Apparatus and method for internally coating live gas pipe joints or other discontinuities
US5913977A · kind A · utility
25Cited by
10References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L55/46
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Joints or other discontinuities in live gas pipelines are sealed by spraying the joint or discontinuity with a coating material by means of an explosion-proof coating device, capable of traversing long lengths of pipe. The coating device is inserted into the pipe and uses a halogen lit explosion-proof camera for locating joints or other discontinuities in the pipe. The preferred coating material is a high build epoxy-type elastomeric polyurethane, which quickly cures in the presence of pressurized flowing gas. Several joints or discontinuities, spanning several hundred feet of pipe, may be coated using a single excavation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.