Method and apparatus for inserting and propelling a coating device into and through live gas pipeline
US6514346B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L2101/16
- 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-resistant coating device (10), capable of traversing long lengths of pipe (14). The coating device is inserted into the pipe and uses an explosion-resistant camera (44) for locating joints or other discontinuities in the pipe. The preferred coating material is a high build epoxy-type elastomeric polyurethane (48), 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.