GB2038987A - Pipeline pigs - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple utility pig 10 comprising a spool 12, packing cups 26, 28 extending between the spool 12 and the pipe with a packing cup 26, 28 being attached to the flange 16, 18 at each end of said spool 12. Mounting means (holes 32) are provided on the spool 12 for connecting cleaning (e.g. brush 40) or gauging (e.g. flange 44) apparatus to the cylinder 14 or gauging apparatus 44 to the front flange 16 of the spool 12. Bypass plugs 46 permit fluid flow through the pigs e.g. should it become stuck. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multiple utility pig The use of pigs within a pipeline are well known. Such pigs are used for batching, dewatering, cleaning and gauging the interior of the pipe when passing through the pipeline.

However, no pigs have been developed which uses one basic body and cup design for all such pigging applications.

Accordingly, it is a primary object to the present invention to provide a multi-use pig having a basic body and cup design with appropriate mounting means for attaching cleaning or gauging apparatus to permit multi-use.

In accordance with the invention, a multi-use pig comprises a spool. Packing cups are provided for extending between the spool and the pipeline with a packing cup being attached to the flange at each end of the spool and mounting means are provided for connecting cleaning or gauging apparatus to the cylinder or flange of the spool.

Other objects and advantages in the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawing, which figure shows an elevational side view, partly in section, of a multi-use pipeline pig constructed according to the present invention.

Turning now to the drawing, there is shown a multi-use pipeline pig 10 comprising a spool 12, which includes a cylinder 14 and front flange 1 6 and rear flange 18. To prevent the flow of fluid through cylinder 12 and make pig 10 move through the pipeline (not shown), a portion 20 of front flange 1 6 closes off the front end of cylinder 12. An eyelet 22 is attached to portion 20 to which apparatus can be connected for lifting the pig'. Webs 24 are connected to cylinder 14 for bracing flanges 16 and 18.

Front and rear packing cups 26 and 28, respectfully, for extending between spool 10 and the pipeline are constructed to extend annularly around cylinder 14 and are connected to flanges 16 and 18 by bolts 30.

Means are provided for connecting cleaning or gauging apparatus to cylinder 14 or a gauging flange to front flange 16. The means for mounting cleaning apparatus to cylinder 14 comprises six (6) axially aligned mounting holes 32 which extend through the wall of cylinder 14 with bolts 34 extending through each pair of holes 32 to connect a bracket 36 and one end of a bent leaf spring 38 to cylinder 14. A brush 40 or blade 41 is then connected by bolts 42 to the other end of each spring 38 for cleaning the interior of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline. The means for mounting the gauging flange to front flange 16 of spool 12 includes bolts 30 extending through holes in a flat doughnut shaped flange 44 which is made to be deformable for indicating irregularities in the.internal diameter of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline.Thus, as shown, a basic batching pig is modified into a cleaning pig by connecting springs 38 and either brushes 40 or blades 41 to the cylinder or into a gauging pig by connecting a gauging flange 44 to the front flange.

Bypass plugs 46 are threaded to front flange 16 to permit flow of fluid through holes 48 in the walls of cylinder 14 and thus around pig 10 should the pig become stuck within the pipeline.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed with reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter therein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. A multi-use pipeline pig, comprising: a spool; packing cups for extending between the spool and the pipeline with a packing cup being attached to the flange at each end of said spool; and means for mounting cleaning or gauging apparatus to the cylinder or flange of said spool.

2. The pig of claim 1, including a cleaning blade mounted on each of a plurality of springs disposed around the cylinder with each blade extending spirally around the cylinder axis of said pig.

3. The pig of claim 1, including a cleaning brush mounted on each of a plurality of springs disposed around the cylinder with each brush extending spirally around the cylinder axis of said pig.

4. The pig of claim 1, 2 or 3, including a flange connected to the closed end of the cylinder for gauging the internal diameter of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline.

5. The pig of claim 1, including by-pass plugs threaded to the flange at the close end of the cylinder.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Multiple utility pig The use of pigs within a pipeline are well known. Such pigs are used for batching, dewatering, cleaning and gauging the interior of the pipe when passing through the pipeline. However, no pigs have been developed which uses one basic body and cup design for all such pigging applications. Accordingly, it is a primary object to the present invention to provide a multi-use pig having a basic body and cup design with appropriate mounting means for attaching cleaning or gauging apparatus to permit multi-use. In accordance with the invention, a multi-use pig comprises a spool. Packing cups are provided for extending between the spool and the pipeline with a packing cup being attached to the flange at each end of the spool and mounting means are provided for connecting cleaning or gauging apparatus to the cylinder or flange of the spool. Other objects and advantages in the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawing, which figure shows an elevational side view, partly in section, of a multi-use pipeline pig constructed according to the present invention. Turning now to the drawing, there is shown a multi-use pipeline pig 10 comprising a spool 12, which includes a cylinder 14 and front flange 1 6 and rear flange 18. To prevent the flow of fluid through cylinder 12 and make pig 10 move through the pipeline (not shown), a portion 20 of front flange 1 6 closes off the front end of cylinder 12. An eyelet 22 is attached to portion 20 to which apparatus can be connected for lifting the pig'. Webs 24 are connected to cylinder 14 for bracing flanges 16 and 18. Front and rear packing cups 26 and 28, respectfully, for extending between spool 10 and the pipeline are constructed to extend annularly around cylinder 14 and are connected to flanges 16 and 18 by bolts 30. Means are provided for connecting cleaning or gauging apparatus to cylinder 14 or a gauging flange to front flange 16. The means for mounting cleaning apparatus to cylinder 14 comprises six (6) axially aligned mounting holes 32 which extend through the wall of cylinder 14 with bolts 34 extending through each pair of holes 32 to connect a bracket 36 and one end of a bent leaf spring 38 to cylinder 14. A brush 40 or blade 41 is then connected by bolts 42 to the other end of each spring 38 for cleaning the interior of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline. The means for mounting the gauging flange to front flange 16 of spool 12 includes bolts 30 extending through holes in a flat doughnut shaped flange 44 which is made to be deformable for indicating irregularities in the.internal diameter of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline.Thus, as shown, a basic batching pig is modified into a cleaning pig by connecting springs 38 and either brushes 40 or blades 41 to the cylinder or into a gauging pig by connecting a gauging flange 44 to the front flange. Bypass plugs 46 are threaded to front flange 16 to permit flow of fluid through holes 48 in the walls of cylinder 14 and thus around pig 10 should the pig become stuck within the pipeline. From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed with reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter therein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. CLAIMS

1. A multi-use pipeline pig, comprising: a spool; packing cups for extending between the spool and the pipeline with a packing cup being attached to the flange at each end of said spool; and means for mounting cleaning or gauging apparatus to the cylinder or flange of said spool.

2. The pig of claim 1, including a cleaning blade mounted on each of a plurality of springs disposed around the cylinder with each blade extending spirally around the cylinder axis of said pig.

3. The pig of claim 1, including a cleaning brush mounted on each of a plurality of springs disposed around the cylinder with each brush extending spirally around the cylinder axis of said pig.

4. The pig of claim 1, 2 or 3, including a flange connected to the closed end of the cylinder for gauging the internal diameter of the pipe as the pig passes through the pipeline.

5. The pig of claim 1, including by-pass plugs threaded to the flange at the close end of the cylinder.