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:
Nov. 08, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 08, 2009
Eric N. Freeman, Kiefer, OK (US);
Robert F. Strong, Collinsville, OK (US);
Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Arvada, CO (US);
Scott Douglas Nelson, Denver, CO (US);
Mark Russell Henault, Westminster, CO (US);
Eric N. Freeman, Kiefer, OK (US);
Robert F. Strong, Collinsville, OK (US);
Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Arvada, CO (US);
Scott Douglas Nelson, Denver, CO (US);
Mark Russell Henault, Westminster, CO (US);
TDW Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A method and system for launching a pipeline pig includes the steps of compressing a modulating bypass valve of a pipeline pig and installing a locking means to temporally maintain the bypass valve in the compressed state. Once the pig has travelled a predetermined distance through the pipeline, the locking means is released and retrieved through the launch trap door. The locking means is preferably a launching pin having a clip attachment that receives the clips of a retractable lead. The lead is housed by a retraction device that is detachably secured to the launch trap door. The modulating valve has sufficient mass and aerodynamic drag to overcome the force of a gas spring. The valve moves between a retracted and compressed position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig stalling and between the compressed and retracted position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig accelerating.