Pig or sphere thrower

Details Pig or sphere thrower Pig or sphere thrower

1999-07-02

2001-09-11

Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be...

C015S104062

Reexamination Certificate

active

06286540

ABSTRACT:

This invention refers to an NC-SR device which can be used in fluid transportation and displacement systems inside a piping system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The device now used for the introduction of scrapers into piping systems, known as a thrower, has its principle of operation based on switching the flow of the pipe-line fluid to a chamber, where the scraper (which may be a pig, a foam-pig, an inflatable sphere or a foam-sphere has been introduced previously. The fluid flow passing through the chamber displaces the scraper from the chamber to the piping system. The devices now used present some operational problems:
The need of using three valves to attain this interconnection;
The impossibility of introducing a foam-pig or sphere into the existing piping system through a connection;
Difficulties of automation for throwing spheres, due to the large number of valves and mechanical devices involved;
Throwing of the foam-pigs or spheres manually;
Risks of operational procedures;
The great danger of accidents in constantly opening the throw chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principle of operation of the NC-SR thrower is by mechanical displacement of the scraper, which was previously introduced into the piping system chamber.
The advantages of the NC-SR thrower include:
Lower installation cost. Only a valve is necessary for interconnection with the piping system;
Less space needed for installation;
Introduction of the foam-pig or sphere into the existing piping system through the connection (valves) becomes possible;
Automation for throwing foam -spheres and foam-pigs becomes possible.
A less aggressive environment and less danger of accidents, because the opening of the chamber of the NC-SR thrower occurs frequently;
Lower operational and maintenance cost, since wear due to operation of the valves is less frequent, as well as the number of valves;
Less danger of operational mistakes in throwing operations;
No need for special chamber covers, because of the lower frequency of chamber openings of the NC-SR thrower.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3266077 (1966-08-01), Elliott et al.
patent: 3779270 (1973-12-01), Davis
patent: 4793016 (1988-12-01), Valentine et al.

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