Patent ID: 7261493

Claim:
A pipe installation device for installing sequential pipe lengths along a course of pipeline construction, the device comprising: a carriage movable along the course of pipeline construction; a pipe supply system supported by the carriage; a pipe alignment system attached to the carriage, the pipe alignment system including a pipe alignment frame positioned to receive a forward pipe length from the pipe supply system, the pipe alignment system adapted to align the forward pipe length with a rearward pipe length positioned on the pipe alignment frame; the pipe alignment system including a pipe restraint system connected to the pipe alignment frame, the pipe restraint system adapted to selectively apply a restraining force against the rearward pipe length; the pipe alignment system including a pipe joining system connected to the pipe alignment frame, the pipe joining system including a pipe seating ram adapted to exert a force against an end of the forward pipe length positioned in the pipe alignment system while the pipe restraint system applies the restraining force against the rearward pipe length joining the forward pipe length to the rearward pipe length; a power supply mounted to the carriage, the power supply adapted to provide power to the pipe supply system and the pipe alignment system; and a control system connected to the power supply, the control system adapted to control the pipe supply system and the pipe alignment system.