US4232981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Beaded liquid product and method for reducing coefficient of friction
Assignee: Bechtel International Corp
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Filing: 1978-06-26
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Granted: 1980-11-11
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Expires: 1998-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A product and method for reducing the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of a support, such as a larger conduit, and the outer surface of a member such as a smaller, inner conduit, disposed in and movable along the support when the latter has horizontal and/or inclined portions. The support may be an open trough or pipe of metal, plastic or other material, and the member to be moved can be of similar materials and can be an electrical cable. The product includes a flowable mixture of a liquid and a plurality of spherical beads typically in the range of 0.005 to 0.040 inch in diameter. The mixture can be pumped in and along the support even though the liquid and the beads have different specific gravities. The beads in the liquid contact both the inner surface of the support and the outer surface of the member to be moved to produce a planar ball bearing effect to minimize the frictional forces between them. Depending upon the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads and upon the rheological characteristics of the mixture, the beads can be near the inner surface of the bottom of the support or can be near the inner surface at the top of the support when the support comprises a pipe and when the mixture fills the pipe. The movement of the inner member along the support can be over horizontal distances and a part of the path can be inclined at least slightly without requiring the mixture to be pumped along the support during the time in which the inner member is moving therethrough. Greater inclination of the support may be accommodated when the mixture is being pumped as the inner member moves therethrough. The beads can be of any hard material, such as any one of the harder plastics, glass or metal.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred C. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:09
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/024; F16L1/028; H; H02; H02G; H02G1/00; H02G1/06; H02G1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of moving an inner member along an outer support capable of containing a flowable mixture comprising: providing a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a number of beads disposed in the liquid; moving the mixture into and along the support in a flow, the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different; decreasing the flow so that the beads will be distributed to form a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support after said flow has decreased; and moving the member along the support in contact with the mixture and in engagement with the beads in said work field to minimize the friction between the member and the support.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of moving an inner member along an outer support capable of containing a flowable mixture comprising: providing a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a number of beads disposed in the liquid; moving the mixture into and along the support in a flow, the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different; decreasing the flow so that the beads will be distributed to form a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support after said flow has decreased; and moving the member along the support in contact with the mixture and in engagement with the beads in said work field to minimize the friction between the member and the support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the beads is greater than that of the liquid to cause the work field of beads to be adjacent to the lower, inner surface portion of the support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said one inner surface portion of said support is transversely concave, the work field extending lengthwise and widthwise of said one inner surface portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a tubular conduit and the mixture substantially fills the conduit, the specific gravity of the beads being less than that of the liquid to cause the work field of the beads to be adjacent to the upper, inner surface portion of the conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support is tubular and has a length a number of times greater than its diameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support is tubular and has a central, generally horizontal part and a pair of generally inclined end parts, the central and end parts having lengths a number of times greater than the diameter of the support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the liquid is greater than that of said beads, said support comprising a tubular conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the liquid is greater than that of some of the beads and less than that of the remainder of the beads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid is oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads are of different sizes, the larger beads being adjacent to the outer extremities of the work field and the smaller beads being centrally disposed in the work field as the member moves along said support adjacent to said one surface portion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads have a diameter in the range of 0.005 to 0.040 inch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads are formed from glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads are formed from plastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads are formed from metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads are generally spherical.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the beads comprise about 0.1% to 5.0% by volume of the mixture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner surface portion of the support is transversely concave and has a radius of curvature, the inner member having an outer convex surface provided with a radius of curvature less than that of said inner surface portion, the beads being of different sizes, the smaller being between the support and the member near the narrowest gap distance therebetween, the larger beads being between the support and the member near the greater gap distance therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the support is inclined, said moving step including advancing the member along said inclined portion, and including the step of pumping the mixture along said inclined portion to maintain the work field along the same.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
A product for reducing the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of a support capable of containing a flowable mixture and the outer surface of an inner member movable along the support comprising: a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a plurality of beads, said mixture having characteristics permitting it to be movable in a flow into and along the support, the beads being independent of each other and the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different to permit the beads to move in the liquid into positions in which the beads define a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support when the flow of the mixture has decreased along the support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
122 words
A product for reducing the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of a support capable of containing a flowable mixture and the outer surface of an inner member movable along the support comprising: a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a plurality of beads, said mixture having characteristics permitting it to be movable in a flow into and along the support, the beads being independent of each other and the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different to permit the beads to move in the liquid into positions in which the beads define a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support when the flow of the mixture has decreased along the support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the liquid has a specific gravity less than that of the beads.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the liquid has a specific gravity greater than that of the beads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the liquid has a specific gravity greater than that of some of the beads and less than that of the remainder of the beads.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the liquid is water.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the liquid is oil.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads have a diameter in the range of 0.005 and 0.040 inch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads have a number of different diameters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads are formed from glass.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads are formed from plastic material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads are formed of metal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads are generally spherical.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the beads comprise about 0.1% to 5.0% by volume of the mixture.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
A product as set forth in claim 20, wherein the mixture is pumpable.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a method of moving an inner member along an outer support capable of containing a flowable mixture: providing a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a number of beads disposed in the liquid; moving the mixture into and along the support in a flow, the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different; and decreasing the flow so that the beads will be distributed to form a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support after said flow has decreased.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
88 words
In a method of moving an inner member along an outer support capable of containing a flowable mixture: providing a flowable, pumpable mixture of a liquid and a number of beads disposed in the liquid; moving the mixture into and along the support in a flow, the specific gravities of the liquid and the beads being different; and decreasing the flow so that the beads will be distributed to form a work field of beads near one inner surface portion of the support after said flow has decreased.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a method as set forth in claim 34, wherein said work field is substantially planar.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a method as set forth in claim 34, wherein the support is tubular and the mixture substantially fills the conduit.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the specific gravity of the beads is greater than that of the liquid to cause the work field of beads to be adjacent to the lower, inner surface portion of the support.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the specific gravity of the beads is less than that of the liquid to cause the work field of the beads to be adjacent to the upper, inner surface portion of the support.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a method as set forth in claim 36, wherein the specific gravity of the liquid is greater than that of some of the beads and less than that of the remainder of the beads.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-11 | 1984-05-12 | 1984-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-11 | 1988-05-12 | 1988-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-11 | 1992-05-12 | 1992-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |