Pipeline pig
US3940855A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1974 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B7/281
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pipeline pig is provided which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with laying offshore pipelines in that it detects and indicates dents, and other disconformities in the nominal cross-sectional configuration of the pipeline which may occur as a result of the laying of the pipeline. It employs a plurality of prolate spheroid rollers arranged to secure substantially full circle coverage of the pipeline and yet only a minor portion of the length of the rollers will be normally in contact with the pipeline thereby reducing the wear on the remaining portions of the rollers and increasing the ease with which the pig can be towed along the pipeline. In another aspect, a system is provided in which a pig includes with a means of sensing a condition along the pipeline and a memory means for storing the output of the detecting means. The system also includes a readout means located remotely from the pig and transmission means connecting the memory means to the readout means for periodically reading out the output stored in the memory means within the pig while the latter is within the pipeline.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.