Pig launcher
US9091385B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L55/46
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
As shown a carrier module (2) includes a magazine (9) having five chambers (10) each adapted to receive a pipeline pig, rotatably mounted on a blind hub (8) attached to a frame (7). A hanging eye 14 allows the module to be lowered to an undersea location where, guided by a ROV via a grab handle, its frame member (16) is received by guides (17) of a launcher module (1). The magazine passes through a large connector (4) which engages the blind hub. The ROV operates a bucket drive (22) causing the connector to engage the blind hub in sealing fashion thus enclosing the magazine in a launch chamber (3). A hydraulic ram (11) indexes the magazine to select a chamber from which a pig is to be launched or an empty chamber to receive a pig. Indexing is achieved by a roller on the free end of the ram shaft engaging in a cusped track (26) on the magazine. A pressure connection (12) for launching fluid goes through the center of the magazine, through the blind hub and back into a selected chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.