Pig receiver assembly
AssigneePower Associates International, Inc.
InventorJames R. Hodde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pig receiver and method retrieve pigs in pipeline pigging operations. In one embodiment, a pig receiver includes a pig receiver unit. The pig receiver also includes a pig gate valve assembly disposed on the pig receiving unit. The pig gate valve assembly includes a gate valve. The pig gate valve assembly also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The pig gate valve assembly further includes a cylinder guide. In addition, the pig gate valve assembly includes a tie bar. Actuation of the tie bar actuates the gate valve. An end of the tie bar is attached to the first actuator, and an opposing end of the tie bar is attached to the second actuator. The pig receiver also includes a system for removing contaminants from the pig receiver.
Claims20
A method for retrieving a pipeline pig, comprising:
- (A) allowing the pipeline pig to run into a pig receiver, wherein the pig receiver comprises:
- a pig receiver unit comprising a retrieval door;
- and
- a pig gate valve assembly disposed on the pig receiving unit, comprising:
- a gate valve, wherein the gate valve is in an open position;
- a first actuator and a second actuator;
- a cylinder guide;
- a tie bar, wherein actuation of the tie bar actuates the gate valve;
- wherein an end of the tie bar is attached to the first actuator and an opposing end of the tie bar is attached to the second actuator;
- and
- a contaminant removal system, wherein the contaminant removal system includes removing contaminants from the pig receiver unit with fluid;
- (B) actuating the pig gate valve assembly to move the gate valve to a closed position;
- (C) opening the retrieval door;
- and
- (D) retrieving the pig.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.