US3633976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of transporting a substance along a pipeline
Assignee: Alberta Innovates
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Filing: 1970-11-20
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1990-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A substance is transported by a carrier liquid along a pipeline in the form of discrete articles, for example as mouldings or in containers, each having a cylindrical exterior provided with spacing means of uniform thickness extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the leading half of the article to space the leading half from the pipeline internal surface. The spacing means, which is preferably set back from the leading end of the capsule may be a collar or spaced ridges and is provided to tilt the capsule leading end upwardly to reduce the pressure gradient along the article by the article being conveyed along the pipe on a wedge of liquid. The specific gravity of each article together with the collar thereon is between 0.5 and 12.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Kruyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of transporting a substance along a pipeline having a bore substantially uniform in diameter, and which extends from a first location to a second location, comprising pumping a carrier liquid from said first location to said second location and through said pipeline, inserting said substance as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior, successively into said pipeline at said first location for entrainment by said carrier liquid, to form a continuously moving stream flowing from said first location and composed of said carrier liquid with said articles disposed therein in single row distribution, and removing said inserted articles from said pipeline at said second location, and wherein the improvement comprises providing spacing means of substantially uniform thickness along the article and extending in a circumferential direction around at least a portion of the leading half only of each conveyed article said spacing means tilting said front end upwardly from the pipeline internal surface and the specific gravity of each said article together with the spacing means thereon being between 0.5 and 12 of that of the carrier liquid so that each article is carried along the pipeline on a wedge of said carrier liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of transporting a substance along a pipeline having a bore substantially uniform in diameter, and which extends from a first location to a second location, comprising pumping a carrier liquid from said first location to said second location and through said pipeline, inserting said substance as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior, successively into said pipeline at said first location for entrainment by said carrier liquid, to form a continuously moving stream flowing from said first location and composed of said carrier liquid with said articles disposed therein in single row distribution, and removing said inserted articles from said pipeline at said second location, and wherein the improvement comprises providing spacing means of substantially uniform thickness along the article and extending in a circumferential direction around at least a portion of the leading half only of each conveyed article said spacing means tilting said front end upwardly from the pipeline internal surface and the specific gravity of each said article together with the spacing means thereon being between 0.5 and 12 of that of the carrier liquid so that each article is carried along the pipeline on a wedge of said carrier liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each spacing means is set back from the leading end of the article on which it is disposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each said spacing means comprises an annular collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each said spacing means comprises a plurality of ridges disposed side-by-side and extending in a lengthwise direction along the article on which they are disposed, each of said ridges being curved to present a smooth exterior to the pipeline internal surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the overall dimension of each said spacing means relative to that of the said cylindrical exterior from which it extends is within the range 1.001 to 1.000 and 1.060 to 1.000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each said spacing means is provided with its rear end at a positioN between one-quarter and one-half of the length of the article from the leading end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior by moulding the substance in a mould.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior and is provided with said spacing means, by moulding the substance in a mould having a mould cavity which is shaped to the cylindrical exterior of the article and to that of the spacing means to mould them integrally from the substance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is of a material having poor abrasion resistance and is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior by moulding the substance in a mould, and said spacing means is provided therearound during the moulding operation by placing said spacing means manufactured from an abrasion resistant material, in the mould.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as said plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior by disposing said substance in a plurality of sealed containers having the said spacing means thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior by moulding for each of said articles a hollow container having said spacing means integral therewith from a material selected from the group comprising natural and synthetic plastic materials, filling each of said hollow containers with said substance, and sealing each of said containers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior, by moulding for each of said articles a hollow container, from a material, selected from the group comprising natural and synthetic plastic material, each of said containers being provided with said spacing means thereon manufactured from metal, filling each of said containers, and sealing each of said containers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein each of said sealed containers and said spacing means are of metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance is arranged as a plurality of discrete, elongated articles, each having a substantially cylindrical exterior, by placing said substance in a plurality of hollow metal containers each having said spacing means thereon of a material selected from the group comprising natural and synthetic plastic materials and sealing each of said containers with said substance therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said spacing means is provided on each of said articles by heat shrinking on each article an annulus of heat-shrinkable material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |