The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 19, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 12, 2001
David George Clarke, Houston, TX (US);
BP Exploration and Oil, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Apparatus including an elongate pipe ( ) for use in the transfer of fluids susceptible to form deposits on cooling such as wax deposits in oil, and a container ( ) having a reusable heat source including a supercooled solution, e.g., of aqueous sodium acetate. The container ( ) is in heat conducting contact with a surface of the pipe ( ), preferably on at least one surface of the container. The deposit may be removed from inside the pipe ( ) by locating in heat conducting relation to the pipe a reusable heat source including a supercooled solution, and activating crystallization in the solution liberating heat which causes at least some of the deposit to melt and/or dissolve.