# US 11,028,958 B2 · Automated pig launching system

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- Number: US 11,028,958 B2
- Document ID: US11028958B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/957,656
- Filed: 2018-04-19
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-10
- Assignees: Weldfit LLC
- Applicants: WeldFit Corporation
- Inventors: Russ C. Sander; David D. Wint; Todd K. Sale; Roxy R. Riggs; Douglas A. Sahm; Greg J. Drzewiecki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028958B2

## CPC

- F16L 55/46: Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
- B08B 9/055: the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, {e.g. pigs or moles (pigs or moles per se F16L55/26; their launching and detection F16L55/46; separating pigs in pipelines F17D3/00)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A pigging system has an apparatus for launching one or more pigs into a process flow. The apparatus has a housing with a chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet receives the one or more pigs into the chamber and is sealable. The outlet is in sealed communication with the process flow and passes the one or more pigs out of the chamber to the process flow. A portion of the chamber is in communication with the process flow. A guide disposed in the chamber guides the one or more pigs in the chamber, and an actuator mechanically feeds the one or more pigs guided by the guide to the outlet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for launching one or more pigs into a process flow, the apparatus comprising:
a housing defining a chamber with a longitudinal axis and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet receiving the one or more pigs into the chamber, the outlet in communication with the process flow and passing the one or more pigs out of the chamber to the process flow, a portion of the chamber in communication with the process flow;
a guide disposed in the chamber and guiding the one or more pigs in the chamber, at least a portion of the guide movable along the longitudinal axis of the chamber; and
an actuator comprising a motor rotating a screw operatively coupled to the portion of the guide, the actuator being configured to mechanically feed the one or more pigs guided by the guide along the longitudinal axis toward the outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the guide comprises a paddle, and wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the paddle, the actuator mechanically feeding the one or more pigs guided by the paddle toward the outlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a tray installed in the chamber and holding the one or more pigs thereon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tray defines a channel having a base and sidewalls.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the tray is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of the one or more pigs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and controlling the mechanical feed of the one or more pigs toward the outlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is programmable to control the mechanical feed based on one or more of a length of the one or more pigs, a number of the one or more pigs, a schedule for a launch of a first of the one or more pigs, and an interval for subsequent launch of a subsequent one of the one or more pigs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a reducer between the chamber and the outlet, the reducer eccentrically transitioning a larger internal dimension of the chamber to a smaller internal dimension of the outlet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises a flange connecting to piping of the process flow; and/or wherein the inlet comprises a closure being sealable to open and close access to the chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the chamber in communication with the process flow comprising a port on the housing in communication between the process flow and an area of the chamber upstream of the outlet, the port directing a portion of the process flow into the chamber upstream of the outlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a flow-through valve coupled to the port and being operable to flow-through the portion of the process flow from the port to the outlet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising one or more of:
a mainline valve in communication between the outlet and the process flow, the mainline valve being operable to direct the one or more pigs and any directed portion of the process flow from the chamber into the process flow;
a blow-down valve in communication with the chamber and being operable to direct blow-down into the chamber; and
a kicker valve in communication between the process flow and the chamber toward the inlet, the kicker valve being operable to direct a kick of the process flow into the chamber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drain valve in communication with the chamber and being operable to drain fluid from the chamber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outlet comprises an indicator indicating passage of the one or more pigs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a receiver in communication with the process flow and receiving the one or more pigs.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for launching one or more pigs into a process flow, the apparatus comprising:
a housing defining a chamber with a longitudinal axis and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet receiving the one or more pigs into the chamber, the outlet in communication with the process flow and passing the one or more pigs out of the chamber to the process flow, a portion of the chamber in communication with the process flow;
a guide disposed in the chamber and guiding the one or more pigs in the chamber, at least a portion of the guide comprises a paddle movable along the longitudinal axis of the chamber; and
an actuator operatively coupled to the paddle and mechanically feeding the one or more pigs guided by the paddle along the longitudinal axis toward the outlet, wherein the actuator comprises a motor moving a belt along the longitudinal axis, the paddle coupled to the belt and movable with the movement of the belt.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is programmable to control the mechanical feed based on one or more of a length of the one or more pigs, a number of the one or more pigs, a schedule for a launch of a first of the one or more pigs, and an interval for subsequent launch of a subsequent one of the one or more pigs.

### Claim 18

An apparatus for launching one or more pigs into a process flow, the apparatus comprising:
a housing defining a chamber with a longitudinal axis and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet receiving the one or more pigs into the chamber, the outlet in communication with the process flow and passing the one or more pigs out of the chamber to the process flow, a portion of the chamber in communication with the process flow;
a guide disposed in the chamber and guiding the one or more pigs in the chamber, wherein at least a portion of the guide movable along the longitudinal axis of the chamber comprises a conveyor belt having the one or more pigs disposed thereon; and
an actuator operatively coupled to the portion of the guide and mechanically feeding the one or more pigs guided by the guide along the longitudinal axis toward the outlet, wherein the actuator comprises a motor moving the conveyor belt along the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is programmable to control the mechanical feed based on one or more of a length of the one or more pigs, a number of the one or more pigs, a schedule for a launch of a first of the one or more pigs, and an interval for subsequent launch of a subsequent one of the one or more pigs.

### Claim 20

An apparatus for launching a plurality of pigs into a process flow, the apparatus comprising:
a housing defining a chamber with a longitudinal axis and having an inlet and an outlet on the longitudinal axis, the inlet configured to receiving the pigs arranged end-to-end into the chamber, the outlet in communication with the process flow and configured to pass the pigs in the longitudinal direction out of the chamber to the process flow, a portion of the chamber in communication with the process flow;
a guide disposed in the chamber and guiding the pigs in the chamber, wherein a portion of the guide comprises a surface engaging at least a last of the pigs and being movable continuously along the longitudinal axis of the chamber from the inlet toward the outlet; and
an actuator operatively coupled to the portion of the guide, wherein the actuator is configured to move the pigs-arranged end-to-end from a first to the last along the length of the chamber guided by the surface and is configured to mechanically feed each of the pigs successively from the first to the last toward the outlet.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20,
wherein the portion of the guide movable along the longitudinal axis of the chamber comprises a belt having a surface thereon; and
wherein the actuator comprises a motor moving the belt having the surface along the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the portion of the guide comprises a paddle having the surface, and wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the paddle.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a motor rotating a screw, the paddle coupled to the screw and movable therealong with the rotation of the screw.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator movable along the longitudinal axis, the paddle coupled to the linear actuator and movable with the movement of the linear actuator.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic cylinder, or a linear motor.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is programmable to control the mechanical feed based on one or more of a length of the pigs, a number of the pigs, a schedule for a launch of the first of the pigs, and an interval for subsequent launch of a subsequent one of the pigs.