Patent US3875606A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3875606A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foam filled pipeline pig
Assignee: Oil States Rubber Co
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Filing: 1973-08-15
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A pig to be propelled by fluid pressure through a pipeline the pig having an outer sleeve member and an inner core member joined to the sleeve member by disc-like members to form a flexible body having one or more elongated torroidal spaces therewithin, and these spaces being filled with a foamed resilient elastomer such as urethane.
Inventors
- 👤 Don B Landers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:20
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0553; F; F17; F17D; F17D3/00; F17D3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A pig to be propelled by fluid pressure through a pipeline having a known nominal inside diameter for wiping its surface, comprising: a. a flexible body having a cylindrical outer sleeve member shaped to substantially fit the pipeline inner surface and forming a tough skin-like wiping surface, the length of the body being greater than its diameter and the body having a central core member of flexible material extending through the sleeve member and radially spaced therefrom, the ends of the core member being joined to the ends of the outer sleeve member by disc-like end closure members and further including at least one disc-like member extending between the inner core and the outer sleeve member intermediate the ends of the body and serving to maintain the flexible sleeve member more nearly cylindrical, thereby enclosing between the core member and the skin-like sleeve member multiple elongated toroidal spaces; and b. resilient foamed elastomeric material filling said elongated toroidal space and supporting from inside the body said outer skin-like sleeve member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A pig to be propelled by fluid pressure through a pipeline having a known nominal inside diameter for wiping its surface, comprising: a. a flexible body having a cylindrical outer sleeve member shaped to substantially fit the pipeline inner surface and forming a tough skin-like wiping surface, the length of the body being greater than its diameter and the body having a central core member of flexible material extending through the sleeve member and radially spaced therefrom, the ends of the core member being joined to the ends of the outer sleeve member by disc-like end closure members and further including at least one disc-like member extending between the inner core and the outer sleeve member intermediate the ends of the body and serving to maintain the flexible sleeve member more nearly cylindrical, thereby enclosing between the core member and the skin-like sleeve member multiple elongated toroidal spaces; and b. resilient foamed elastomeric material filling said elongated toroidal space and supporting from inside the body said outer skin-like sleeve member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve member and the core member and the disc-like members are all made of the same flexible material, integrally joined together and bonded to the foamed elastomeric material, and the sleeve member has holes extending through it for communicating pipeline fluid into the foamed elastomeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core and the disc-like members are all made of the same flexible material integrally joined together, and the outer sleeve member is made of a semi-foamed elastomeric material bonded to the disc-like members and to the foamed material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outer sleeve member is made of a fluid pervious material, thereby permitting the pipeline fluid to permeate into the foamed material within the sleeve member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein said disc-like members extend from the core along conical surfaces thereby providing a pig having different propulsion characteristics in the two opposite directions within a pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core has a small diameter duct extending from one end of the body and joining outwardly directed bores near the other end of the body to provide an outward spraying action of fluid directed against said pipeline surface when the pig is being propelled by fluid pressure at said one end of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core supports towing ring means at one of its ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pipeline pig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body is at least half-again as long as the diameter of the pig, and the diameter of the core member is no greater than one-fourth the inside diameter of the outer sleeve member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1756378A
Cited
US2289109A
Cited
US2276109A
Cited
US2668307A
Cited
US3543323A
Cited
US3725968A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |