Pipeline pig catcher
AssigneeAnti-Pollution Innovations, LP
InventorsDarrel B. Fruit, Jack G. Brewer, John C. Kelsey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and process used to catch a pipeline pig after use in a pipeline. The process involves locating the pig-catching apparatus adjacent the catcher station of a pipeline such that a pipeline pig coming out of the catcher station lands on a metal screen of the pig-catching apparatus. The pig-catching apparatus includes a vessel with a double wall configuration, the metal screen extending across an upper aperture such that the pipeline pig can be supported on the metal screen and fluids and small particulate matter can pass through the screen into the center chamber, and a plurality of feet integrally molded with the outer wall. The feet are located along the outer edge so as to extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced apart.
Claims25
A pig catcher for receiving a pipeline pig after use in a pipeline, the pig catcher comprising:
- a vessel having a double wall configuration including:
- an inner wall having an inner bottom portion and an inner closed-wall portion extending upward from the inner bottom portion so as to define a center chamber terminating in an upper aperture;
- and
- an outer wall having an outer bottom portion and an outer closed-wall portion extending upward from the outer bottom portion, wherein the outer bottom portion is flat, and the outer bottom potion and the outer closed-wall portion meet at an outer edge;
- and
- wherein the inner wall and outer wall are configured so as to define an enclosed gap-chamber such that the gap-chamber surrounds at least the inner bottom portion and inner closed-wall portion;
- a metal screen extending across the upper aperture such that the pipeline pig can be supported on the metal screen and fluids and small particulate matter can pass through the screen into the center chamber;
- and
- a plurality of feet integrally molded with the outer wall, wherein the plurality of feet are located along the outer edge so as to extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced apart, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of feet have a notch therein configured to receive a bar so as to prevent rotation and horizontal movement of the pig catcher.
A process for catching a pipeline pig after use in a pipeline having a catcher station from which a pipeline pig comes out of a pipeline, the process comprising:
- placing a pig catching vessel adjacent to the catcher station of a pipeline such that a pipeline pig coming out of the catcher station lands on a metal screen of the pig catching vessel, wherein the pig catching vessel includes:
- a double wall configuration including:
- an inner wall having an inner bottom portion and an inner closed-wall portion extending upward from the inner bottom portion so as to define a center chamber terminating in an upper aperture;
- and
- an outer wall having an outer bottom portion and an outer closed-wall portion extending upward from the outer bottom portion, wherein the outer bottom portion is flat, and the outer bottom potion and the outer closed-wall portion meet at an outer edge;
- and
- wherein the inner wall and outer wall are configured so as to define an enclosed gap-chamber such that the gap-chamber surrounds at least the inner bottom portion and inner closed-wall portion;
- and
- the metal screen extending across the upper aperture such that the pipeline pig can be supported on the metal screen and fluids and small particulate matter can pass through the screen into the center chamber, wherein the metal screen defines a clean-out aperture configured to allow the introduction of a vacuum hose into the center chamber;
- and
- a plurality of feet integrally molded with the outer wall, wherein the plurality of feet are located along the outer edge so as to extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced apart;
- catching the pipeline pig coming out of the catcher station on the metal screen of the pig catching vessel;
- allowing fluids and small particulate matter to pass through the screen into the center chamber;
- and
- cleaning out the center chamber using the vacuum hose after the step of allowing fluids and small particles to pass through the screen.
A pig catcher for receiving a pipeline pig after use in a pipeline, the pig catcher comprising:
- a vessel having a double wall configuration including:
- an inner wall having an inner bottom portion and an inner closed-wall portion extending upward from the inner bottom portion so as to define a center chamber terminating in an upper aperture;
- and
- an outer wall having an outer bottom portion and an outer closed-wall portion extending upward from the outer bottom portion, wherein the outer bottom portion is flat, and the outer bottom potion and the outer closed-wall portion meet at an outer edge;
- and
- wherein the inner wall and outer wall are configured so as to define an enclosed gap-chamber such that the gap-chamber surrounds at least the inner bottom portion and inner closed-wall portion;
- a metal screen extending across the upper aperture such that the pipeline pig can be supported on the metal screen and fluids and small particulate matter can pass through the screen into the center chamber, wherein the metal screen defines a clean-out aperture configured to allow the introduction of hoses used to clean out the center chamber;
- and
- a plurality of feet integrally molded with the outer wall, wherein the plurality of feet are located along the outer edge so as to extend outwardly therefrom and are spaced apart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.