US3708819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for drying pipelines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-05
•
Granted: 1973-01-09
•
Expires: 1990-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus capable of being propelled by a gas through a pipeline for drying the pipeline. The apparatus comprises a pipeline pig combined with a liquid pumping device. A portion of the propelling gas enters the pumping device which includes means to increase the velocity and decrease the pressure of the admitted gas. This pressure decrease is used to dynamically lift any liquid which may enter the pumping device. The motive gas mixes with the lifted liquid to form a fine spray which is ejected in front of the moving pig into the downstream section of the pipeline.
Inventors
- 👤 M Breston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:23
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/04; B08B9/053; B08B9/055; B08B9/0553; B08B9/032; B08B9/035; B08B9/0557
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A pig for removing liquids from a pipeline, the pig having at least one movable transverse sealing wall disposed in the interior of and dividing the pipeline into an upstream section and a downstream section; said wall providing an external surface which establishes a movable seal with the interior wall of said pipeline; said pig being propelled through said pipeline by a pressurized gas whereby most of the liquid in front of said wall is moved by said wall downstream and a quantity of said liquid remains or enters upstream behind said wall, the improvement comprising: means including a Venturi tube for establishing a fluid-flow channEl to allow a gas stream to flow from the upstream section into the downstream section, said channel providing a fluidmixing chamber wherein the pressure of the gas stream becomes reduced; and liquid-suction means in fluid communication with said fluidmixing chamber to cause particles of said quantity of liquid to be drawn into and entrained by said gas stream flowing through said chamber, whereby a gas-liquid mixture from said fluidmixing chamber is ejected downstream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A pig for removing liquids from a pipeline, the pig having at least one movable transverse sealing wall disposed in the interior of and dividing the pipeline into an upstream section and a downstream section; said wall providing an external surface which establishes a movable seal with the interior wall of said pipeline; said pig being propelled through said pipeline by a pressurized gas whereby most of the liquid in front of said wall is moved by said wall downstream and a quantity of said liquid remains or enters upstream behind said wall, the improvement comprising: means including a Venturi tube for establishing a fluid-flow channEl to allow a gas stream to flow from the upstream section into the downstream section, said channel providing a fluidmixing chamber wherein the pressure of the gas stream becomes reduced; and liquid-suction means in fluid communication with said fluidmixing chamber to cause particles of said quantity of liquid to be drawn into and entrained by said gas stream flowing through said chamber, whereby a gas-liquid mixture from said fluidmixing chamber is ejected downstream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The pig of claim 1 and further including: at least another movable transverse sealing wall, said another wall providing an external surface which establishes a movable seal with the interior wall of said pipeline, said wall being maintained in axially-spaced relationship to form a liquid-suction chamber between said walls and the interior wall of said pipeline, said liquid-suction chamber containing said quantity of liquid; and said liquid-suction means allowing said suction chamber to fluidly communicate with said fluid-mixing chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pig of claim 1 wherein, said Venturi tube defines a convergent gas passage to provide the pressure reduction in said fluid-mixing chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The pig of claim 3 wherein, said fluid-mixing chamber in said Venturi tube is followed by a divergent gas passage in said channel to provide a pressure buildup for assisting in the ejection of the entrained liquid from said liquid-suction chamber to said downstream section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pig of claim 4 wherein, said liquid-suction means defines at least one liquid conduit to provide a passage for said quantity of liquid into said fluid-mixing chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The pig of claim 4 wherein, said liquid-suction means defines a plurality of radially-displaced liquid conduits to allow liquid to be lifted from said suction chamber into said fluid-mixing chamber irrespective of the orientation of said pig as it moves through said pipeline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pig of claim 6 wherein, said liquid-suction means includes filter means for removing dirt from said quantity of liquid before it enters into said fluid-mixing chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3600736A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |