Pipeline tool for launching two pipeline clearing spheres

Claim 1

A pipeline apparatus suitable for closing an open end of a pipeline and for carrying and individually launching two pipeline clearing spheres for clearing a pipeline comprising: i. a first tubular member having a given diameter for longitudinally holding said pipeline spheres therein and having an open end for insertion into the open end of a pipeline and a closure opposite said open end; ii. a second tubular member having a diameter from 0.7 to 0.98 that of said given diameter and positioned in said first tubular member for holding one of said spheres nearer the closure of said first tubular member, said second tubular member having a transverse closure and an open end; iii. an outwardly radially expansible gripping and sealing means associated with said first tubular member and actuatable by a fluid under pressure to grip the inside of a pipeline and seal thereagainst; iv. means for supplying said fluid to actuate said gripping and sealing means; and v. means for introducing compressed gas into the interior of said first and second tubular members at two longitudinally spaced apart locations to displace the spheres individually from the interior of the tubular members into the interior of a pipeline, the gas introduction location for said first tubular member being up to one given diameter from the first transverse closure and from 3/4 to 11/2 given diameters from the transverse closure of said second tubular member.