Installation systems -

Syncro Trench fully automated pipe laying

Synchro Trench is the name of a new, patented process for laying pipes in a trench of up to 1.5 m width.  The working depth at present is 4 m with a maximum of 5.5 m.  The system is particularly suitable for use on undeveloped terrain, where the ground as yet contains no service and drainage pipelines.  The speciality of the new system is that it synchronises a number of mechanical processes.  In place of an excavator, a chain trencher is used to dig the pipe trench.  The trencher also carries the pipelaying unit, which is attached to it.  This unit, which is enclosed on all sides, consists of a pipe box and a gravel box and serves as its own trench-shoring system.  The pipes are fed into the pipe box one at a time and positioned on the base of the unit, which is fitted with two guide rails.  The pipes are then connected hydraulically.  At the same speed as the trencher makes forward progress, the pipes are pushed by a beam out of the rear of the pipe box and into the gravel box.  This second compartment of the pipelaying unit holds the gravel or chippings, and is where the supporting base for the pipeline is established.  On leaving the gravel box, the pipe is precisely positioned on its bed in the bottom of the trench.

Excavated Material

This emerges in fine grained form and can therefore mostly be used for backfilling.  It represents a major saving in resources and avoids the problems associated with soil disposal.  A further great advantage of the trencher is its working speed.  It can lay pipes at a depth of 3.5 m at a rate of 2 m per minute.

Pipe Bed

The trencher and the flat bottom of the pipe box produce a completely level pipe bed, which follows the correct slope.  This avoids variations in the thickness of the supporting gravel base such as can occur when the soil is removed by an excavator leaving an uneven trench bottom.

Pipe Support

Infill material is used for the pipe support.  Appropriate material provides a completely solid supporting base, which adjusts to any irregularities in the ground.  Point-loading of the pipe is impossible.  The structural stability of the pipe is improved by the 120º or 140º angle of the support.

The pipes are individually positioned in the pipe box and pushed together hydraulically.  There is no need for any manual labour in the trench.  This removes the danger of accidents through collapsing trench walls or through objects falling into the trench from above.  When the pipe has been pushed out of the box as far as the pipe joint, the chain cutter is switched off at the push of a button from the pipebox and the next pipe is fed in.

Steering and slope control are both controlled by laser.  The automatic control ensures millimetre precision in the positioning of the pipe.  Steering, slope and pipe laying are also monitored on display instruments in the control cabin of the trencher.

Summing up the advantages

The mechanization of the pipe laying process makes it immune from human error.  At the same time, the system makes a significant contribution towards improving the working environment by setting new safety standards and removing the need for a lot of hard physical labour.  Finally, the system is characterised by its high performance and efficiency.  In the right conditions Synchro Trench can lay 50 metres of pipe per hour