe to become the new receiving pipe. In this embodiment, there may not be a need for remote control of the pipe pulling apparatus. 
         [0009]    Specific ranges of pipe diameters and associated fittings such as collars, tees, and elbows are supported within the embodiments of the invention. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a pipe pulling system provides for the adjoinment of multiple pipes from a single secured or fixed primary pipe pulling position or location. Various pulling attachments or mechanisms are used to pull the first adjoining pipe and also for pulling progressively any number of cascadedly successive adjoining pipes, collars, tees, or elbows forming sections within the piping system by using additional members such as pulleys and pulley securing mechanisms or attachments for optionally making 90 degree turns both horizontally and vertically in addition to any other angles as required by the piping system design. In this fixed or secured single pulling position embodiment, the need for remote control of the pipe pulling apparatus is increased as the operator may need to walk or move freely around the pipe system or cluster as it is being assembled in sections. Alternatively, additional assistants or operators may be used if the primary operator at the fixed or secured position remains at that location during pipe pulling operations. 
         [0011]    Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and discussion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0012]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an end view of the receiving pipe with the pulling apparatus attached. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the receiving pipe fitted with the pulling apparatus and the adjoining pipe as it illustrates being pulled into the attachment position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of a pipe cluster assembled by several pulling and adjoining operations. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of the method of and system for using the pulling system and apparati to adjoin pipes in sections by repositioning the pulling apparatus to a new receiving pipe after at least one adjoinment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flow chart of the method of and system for using the pulling system and apparati to progressively adjoin pipes from a common pulling location at a primary pipe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Exemplary embodiments provided herein will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all contemplated embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts embodied by this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be misconstrued as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like, but not necessarily the same or identical, elements throughout. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pulling system  103  is embodied which includes a pulling apparatus  109 , attached to receiving pipe  101 , a pull control unit  110 , and a pulling member  104  preferably a flexible metal cable but alternatively, could be a rope, chain, belt, or other flexible material with sufficient strength against breakage. 
         [0020]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , pulling apparatus  103  is shown attached to receiving pipe  101  using a chain  106  as a preferred embodiment as a variable securing element. The receiving pipe  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as a horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the ground but may also be vertical or any other angular orientation from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the surface of the ground. The preferred embodiment of a pipe securing mechanism as shown in  FIG. 1  for securing a first pipe pulling position embodies a chain secured on one end with a chain link hook  116  and a tightening mechanism  113  on the distal end of  106 . The combination of  116  and  113  provide termination points for initially taking the slack out of the chain at  106  and then provide a securing force along  106  sufficient to hold the receiving pipe  101  secure during subsequent pulling operations of the pulling system  103 . 
         [0021]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the securing of pulling apparatus  109  to receiving pipe  101  or pulling position can be alternately realized by articles or members at  106  other than a chain. Various materials and techniques are optional alternatives to a chain, such as with one or more straps, ropes, Velcro®, brackets, magnets, electromagnets, clamps, belts, chains, or other members. 
         [0022]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the pulling apparatus  109  securing mechanism to secure pipe  101  is constructed of a fixed termination  116 , an elongated securing member  106 , and a variable termination  113 . The fixed termination  116  is optionally constructed as a hook, eye-hook, bolt, clamp, weld, or other fixating mechanical termination. The variable termination is optionally constructed as a winding mechanism, reel, winder, locking lever or latch, hook, loop, tie-down, turnbuckle, or other temporary tightening and securing means for securing the pipe  101 . 
         [0023]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the pulling system  103  is optionally configured to pull an extensive range of pipe sizes or diameters. For example, a version of the pulling system  103  may be constructed to pull pipes with sizes ranging from 2 inches (0.05 meters) to 6 inches (0.15 meters) and a second version may be constructed to pull pipes with sizes ranging from 6 inches (0.15 meters) to 12 inches (0.3 meters). The receiving pipe  101  exemplary receiving collar  107  is the attachment location or hub for adjoining a second pipe or adjoining pipe  102 . 
         [0024]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the control unit  110  is used to control the pulling apparatus  109  such as on/off, in/out, slow/fast for example and may be hard wired using wire or cable  111  to the pulling apparatus  109  or may have a wireless connection  111  such as infrared or radio frequency (RF). Hard wired options include wire or cable lengths suitable for optimal operation of the pipe pulling system  103  including local, less than approximately 1 meter from the pipe pulling apparatus, or remote control of pipe pulling operations. The wire or cable lengths may be as short as less than 1 meter for local operation or as long as 10 meters for remote control allowing various separations between the control unit  110  carried by the operator and the securing mechanism. Other forms of remote control include infrared or RF. This remote control capability provides a single operator ability to move around as needed to efficiently assemble or attach one or more pipes, hub to hub, in a sequence. Furthermore, this remote control feature optionally provides the operator pipe alignment capability during pulling operations without requiring a second operator. 
         [0025]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the pulling apparatus  109  optionally is constructed with an electric motor, hydraulic motor, servo motor, reel, winch, block-and-tackle, winder, or other mechanism for applying a pulling force on pulling member  104 . The pulling apparatus  109  containing a motor or winch is optionally controlled remotely with torque and speed limits. 
         [0026]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the pulling apparatus  109  optionally is constructed with a pipe mount frame member  112 . This frame supports any motor, reel, winch, winder, or other mechanism used in the pulling apparatus  109  as part of the pulling system  103 . The at least two pipe gripper pads  114  and  115  gripper pads located in pairs of opposing positions are attached to the pipe mount frame member  112  to protect the pipe from damage such as scrapes and scratches and to improve the securing ability of the securing mechanism to hold the pulling apparatus in position during pulling operations. The pipe gripper pads  114  and  115  may have form fitted shape to fit to a given pipe size or shape. There may be 2 or more pipe gripper pads in use and located in positions to contact the receiver pipe  101 . The pipe gripper pads may be of various or differing materials such as rubber or plastic. The pipe gripper pads may be permanently affixed or may be easily detached and reattached. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the pulling apparatus  109  is optionally constructed with at least one handle  117  aligned with the center of mass of the pipe pulling apparatus  109  to allow an operator, with or without crane or lift assistance, to lift the pipe pulling apparatus  109  and transfer or move it to a desired pulling position on the receiving pipe  101 . Alternatively, there may be two handles located on opposing sides of the pipe pulling apparatus in line with the center of mass of the pipe pulling apparatus. Once the adjoining pipe  102  has been pulled into adjoinment or attachment position and the adjoining or attaching operations has been completed, the adjoined pipe progressively may become the next receiving pipe. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , after final attachment of receiving pipe  101  to adjoining pipe  102 , the pulling apparatus  109  is disengaged and loosened from the receiving pipe  101  by reversing the tightening mechanism  113 . The pulling apparatus  109  becomes portable when the disengagement with the receiving pipe  101  is performed by an operator. The disengaged pulling apparatus  109  can be repositioned using a handle  117  from the adjoinment or attachment end of pipe  101  to the adjoinment or attachment end of pipe  102 . The receiving pipe  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  as a horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the ground but may also be vertical or any other angular orientation from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the surface of the ground. The pulling operation can be repeated for pipe  102  as the new receiving pipe and a next cascading adjoining pipe in sequence added for the next attachment procedure. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pipe pulling system  103  is illustrated with the receiving pipe  101  and with the adjoining pipe  102  engaged in a pulling operation by pulling attachment  105  with force provided by pulling member  104 . The pulling attachment  105  may optionally be a hook, strap, belt, bracket, bolt, clamp, Velcro®, tape, or other attachment mechanism. Pulling attachment  105  is attached to adjoining pipe  102  at the distal location proximity to include the distal end of the pipe  102 . During a pulling operation, the pipe  102  is pulled and aligned in a single operation involving simultaneous distal end lifting or alignment followed by or simultaneous with insertion after the insertion section  108  is prepped for adjoinment or attachment. Final attachment positioning is achieved when the insertion section is inserted or transitioned into a fitting including the exemplary receiving collar  107  of the receiving pipe  101 . The final adjoinment or attachment is made depending on the type of piping connection such as glue, threaded, welded, bonded, fused, press-fit, or any other type of piping connection. 
         [0030]    It is usual to have pipes premanufactured to include a collar on one end of the pipe. A receiving or adjoining pipe may have a premanufactured collar present for adjoinment as an insertion section. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , pulling system  103  is illustrated as applied to a pipe system or cluster  300 , specifically a pipe cluster consisting of several longitudinal, lateral, and vertical pipes or pipe sections and fittings including but not limited to collars, tees, and elbows. The cascaded longitudinal pipe sections include the primary receiving pipe  301  followed by pipe sections  302 ,  304 ,  307 ,  308 ,  311 ,  313 , and  314 . Pipe sections  301  and  302  are shown as previously adjoined at hub or collar  320 . Pipe sections  302  and  304  are shown as previously adjoined at the dual lateral right angle junction or “tee”  303 . Pipe sections  304  and  307  are shown as previously adjoined at right angle riser junction  305 . Pipe sections  307  and  308  are shown as previously adjoined at hub or collar  321 . Pipe sections  308  and  311  are shown as previously adjoined at the dual lateral right angle junction or “tee”  310 . Pipe sections  311  and  313  are shown as previously adjoined at right angle riser junction  312 . Pipe sections  313  and  314  are shown as previously adjoined at hub or collar  322 . Pipe  316  is illustrated as previously joined to elbow  317  and tee  303 . Pipe  326  is illustrated as previously joined to elbow  327  and tee  303 . Pipe  336  is illustrated as previously joined to elbow  337  and tee  310 . Pipe  346  is illustrated as currently being joined to tee  310  with elbow  347  previously joined to pipe  346 . Alternatively according to the illustration of  FIG. 3  the pipe  346  could have been previously joined to tee  310  by having the pulling attachment at the distal end of pipe  346  for the adjoining movement and currently the elbow  347  as shown could be adjoining pipe  346 . The at least one operator can determine the sequence of joining pipes and fittings in a pipe system or cluster  300 . 
         [0032]    The open ended tee  305  is illustrated at  306 . The open ended elbows  317 ,  323 ,  327 ,  337 , and  347  are illustrated at  319 ,  324 , 329 ,  339 , and  349  respectively. 
         [0033]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the pulling system  103  is illustrated with the pulling apparatus  109  mounted and secured to receiving pipe  301 . The pulling apparatus further illustrates the remote control unit  110 , the wired or RF or IR remote signal  111 , a handle  117 , and pulling member  104  with pulling attachment  105 . From this secured position on pipe  301  the pulling system  103  can pull and adjoin pipes or pipe sections anywhere in pipe cluster  300  as it is progressively assembled starting with adjoining pipe sections  301  and  302 . 
         [0034]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the securing mechanism, not shown in  FIG. 3 , of pulling apparatus  109  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is attached to receiving pipe  101  using a chain  106  as a preferred embodiment with one end fixated with a chain link hook  116  and the variable tightening mechanism on the opposing end of the chain or alternative securing member. Also not shown on  FIG. 3 , the combination of a chain link hook (similar to  116 ) and a tightening mechanism (similar to  113 ) provide termination points for initially taking the slack out of the securing chain  106  which is wrapped around pipe  301 . The receiving pipe  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the ground but may also be vertical or any other angular orientation from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the surface of the ground. 
         [0035]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , pulling apparatus  109  provides a securing force along the opposing side of adjoining pipe  301  sufficient to hold the adjoining pipe  301  secure to the pulling apparatus  109 . With the pulling attachment  109  secured to adjoining pipe  301  and the pulling attachment  105  optionally secured to elbow  347  and pipe pulling member  104  by bending 90 degrees at pulley  309  which is attached to the pulley securing member  333  by attachment mechanism  350  as completed by attachment linkage  334 . The pipe  346  undergoes a controlled force or velocity movement during the subsequent pulling operation of the pulling system  103  pulling it into adjoinment or attachment position at tee  310 . 
         [0036]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , prior to the adjoinment of pipe  346  to tee  310 , the operator can optionally move around the pipe system  300  and use the remote control for tensioning or taking out pulling member  104  slack while setting up the pulling system to include the at pulley  309  which is secured by the pulley securing member  333  as completed by attachment linkage  334  with the pulley attached by attachment mechanism  350 . During the final adjoinment of pipe  346  to tee  310  the operator can also walk around and use the remote control for controlling the movement while observing nearby the adjoinment. 
         [0037]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the pulling system  103  may be moved to a new location at the distal end of the last adjoined pipe or it may preferentially remain at the original receiving pipe position. Pulling and adjoining multiple pipes from a common location minimizes the time and effort to pull any given interconnected pipe system or cluster  300 . The pulling system  103  mounted at a common pulling location at receiving pipe  101  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a horizontal orientation relative to the surface of the ground but may also be vertical or any other angular orientation from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the surface of the ground. 
         [0038]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the pulling attachment  105  may be constructed in a variety of equivalent embodiments including straps, ropes, Velcro®, brackets, magnets, electromagnets, clamps, chains, or other members and may optionally have a direct or permanent termination to pulling member  104 . 
         [0039]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , there may be any number of additional combinations of angular riggings comprised of pulley  309  and pulley attachment  350  which is further secured by the pulley securing member  333  as a chain or equivalent embodiment including strap, belt, or rope as completed by attachment linkage  334 , each with an associated controlled movement at transitional 0 to 90 degree nonaligned angles, typically orthogonal or 90 degrees, during the subsequent pulling and adjoining operations of the pulling system  103  forming larger and a more complex pipe system or cluster optionally beyond what is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as  300 . 
         [0040]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the pipe pulling operation of pipe  346  into tee  310  may be optionally accomplished by attachment of  105  to the distal end of pipe  346  prior to the attachment of elbow  347 . 
         [0041]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 3 , the pipe pulling operations may be applied to pipe sections, systems or clusters of any configuration with some or all of the resulting adjoined sections to remain above ground or alternatively some or all of the resulting adjoined sections to remain within ditches or otherwise enclosed by materials such as concrete, fill dirt, gravel, or other enclosing fill materials. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a method of building a piping system using the pulling system  103  is illustrated by a flowchart. The flowchart illustrates the following steps: 
         [0043]      401 —Placing or Sliding the Pulling Apparatus  109  to Forward End of Receiving Pipe  101  near the attachment collar member  107 . 
         [0044]      402 —Mounting the pulling apparatus  109  to forward end of Receiving Pipe  101  near the attachment member  107 . The pulling apparatus  109  is mounted and secured to the receiving pipe  101  using securing mechanism constructed of; a fixed termination  116 , an elongated securing member  106 , and a variable termination  113 . The variable termination mechanism is actuated to take up slack in the elongated securing member  106  and to provide the securing force. 
         [0045]      403 —Attaching pulling member end  105  from pulling apparatus  109  to the distal end of the next adjoining pipe  102  or alternatively  347  of a pipe system or cluster. An attachment method, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is by attaching the pulling end member or hook  105  to the distal end of the adjoining pipe  102 . 
         [0046]      404 —Actuating as illustrated in  FIG. 2  the pulling apparatus  109  with control unit  110  to pull into adjoining position the closest end of an adjoining pipe  102  toward the exemplary receiving collar  107  of the receiving pipe  101 , or alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 3  elbow  347  toward pipe  346  of a pipe system or cluster  300 . The pulling apparatus  109  in either pipe configuration is being controlled by actuating the pull control unit  110 . 
         [0047]      405 —Pulling and guiding the adjoining pipe  102  into the receiving pipe  101  adjoining position. The adjoining section  108  of pipe  102  is being inserted into the receiving member  107  of pipe  101  for final adjoining or attaching of the two pipes. 
         [0048]      406 —Guiding the adjoining pipe  102  into the receiving pipe  101  until the adjoining position  405  is arrived at, otherwise proceed to  407 . 
         [0049]      407 —Once the adjoining the receiving and adjoining pipes ( 101 ,  102 ) is completed, disengaging the pulling apparatus  109 . The variable termination mechanism is reversed to provide slack in the elongated securing member  106  and remove the securing force. 
         [0050]    After step  407  is completed a new adjoining pipe can be added to the pipe sequence by repeating steps  401 - 407  leading to an extended piping system. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a method of building a piping system using the pulling system  103  is illustrated by a flowchart. The flowchart illustrates the following steps: 
         [0052]      501 —Placing or Sliding the Pulling Apparatus  109  to Forward End of Receiving Pipe  101  near the attachment collar member  107  at a common pulling position. 
         [0053]      502 —Mounting the pulling apparatus  109  to forward end of Receiving Pipe  101  near the attachment member  107  at the common pulling position. The pulling apparatus  109  is mounted and secured to the receiving pipe  101  using securing mechanism constructed of; a fixed termination  116 , an elongated securing member  106 , and a variable termination  113 . The variable termination mechanism is actuated to take up slack in the elongated securing member  106  and to provide the securing force. 
         [0054]      503 —Attaching pulling member end  105  from pulling apparatus  109  to the distal end of the next adjoining pipe  102  or alternatively  347  using angular riggings of a pipe system or cluster. An attachment method, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is by attaching the pulling end member or hook  105  to the distal end of the adjoining pipe  102 . 
         [0055]      504 —Actuating as illustrated in  FIG. 2  the pulling apparatus  109  with control unit  110  to pull into adjoining position the closest end of an adjoining pipe  102  toward the exemplary receiving collar  107  of the receiving pipe  101 , or alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 3  elbow  347  toward pipe  346  of a pipe system or cluster  300 . The pulling apparatus  109  in either pipe configuration is being controlled by actuating the pull control unit  110 . 
         [0056]      505 —Pulling and guiding the adjoining pipe  102  into the receiving pipe  101  adjoining position. The adjoining section  108  of pipe  102  is being inserted into the receiving member  107  of pipe  101  for final adjoining or attaching of the two pipes. 
         [0057]      506 —Guiding the adjoining pipe  102  into the receiving pipe  101  until the adjoining position  405  is arrived at, otherwise proceed to  507 . 
         [0058]      507 —Once the adjoining the receiving and adjoining pipes ( 101 ,  102 ) is completed, disengaging the pulling apparatus  109 . The variable termination mechanism is reversed to provide slack in the elongated securing member  106  and remove the securing force. 
         [0059]    After step  507  is completed a new adjoining pipe can be added to the pipe sequence by repeating steps  503 - 507  leading to an extended piping system. 
         [0060]    Although the pulling system is depicted in various drawings as oriented for horizontally extended piping, it can be used with pipes oriented at any angle from horizontal or 0 degrees to vertical or −90 degrees with adjoining pipes pulled upward against gravity.