Method and apparatus for conveying material in pipeline capsules

Apparatus for transporting a container in a pipeline comprising:

• a length of relatively small diameter pipeline having a small diameter upstream location and a small diameter downstream location;
• a length of relatively large diameter pipeline having a large diameter upstream and a large diameter downstream location;
• said relatively large diameter pipeline having a length less than said relatively small diameter pipeline, said relatively large and small pipelines being sealed together;
• fluid communication means for placing said relatively small and large diameter pipelines in fluid communication;
• first pump means in fluid communication with said small diameter upstream location for creating thereat a zone of relatively low fluid pressure;
• second pump means in fluid communication with said large diameter downstream location for creating thereat a zone of relatively intermediate fluid pressure;
• and
• said first and said second pump means being cooperable and in fluid communication with said large diameter upstream location for creating thereat a zone of relatively high fluid pressure.

A method of transporting an elongated link of capsules in a pipeline comprising the steps of:

• creating at an upstream pipeline location a zone of relatively low pressure by exhausting fluid from the pipeline for fluid in the pipeline during use to increase in pressure to a downstream pipeline location remote from the upstream location;
• creating in an entrance end of a co-axial elongate enclosure in fluid communication with the pipeline and at the downstream location in the pipeline a zone of relatively high pressure;
• and
• creating in an exit end of the enclosure a zone of relatively intermediate pressure for the pressure drop across the elongate enclosure to impart potential energy to capsules passing through the elongated enclosure to transport the link of capsules through the pipeline.

A method of transporting capsules in a pipeline comprising the steps of:

• providing a contiguous link of capsules along substantially an entire length of a pipeline;
• sealingly enclosing a relatively short length of the pipeline at a downstream location with an elongate enclosure sealed to the pipeline;
• communicating an interior of the pipeline with the interior of the enclosure;
• creating at an upstream pipeline location upstream from and remote from the enclosure a zone of relatively low pressure by exhausting fluid from the pipeline for pressure along the pipeline from the upstream location to the downstream location to increase during use;
• creating in an entrance end of the enclosure a zone of relatively high pressure;
• and
• creating in an exit end of the enclosure a zone of relatively intermediate pressure.

A pipeline capsule transportation apparatus for transporting capsules in a linked train, the apparatus comprising;

• (a) an elongated pipeline having an upstream pipeline location and a downstream pipeline location remote from the upstream location;
• (b) an energy transfer station downstream of the downstream pipeline location, the transfer station comprising an elongated enclosure which is associated with a length of pipeline and is in fluid communication with the length of the pipeline, the enclosure having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the pipeline;
• (c) station pump means for withdrawing fluid from a downstream location of the station and pumping the fluid into an upstream location of the station to provide downstream fluid flow along the enclosure for propelling capsules passing through the length of pipeline in the enclosure;
• and
• (d) control means for controlling the velocity of fluid between the upstream and downstream pipeline locations during use by exhausting fluid from the pipeline for the pressure to be less at the upstream pipeline location than at the downstream pipeline location, and for the pressure to increase in the pipeline from the upstream pipeline location to the downstream pipeline location.

A pipeline capsule transportation apparatus for transporting capsules in a linked train, the apparatus comprising;

• (a) an elongated pipeline having an upstream pipeline location and a downstream pipeline location;
• (b) an energy transfer station downstream of the downstream pipeline location, the transfer station comprising an elongated enclosure which is associated with a length of pipeline and is in fluid communication with the length of the pipeline, the enclosure having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the pipeline;
• (c) station pump means for withdrawing fluid from a downstream location of the station and pumping the fluid into an upstream location of the station to provide downstream fluid flow along the enclosure for propelling capsules passing through the length of pipeline in the enclosure;
• and
• (d) control means for controlling the velocity of fluid between the upstream and downstream pipeline locations during use for the pressure to be less at the upstream pipeline location than at the downstream pipeline location, and for the pressure to increase in the pipeline from the upstream pipeline location to the downstream pipeline location the control means comprising an expansion chamber extending between the upstream and downstream pipeline locations, the chamber being in communication with the pipeline and in communication with the enclosure of the energy transfer station.