US3890905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for driving a device within a pipe
Assignee: CRC Evans Pipeline International Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-01
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1994-02-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for driving devices such as pigs, alignment clamps and mandrels through the inside of a pipe having a pair of counter-rotating drive members with wheels attached thereto at angles, whereby rotation of the drive members produces a driving force to move the apparatus and device through the pipe. The drive wheels are spring loaded for constant and effective engagement with the interior walls of the pipe, and the angle of said wheels can be preset at one of a plurality of angles.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A Clavin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:47
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K37/00; B23K37/04; B23K37/053; B23K37/0531; B21; B21J; B21J13/00; B21J13/08; F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/28; F16L55/30; F16L55/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe comprising: a. a first drive member, said first drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said first drive member having a first rim thereon, said first drive member having a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said rim which extend between said hub and the interior of said rim; b. a second drive member, said second drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said second drive member having a second rim thereon, said second drive member having a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said rim which extend between its hub and the interior of its rim; c. a plurality of wheels; d. means for mounting said plurality of wheels on the rims of said first and second drive members, said wheels extending outwardly from said first and second rims to engage the interior of said pipe; and e. means for rotating each of said first and second drive members in opposite directions about their axes whereby engagement of said wheels against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe comprising: a. a first drive member, said first drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said first drive member having a first rim thereon, said first drive member having a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said rim which extend between said hub and the interior of said rim; b. a second drive member, said second drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said second drive member having a second rim thereon, said second drive member having a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said rim which extend between its hub and the interior of its rim; c. a plurality of wheels; d. means for mounting said plurality of wheels on the rims of said first and second drive members, said wheels extending outwardly from said first and second rims to engage the interior of said pipe; and e. means for rotating each of said first and second drive members in opposite directions about their axes whereby engagement of said wheels against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting said plurality of wheels on said first and second rims includes means for presetting the angle of each wheel with respect to the drive member to which it is mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for rotating each of said first and second drive members comprises: a. drive shaft means; b. means for rotating said drive shaft means; and c. means for transmitting the rotational forces of said drive shaft means to said first and second drive members, said transmitting means causing said first and second drive members to rotate about their axes in opposite directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for transmitting the rotational forces of said drive shaft means to said first and second drive members comprises: a. means for securing the hub of said first drive member to said drive shaft means; b. second shaft means, said second shaft means passing through the hub of said second drive member; c. means for securing the hub of said second drive member to said second shaft means; d. gear means, said gear means driven by said drive shaft means, said gear means driving said second shaft means in a direction opposite and equal in magnitude to that of said drive shaft means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes spring means biasing said wheels into driving engagement with the interior of the pipe through which the apparatus is to move.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
221 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe, comprising: a. a first drive member, said first drive member positioned in a pipe such that the rotation of said first drive member is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pipe; b. wheel means; c. means for mounting said wheel means on said first drive member in angular relationship to the plane of rotation of said first drive member, said wheel means extending outwardly from said first drive member and adapted to be in driving engagement with the interior of said pipe; d. means for rotating said first drive member whereby engagement of said wheel means against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe. e. a second drive member rotating in the opposite direction to counterbalance the torque resulting from the rotation of the first drive member. f. means for spacing said first and second drive members including i. pinion means positioned between said drive members, said pinion means having teeth thereon, said drive members having means for receiving the teeth of said pinion means; and ii. support means securing said pinion means in a position between said drive members such that the teeth of said pinion means continually engage the means for receiving said teeth on said member means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
221 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe, comprising: a. a first drive member, said first drive member positioned in a pipe such that the rotation of said first drive member is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pipe; b. wheel means; c. means for mounting said wheel means on said first drive member in angular relationship to the plane of rotation of said first drive member, said wheel means extending outwardly from said first drive member and adapted to be in driving engagement with the interior of said pipe; d. means for rotating said first drive member whereby engagement of said wheel means against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe. e. a second drive member rotating in the opposite direction to counterbalance the torque resulting from the rotation of the first drive member. f. means for spacing said first and second drive members including i. pinion means positioned between said drive members, said pinion means having teeth thereon, said drive members having means for receiving the teeth of said pinion means; and ii. support means securing said pinion means in a position between said drive members such that the teeth of said pinion means continually engage the means for receiving said teeth on said member means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe comprising: a. a first circular drive member, said first drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said first drive member having a first rim thereon; b. a second circular drive member, said second drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said second drive member having a second rim thereon; c. at least one wheel for each drive member; d. means for mounting said wheels on the rims of said first and second drive members, said wheels extending radially outwardly from said first and second rims to engage the interior of said pipe; and e. means for rotating each of said first and second drive members in opposite directions about their axes whereby engagement of said wheels against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for driving a device within a pipe comprising: a. a first circular drive member, said first drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said first drive member having a first rim thereon; b. a second circular drive member, said second drive member having its axis coincidental with the axis of said pipe, said second drive member having a second rim thereon; c. at least one wheel for each drive member; d. means for mounting said wheels on the rims of said first and second drive members, said wheels extending radially outwardly from said first and second rims to engage the interior of said pipe; and e. means for rotating each of said first and second drive members in opposite directions about their axes whereby engagement of said wheels against the interior of said pipe develops a driving force to move the device through the pipe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for mounting said wheels on said first and second rims includes means for presetting the angle of each wheel with respect to the drive member to which it is mounted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for rotating each of said first and second drive members comprises: a. drive shaft means; b. means for rotating said drive shaft means; and c. means for transmitting the rotational forces of said drive shaft means to said first and second drive members, said transmitting means causing said first and second drive members to rotate about their axes in opposite directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first drive member includes a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said first rim, said spokes extending between said hub and the interior of said rim.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second drive member includes a hub at its center of rotation and a plurality of spokes supporting said second rim, said spokes extending between its hub and the interior of said second rim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for transmitting the rotational forces of said drive shaft means to said first and second drive members comprises: a. means for securing the hub of said first drive member to said drive shaft means; b. second shaft means, said second shaft means passing through the hub of said second drive member; c. means for securing the hub of said second drive member to said second shaft means; d. gear means, said gear means driven by said drive shaft means, said gear means driving said second shaft means in a direction opposite and equal in magnitude to that of said drive shaft means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said mounting means includes spring means biasing said wheels into driving engagement with the interior of the pipe through which the apparatus is to move.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2455273A
Cited
US3703947A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |