Patent US3173180A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3643280A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3643280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipeline pigs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-12-19
•
Granted: 1972-02-22
•
Expires: 1989-12-19
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to pipeline pigs for removing liquids and solid debris. The pig includes at least one fluid extraction chamber and is propelled through the pipeline under the pressure exerted by a suitable gas which picks up and atomizes the liquids within the chamber. The pig preferably also includes a drying chamber from which liquids are removed through a syphon tube operated by the gas pressure. The gases, together with the extracted liquids, become ejected in front of the moving pig in the direction of fluid flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin D Powers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:29
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0553; B08B9/0558; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/28; F16L55/30; F16L55/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
406 words
A pipeline pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall formed of resilient material and defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to securely fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced apart relationship whereby an atomization chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipeline dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said atomization chamber between said plugs; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said atomization chamber on one hand, and between said atomization chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipeline, and any liquids within said atomization chamber become ''''absorbed'''' within the gas flow from the upstream section to the downstream section, thereby effectively drying the inner wall of said pipeline: a third plug, said third plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; another coupling means adapted to securely fasten said first and third plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced-apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said first and third plugs; said another coupling means including: liquid pickup means, and fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said atomization chamber and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby liquids within said drying chamber become extracted by the gas flow from the upstream section to the downstream section through the liquid pickup Means, thereby effectively removing liquids from the drying chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
406 words
A pipeline pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall formed of resilient material and defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to securely fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced apart relationship whereby an atomization chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipeline dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said atomization chamber between said plugs; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said atomization chamber on one hand, and between said atomization chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipeline, and any liquids within said atomization chamber become ''''absorbed'''' within the gas flow from the upstream section to the downstream section, thereby effectively drying the inner wall of said pipeline: a third plug, said third plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; another coupling means adapted to securely fasten said first and third plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced-apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said first and third plugs; said another coupling means including: liquid pickup means, and fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said atomization chamber and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby liquids within said drying chamber become extracted by the gas flow from the upstream section to the downstream section through the liquid pickup Means, thereby effectively removing liquids from the drying chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
249 words
A pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall defining an external peripheral surface, said wall providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipe dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said drying chamber; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipe; and liquid extraction means responsive to said fluid pressure gradient between said drying chamber and said downstream section for removing liquids from said drying chamber; said extraction means including: liquid pickup means for removing the bulk of the liquid from the drying chamber, and atomizing means for atomizing liquids from the inner walls of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
249 words
A pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall defining an external peripheral surface, said wall providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal spaced apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipe dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said drying chamber; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipe; and liquid extraction means responsive to said fluid pressure gradient between said drying chamber and said downstream section for removing liquids from said drying chamber; said extraction means including: liquid pickup means for removing the bulk of the liquid from the drying chamber, and atomizing means for atomizing liquids from the inner walls of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
411 words
A pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall defining an external peripheral surface, said wall providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipe dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said drying chamber; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipeline; liquid pickup means responsive to said fluid pressure gradient between said drying chamber and said downstream section for removing liquids from said drying chamber; and at least a member coupled with said second plug for defining an atomizing chamber in said upstream section thereby effectively drying the walls of said pipeline, said member including at least a third plug, said third plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; another coupling means adapted to securely fasten said second and third plugs to each other and to maintain them in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship, whereby said atomizing chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said second and third plugs; said another coupling means including another fluid communication meanS for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said atomizing chamber on one hand, and between said atomizing chamber and said drying chamber on the other hand, whereby the fluid flow from the upstream section to the downstream section effectively removes liquids from said drying chamber and dries the walls in said atomizing chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
411 words
A pig adapted to become propelled through a pipeline by a fluid pressure gradient comprising: at least a first plug and a second plug, each plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross, each plug having a wall defining an external peripheral surface, said wall providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipe; coupling means adapted to fasten said plugs to each other and to maintain said plugs in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship whereby a drying chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipe confined between said plugs; said pig when inserted into said pipe dividing said pipeline into: a downstream section in front of said first plug, an upstream section in rear of said second plug, and into said drying chamber; said coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said drying chamber on one hand, and between said drying chamber and said downstream section on the other hand, whereby said fluid pressure gradient is established for propelling said pig through said pipeline; liquid pickup means responsive to said fluid pressure gradient between said drying chamber and said downstream section for removing liquids from said drying chamber; and at least a member coupled with said second plug for defining an atomizing chamber in said upstream section thereby effectively drying the walls of said pipeline, said member including at least a third plug, said third plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; another coupling means adapted to securely fasten said second and third plugs to each other and to maintain them in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship, whereby said atomizing chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said second and third plugs; said another coupling means including another fluid communication meanS for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said atomizing chamber on one hand, and between said atomizing chamber and said drying chamber on the other hand, whereby the fluid flow from the upstream section to the downstream section effectively removes liquids from said drying chamber and dries the walls in said atomizing chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pig of claim 3 and further including, at least another member coupled with said third plug for defining another atomizing chamber in said upstream section thereby effectively drying the walls of said pipeline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
The pig of claim 4 wherein said another member includes at least a fourth plug, said fourth plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; rear coupling means adapted to securely fasten said third and fourth plugs to each other and to maintain them in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship, whereby another atomizing chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said third and fourth plugs; said rear coupling means including fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said another atomizing chamber and said drying chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The pig of claim 5 and further including, fluid discharge means positioned in front of said first plug facing said downstream section to cause the fluids contained in said downstream section in front of said first plug to become stirred up.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pig of claim 6 wherein, said discharge means include at least one nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The pig of claim 3 and further including, fluid discharge means positioned in front of said first plug facing said downstream section to cause the fluids contained in said downstream section in front of said first plug to become stirred up.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pig of claim 8 wherein, said discharge means include at least one nozzle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
The pig of claim 2 and further including: at least a third plug, said third plug being adapted to restrain fluid flow thereacross and having a wall formed of resilient material defining an external peripheral surface, said surface providing a movable seal between said surface and the adjacently surrounding portion of the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline; another coupling means adapted to securely fasten said second and third plugs to each other and to maintain them in longitudinal, spaced-apart relationship, whereby an atomizing chamber is defined by the inner volume of said pipeline confined between said second and third plugs; said another coupling means including another fluid communication means for establishing fluid communication at least in the direction of fluid flow between said upstream section and said atomizing chamber, and between said atomizing chamber and said drying chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pig of claim 10 wherein said another fluid communication means include at least one fluid conduit for directing fluid flow against the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pig of claim 3 wherein said another fluid communication means include at least one fluid conduit for directing fluid flow against the inner cylindrical wall of said pipeline.
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) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |