US3576043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipeline pig with spring-mounted scrapers
Assignee: TD Williamson Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-11
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A pipeline pig is provided in which a number of scraper elements are supported by bowed leaf springs on the pig body with the leaf springs being connected to the body such that their ends are free to pivot with respect to the body when the central portion of the springs are moved radially of the body. The scraper elements are mounted on the springs by a slidable nonclamping connection whereby the springs are free to flex along their entire length between their ends. The scraper elements are connected to the body so that their movement along the springs is limited and have elongated upstanding ribs that are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pig body so that they exert a plowing action on the pipeline walls and tend to rotate the pig as it is moved along the pipeline. The scraper elements, due to the manner in which they and the springs are mounted on the body, present a maximum contact of the ribs with the pipeline so as to most positively effect such plowing and turning action.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd E Zongker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:13
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0553; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/28; F16L55/30; F16L55/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A pipeline pig comprising, in combination, a body including at least one circumferential seal means adapted, when the body is inserted into a pipeline, to form a sliding seal with the inner walls of the pipeline, a plurality of leaf springs arranged about the body and extending longitudinally thereof, means mounting the springs on the body to permit at least one end of each spring to move longitudinally along the body when a portion of the spring intermediate its ends is moved radially of the body to flex the spring, a plurality of scraping elements respectively having a sliding engagement with said intermediate portion of a spring so that the scraping element is slidable along the spring without imparting any substantial longitudinal forces to the spring, and means connecting the scraping elements to the body to limit movement of the scraping elements along the springs as the pig is moved through a pipeline and yet permitting the spring portions and scraping elements to be moved radially of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A pipeline pig comprising, in combination, a body including at least one circumferential seal means adapted, when the body is inserted into a pipeline, to form a sliding seal with the inner walls of the pipeline, a plurality of leaf springs arranged about the body and extending longitudinally thereof, means mounting the springs on the body to permit at least one end of each spring to move longitudinally along the body when a portion of the spring intermediate its ends is moved radially of the body to flex the spring, a plurality of scraping elements respectively having a sliding engagement with said intermediate portion of a spring so that the scraping element is slidable along the spring without imparting any substantial longitudinal forces to the spring, and means connecting the scraping elements to the body to limit movement of the scraping elements along the springs as the pig is moved through a pipeline and yet permitting the spring portions and scraping elements to be moved radially of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pig of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes links pivoted to the body and to the respective scraping elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The pig of claim 1 wherein at least some of said scraping elements include ribs engageable with the wall of the pipeline when the pig is inserted therein with the ribs extending generally longitudinally of the body but inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body to thereby not only effect a plowing action on the pipeline walls but also tend to rotate the pig as it moves along the pipeline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pig of claim 3 wherein the portions of said circumferential seal means and of the scraping elements including said ribs which contact the pipeline wall are of an organic material having the rigidity and flexing properties of polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
A pipeline pig comprising in combination, a body including at least one circumferentially extending seal means adapted when the body is inserted into the pipeline to form a sliding seal with the inner walls of the pipeline and said body and seal means forming a piston in the pipeline against which fluid flowing through the pipeline acts to move the pig along the pipeline, a plurality of bowed leaf springs arranged about the body and extending longitudinally thereof, means mounting the springs on the body to permit both ends of a spring to pivot with respect to the body when an intermediate portion of the spring is moved radially of the body to flex the spring, a plurality of scrapers respectively having a sliding nonclamping engagement with a spring so that when force is applied to a scraper to move it inwardly, its associated spring is free to flex as a single effective spring along its entire length between said ends and means limiting movement of the scrapers along the springs without exerting any clamping forces between the scrapers and springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
A pipeline pig comprising in combination, a body including at least one circumferentially extending seal means adapted when the body is inserted into the pipeline to form a sliding seal with the inner walls of the pipeline and said body and seal means forming a piston in the pipeline against which fluid flowing through the pipeline acts to move the pig along the pipeline, a plurality of bowed leaf springs arranged about the body and extending longitudinally thereof, means mounting the springs on the body to permit both ends of a spring to pivot with respect to the body when an intermediate portion of the spring is moved radially of the body to flex the spring, a plurality of scrapers respectively having a sliding nonclamping engagement with a spring so that when force is applied to a scraper to move it inwardly, its associated spring is free to flex as a single effective spring along its entire length between said ends and means limiting movement of the scrapers along the springs without exerting any clamping forces between the scrapers and springs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The pig of claim 5 wherein said scrapers each have a plurality of upstanding elongated ribs for contacting the inner walls of the pipeline when the pig is inserted therein, sAid ribs being inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body so that they exert a plowing action on the inner walls of the pipeline and tend to rotate the pig as it moves along the pipeline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The pig of claim 6 wherein the trailing end of each rib is disposed in circumferential offset relationship with respect to the leading end of the next adjacent rib so that the ribs as a group afford full-circle coverage of the inner walls of the pipeline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pig of claim 5 wherein said movement limiting means includes a link for each scraper with such link being pivotally connected to the body and its scraper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |