Patent ID: 7037042

Claim:
An auto-advancing pipe installation device for installing sequential lengths of pipe in a trench, the device comprising: a frame; a locomotion system connected to the frame, the locomotion system including a first travel ram connected to the frame, the first travel ram adapted for linear extension and retraction in a line substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the auto-advancing pipe installation device, a first anchor ram connected to and movable with the extension and retraction of the first travel ram, the first anchor ram including a first pair of opposing side anchor plates connected to and movable with opposing ends of the first anchor ram, the first anchor ram adapted for linear extension upon completion of the linear extension of the first travel ram the first anchor ram adapted for linear retraction upon completion of linear retraction of the first ram; a pipe feed system connected to the frame; a pipe alignment system connected to the frame, the pipe alignment system positioned to receive a forward pipe length from the pipe feed system onto a pipe alignment system forward section, the pipe alignment system adapted to align the forward pipe length with a rearward pipe length positioned in a pipe alignment system rearward section; and a pipe joining system connected to the pipe alignment system, the pipe joining system adapted to join the forward pipe length to the rearward pipe length.