# US 11,898,649 B2 · Bypass valve and pig having a bypass valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,649 B2 - Document ID: US11898649B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/462,592 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-08 - Assignees: Rosen Swiss AG - Applicants: ROSEN Swiss AG - Inventors: Wilhelm Voß; Heiner Krallmann; Nico Heile; Rene Bremke; Daniel Schneke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898649B2 ## CPC - F16K 17/30: spring-loaded - B08B 9/0551: {Control mechanisms therefor} - B08B 9/0557: {Pigs with rings shaped cleaning members, e.g. cup shaped pigs} - F16K 17/044: {with more than one spring} - F16K 17/048: {combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices} - F16L 55/38: driven by fluid pressure - G01M 3/005: {using pigs or moles (G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence)} - B08B 2209/055: the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, e.g. pigs or moles - F16L 2101/12: Cleaning - F16L 2101/30: Inspecting, measuring or testing - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A bypass valve for an inspection and/or cleaning pig which is intended to move through a pipeline through which medium flows. The bypass valve comprises an inner space which is provided with a flow profile and in which there is arranged a piston which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the bypass valve by means of a force storage medium in a pressure-dependent manner. The piston can also be moved between a first open position of the bypass valve which enables a bypass for the medium and a second position which at least substantially closes the bypass. The piston can be further moved from the first position via the second position in the same direction into a maximum position which opens the bypass again and pig for inspection and/or cleaning of pipelines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bypass valve for an inspection and/or cleaning pig for a pipeline through which a medium flows, the bypass valve comprising: an inner space which is provided with a flow profile and in which there is arranged a piston which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the bypass valve via a force storage medium in a pressure-dependent manner; wherein the piston moves between a first open position of the bypass valve which creates a bypass for the medium, and a second position at higher differential pressure, said second position at least substantially closing the bypass, wherein the piston can be further moved from the first position via the second position in the same direction to a third, maximum position at a critical opening pressure which opens the bypass again, wherein a flow cross section released in the maximum position is smaller than a flow cross section present in the first position, but is larger than a flow cross section present in the second position of the piston. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein the piston is constructed to assume, in a pressure-dependent manner, intermediate positions in a region (A) between the first and the second position, in a drive pressure range between 0.01 and 0.5 bar, in order to enable a pressure-regulated volume flow through the bypass valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein the maximum position is located in an upstream and widened region of the inner space with respect to a throughflow direction (F). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flow profile of the inner space and the profile of the piston is optimized in terms of flow in such a manner that in at least 50% of the drive pressure region, the volume flow directed through the bypass valve does not change by more than 60%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow profile of the inner space initially tapers continuously, has a consistent inner diameter for the closed position in the longitudinal direction and subsequently expands again with an in particular more significant absolute inclination than in the tapering region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein the piston has a hollow rod region in which the force storage medium is at least partially arranged and is guided by a central pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein the maximum position is assumed at least one of counter to compression of a second force storage medium and after the pressure-dependent release of an additional piston operating path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bypass valve according to claim 7, wherein the two force storage media are configured in such a manner that, from the closed position, in order to assume the maximum position, the second force storage medium is compressed to a greater extent in the longitudinal direction than the first force storage medium. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bypass valve according to claim 8, wherein the two force storage media when viewed in the longitudinal direction are arranged one behind the other and in abutment with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A pig for at least one of inspection and cleaning of pipelines, comprising: a central member; a bypass valve in accordance with claim 1 which is arranged in the central member of the pig. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A pig for inspection and cleaning of pipelines, comprising: a central member which is formed at least in part by a bypass valve in accordance with claim 1.