Patent ID: 8162201

Claim:
A method for installation of duct lines and/or pipelines along a path including a straight portion and a divergent portion that angularly intersects the straight portion, characterized by comprising the steps of: a) providing and installing self-powered piping supporting, rolling and guiding elements, wherein each element includes at least one motor, that are separately movable for positioning at spaced locations along the path for construction of the duct line/pipeline from a fixed logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes; b) feeding a first pipe over the elements in the logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes; c) displacing the first pipe to a position at the logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes of the facility for welding, inspection and finishing; d) adding a second pipe to the path over the elements at the logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes; e) displacing the added pipe to a location adjacent to the end of the first pipe waiting at the welding station so that adjacent pipe ends are positioned for welding together; f) welding the adjacent pipe ends and checking the weld integrity at the facility for welding, inspection and finishing at the logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes to form an arrangement of welded pipes; g) advancing the arrangement of welded pipes formed in step (f) from the welding facility at the logistics yard of construction and welding of pipes with the self-powered piping supporting, rolling and guiding elements provided along the course of the path including directing and/or deflecting the welded pipes along the divergent portion of the path; h) feeding additional pipe to the welding facility, welding the additional pipe to the end of the already assembled arrangement of welded pipes formed in step (g); i) advancing the assembled arrangement formed in step (h) along the path; j) successively repeating steps (f) through (i) until the arrangement of welded pipes reaches the end of the path, and combining the elements with the duct line/pipeline to provide a permanent support for the joined pipes along the path.