Progressive dewatering and inhibitor dispersal rolling pig
US8151483B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2010 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/0435
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.