Abstract:
An apparatus designed for installing anode bracelets upon pipes used in cathodic protection systems. The apparatus includes a pair of grasp booms which hold the anode bracelet during installation of the bracelet around the pipe to be cathodically protected. The grasp booms can be rotated for the installation of the anode bracelet and can be opened to receive each half of the bracelet and closed to mount the bracelet around the pipe.

Description:
DESCRIPTION 
   The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) is a device to enable the more rapid installation of “Anode Bracelets” as they are called in the common language of the pipeline working world. Anodes are a part of the requirement of the cathodic protection system to protect pipelines. Whether that pipeline is buried under the ground or offshore under the water a need exists for the pipe to have a number of Anodes to give that pipeline cathodic protection. At present the anode is handled a number of times but there is no tool to place “Anode Bracelets” on the pipe in a manner that has the speed of installation that The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) will make possible. 
   The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) is intended to make the manual portion of installing an Anode upon the pipe a thing of the past. 
   The anodes are shipped to the pipe yard on pallets where they are to be installed. 
   The lift boom on The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) lifts one half (½) of the Anode Bracelet (there are two (2) parts to make the entire anode cover the circumference of the pipe) from the pallet. The lift boom then sets the one half (½) into the “palms” of The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) when that one half (½) sets against the “palm”, then the “grip tooth” secures that half of the anode on both sides of that anode half. 
   The lift boom then repeats the procedure again so that the entire anode for that section is ready to be placed upon the pipe. The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) then rotates approximately ninety (90 ) degrees and the anode is where it may be placed upon the pipe. The grasp booms that hold the palms are held open enough so that the anode weld tabs do not touch the pipe. The Anode Bracelet is now ready to be placed in the proper position. The booms close until there is contact with the pipe and if either portion of the Anode Bracelet needs a rotational adjustment then the hydraulic cylinders that are under or over that grasp boom may be moved because the palms have a slide groove to enable that portion of the work to be done hydraulically. The palms also have a hinge that is attached to a hydraulic cylinder that enables the palms to squeeze the anode half so that anode half may better conform to the roundness aspect of the pipe upon where the Anode Bracelet is to be placed. The welder may then proceed to weld those weld tabs (incorporated into each anode half) on that Anode Bracelet. This will allow the pipe to move on to the next step of the process. 
   Disclaimer: There were no Federal Funds used to develop this Patent 

   
     THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is an Isometric view of the APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1). That portion behind the  8 ) mounting plate is exploded to make that portion of the design clearer. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1). That portion behind the  8 ) mounting plate is exploded to make that portion of the design clearer. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) where the grasp boom is in a vertical rotation view 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a hydraulic cylinder employed in of the APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of  10 ) the inner grasp palm and  11 ) the outer grasp palm 
       FIG. 7  is an opposite hand view of  FIG. 6  is an isometric view of  10 ) the inner grasp palm and  11 ) the outer grasp palm 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of  10 ) the inner grasp palm and  11 ) the outer grasp palm 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the  17 ) mounting plate 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the  4 ) drive gear 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of the  4 ) drive gear 
       FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the  6 ) rotary gear 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of the  6 ) rotary gear 
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the  12 ) grip tooth 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of the  8 ) mounting plate 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of the  8 ) mounting plate 
       FIG. 17  is a plan view of the  8 ) mounting plate 
       FIG. 18  is a front view of the  8 ) mounting plate 
       FIG. 19  is an isometric view of the  14 ) capture ring for rear bearing 
       FIG. 20  is an front view of the  14 ) capture ring for rear bearing 
       FIG. 21  is an isometric view of the  13 ) bearings for rotation 
       FIG. 22  is an isometric view of the top of the  9 ) grasp boom showing the  18 ) padeyes 
       FIG. 23  is an isometric view of the bottom of the  9 ) grasp boom showing the  18 ) padeyes 
       FIG. 24  is a side view of the top of the  9 ) grasp boom showing the  18 ) padeyes 
       FIG. 25  is a plan view of the top of the  9 ) grasp boom showing the  18 ) padeyes 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) is a device to enable the more rapid installation of “Anode Bracelets” as they are called in the common language of the pipeline working world. Anodes are a part of the requirement of the cathodic protection system to protect pipelines. Whether that pipeline is buried under the ground or offshore under the water a need exists for the pipe to have a number of Anodes to give that pipeline cathodic protection. At present the anode is handled a number of times but there is no tool to place “Anode Bracelets” on the pipe in a manner that has the speed of installation that The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) will make possible. 
   The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) is intended to make the manual portion of installing an Anode upon the pipe a thing of the past. 
   The anodes are shipped to the pipe yard on a pallet where they are to be installed. 
   The  1 ) lift boom on The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) lifts one half (½) of the Anode Bracelet (there are two (2) parts to make the entire anode cover the circumference of the pipe) from the pallet. This step is repeated twice so that the complete anode to be placed is in The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1). 
   The  1 ) lift boom then sets the one half (½) into the “palms”( 10  inner grasp palm,  11 ) outer grasp palm) of The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1). When that one half (½) sets against the “palms”, ( 10  inner grasp palm,  11 ) outer grasp palm) set in pairs (2 of each) then the  12 ) grip tooth secures that half of the anode on both sides of that anode half. 
   The step is repeated so that both halves of the Anode are set into The APT 1 (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) so that the entire anode for that section is ready to be placed upon the pipe. The APT (Anode Placement Tool—Model 1) then rotates approximately ninety (90) degrees and the anode is ready to where it may be placed upon the pipe. The  9 ) grasp boom that hold the palms are open enough that the anode weld tabs do not touch the pipe. The Anode Bracelet is now ready to be placed in the proper position. The  9 ) grasp booms now close until the Anode is in contact with the pipe and if either portion of the Anode Bracelet needs a rotational adjustment axially upon the pipe then the hydraulic cylinder that is under or over that  9 ) grasp booms may be moved because the palms ( 10  inner grasp palm,  11 ) outer grasp palm)have a slide groove where to enable that portion of the work to be done hydraulically. The palms also ( 10  inner grasp palm,  11 ) outer grasp palm) have a hinge that is attached to a hydraulic cylinder that enables the palms to squeeze the anode so that anode half may better conform to the roundness aspect of the pipe upon where the Anode Bracelet is to be placed. 
   The Anode halves are each held in place by a  12 ) grip tooth on either side of the palms ( 10  inner grasp palm,  11 ) outer grasp palm) After the Anode halves have been set on and conformed to the circumference of the pipe surface. The welder may then proceed to weld those weld tabs on that Anode Bracelet. This will allow the pipe to move on to the next step of the process. 
   Numerous variations and modifications of the disclosed preferred and alternative embodiments will be apparent to skilled technicians. Without departing from the concept of the present invention, and all such variations and modifications are intended to be encompassed by the claims set forth herein. 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Parts list for APT 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
                 1. 
               Lift boom 
             
             
                 
                2. 
               Hydraulic motor 
             
             
                 
                3. 
               Gear reduction box 
             
             
                 
                4. 
               Drive gear 
             
             
                 
                5. 
               Pins 
             
             
                 
                6. 
               Rotary gear 
             
             
                 
                7. 
               Hydraulic cylinder 
             
             
                 
                8. 
               Mounting plate 
             
             
                 
                9. 
               Grasp boom 
             
             
                 
               10. 
               Inner grasp palm 
             
             
                 
               11. 
               Outer grasp palm 
             
             
                 
               12. 
               Grip tooth 
             
             
                 
               13. 
               Bearings for rotation 
             
             
                 
               14. 
               Capture ring for rear bearing 
             
             
                 
               15. 
               Grasp boom padeyes 
             
             
                 
               16. 
               Capture bolts 
             
             
                 
               17. 
               Mounting plate 
             
             
                 
               18. 
               Padeyes for grasp boom