Patent US3636450A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3691584A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3691584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disc supported cup
Assignee: Oil States Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An elastomeric cup structure of the type wherein several cups are mounted on a supporting body or mandrel to form a pig to be passed through a pipeline, usually entrained in fluid flowing therethrough, either for the purpose of batch separation or for cleaning the pipeline. Each cup has a sealing lip supported by an annular flex portion attached to a cup base, and the cup further including a disc portion attached to the base adjacent to the flex portion and standing radially outwardly to contact the pipeline''s inner surface and maintain the pig centered therein to relieve the sealing lips of this centering function. Several modifications of the cup structure include additional annular series of gussets for assisting the disc portion to remain substantially radially oriented.
Inventors
- 👤 Don B Landers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:31
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0557; F; F16; F16L; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An improved structure for an elastomeric cup for mounting on a supporting body to form a pig intended to be passed through a pipeline, said cup structure having an outer diameter which is much greater than its axial length and comprising: a. a base portion located radially inwardly of the cup and adapted to be secured to the supporting body; b. an annular sealing lip portion comprising the outer periphery of the cup structure and of diameter at least as great as the inner diameter of the pipeline; c. an annular flex portion extending initially radially from the base portion and then curving to extend diagonally outwardly along an elongated flex portion which joins the lip portion; and d. a disc portion joined to the flex portion and standing radially outwardly with respect to the base portion sufficiently to normally contact the pipeline when the pig is entered thereinto and maintain the latter centered therein, the axial length of the cup which contacts the pipeline and includes the disc and lip portions approximately equalling the radial extent of these portions as measured from the outer periphery of the base portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An improved structure for an elastomeric cup for mounting on a supporting body to form a pig intended to be passed through a pipeline, said cup structure having an outer diameter which is much greater than its axial length and comprising: a. a base portion located radially inwardly of the cup and adapted to be secured to the supporting body; b. an annular sealing lip portion comprising the outer periphery of the cup structure and of diameter at least as great as the inner diameter of the pipeline; c. an annular flex portion extending initially radially from the base portion and then curving to extend diagonally outwardly along an elongated flex portion which joins the lip portion; and d. a disc portion joined to the flex portion and standing radially outwardly with respect to the base portion sufficiently to normally contact the pipeline when the pig is entered thereinto and maintain the latter centered therein, the axial length of the cup which contacts the pipeline and includes the disc and lip portions approximately equalling the radial extent of these portions as measured from the outer periphery of the base portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, the elastomeric material in the diagonally extending part of said flex portion being of substantially greater thickness than the thickness of the elastomeric material in said disc portion as measured axially of the cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, the diameter of the lip portion being greater than the nominal inside diameter of the pipeline, and the diameter of the disc portion being substantially equal to said nominal inside diameter when the elastomeric cup is in relaxed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, the diameter of the lip portion and of the disc portion each being greater than the nominal inside diameter of the pipeline when the elastomeric cup is in relaxed condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion comprising a cylindrical bearing surface for contacting the pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, the flex portion and the disc portion being united near the base portion and separating as they extend outwardly from the base portion, the thickness of the elastomeric cup material as measured substantially axially of the cup being similar in the disc portion and in the flex portion near the base where the flex portion joins it.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flex portion and the disc portion of the cup diverge as they approach thEir respective outer peripheries, an annular series of circumferentially spaced ribs, each comprising an elastomeric gusset set disposed axially of the cup and having one edge joining the disc portion and an adjacent edge joining the flex portion of the cup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a cup structure as set forth in claim 7, the base portion of the cup extending axially beyond the disc portion on the side thereof opposite the flex portion, and a second annular series of circumferentially spaced ribs, each comprising an elastomeric gusset disposed axially of the cup and having one edge joining the disc portion and an adjacent edge joining the base portion where it extends beyond the disc portion.
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) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |