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US 12,723,698 B1Granted
Devices for performing maintenance in a pipeline and methods for driving the devices toward a launch port
AssigneeWeldfit LLC
InventorsRick D. Pruett, David W. Albertson, Gregory Joseph Drzewiecki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices or pigs for performing maintenance on a pipeline are disclosed herein as well as methods of driving the devices into a launch port of a device launcher. Benefits of the devices can include being able to load several devices into a device launcher and preventing or reducing instances of multiple devices accidentally being launched as one or more of the devices is moved toward the launch port of the device launcher.
Claims14
A device for performing maintenance on a pipeline, comprising:
- a device body, wherein the device body includes a device front face connected to a device back lip by a device side,
- wherein the device side includes one to nine wings extending outward from the device side, and the wings have an outermost lip having a wing external diameter,
- wherein the device front face includes a front face diameter,
- wherein the device back lip includes a back lip shape, wherein the back lip shape includes a back lip internal diameter and a back lip external diameter,
- wherein the back lip internal diameter is less than or equal to the wing external diameter, and
- wherein the device front face, the device back lip, the device side, and the one to nine wings include and are connected by a polymer material and wherein the device body is injection molded or cast molded from the polymer material;
- and
- wherein the device includes a hollow interior, wherein the hollow interior has a hollow interior length, wherein the hollow interior length is from about 30% to 95% of a device length, and the device back lip is a back lip opening of the hollow interior;
- and
- wherein the back lip shape includes a raised portion and a recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion includes a vent, and wherein the vent includes a notch.
7 more elements
A method of performing maintenance on a pipeline comprising:
- providing a device launcher operatively connected to a pipeline by a launch port, wherein the pipeline has an upstream direction, a downstream direction, a pipeline internal diameter, the pipeline contains a product, and the device launcher includes a launch bay having a launch bay length and a launch bay diameter, and
- providing a device, wherein the device includes a device body,
- wherein the device body includes a device front face connected to a device back lip by a device side,
- wherein the device side includes one to nine wings extending outward from the device side, and the wings have an outermost lip having a wing external diameter,
- wherein the device front face includes a front face diameter,
- wherein the device back lip includes a back lip shape, wherein the back lip shape includes a back lip internal diameter and a back lip external diameter,
- wherein the back lip internal diameter is less than or equal to the wing external diameter, and
- wherein the device front face, the device back lip, the device side, and the one to nine wings include and are connected by a polymer material and wherein the device body is injection molded or cast molded from the polymer material;
- and
- wherein the device includes a hollow interior, wherein the hollow interior has a hollow interior length, wherein the hollow interior length is from about 30% to 95% of a device length, and the device back lip is a back lip opening of the hollow interior;
- and
- wherein the recessed portion includes a vent, and wherein the vent includes a notch
- and
- inserting the device into the launch bay of the device launcher with the device front face closer to the launch port than the device back lip.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.