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. 18, 2014
Filed:
Jul. 03, 2008
Rick D. Pruett, Oologah, OK (US);
Robert F. Strong, Collinsville, OK (US);
Eric N. Freeman, Kiefer, OK (US);
Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Arvada, CO (US);
Scott Douglas Nelson, Denver, CO (US);
Mark Russell Henault, Westminster, CO (US);
Rick D. Pruett, Oologah, OK (US);
Robert F. Strong, Collinsville, OK (US);
Eric N. Freeman, Kiefer, 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 pipeline pig includes a venturi and a modulating valve located rearward of the inlet side of the venturi. When the valve is in the open position, a predetermined maximum bypass flow is allowed through the venturi. The closed position allows a predetermined minimum bypass flow. The valve may be a poppet-style valve or a frusto-conical shaped stopper. The stopper has sufficient mass and/or aerodynamic drag to overcome the spring force holding the valve in the open position. When the pig stalls, the valve closes and the stopper chokes bypass flow through the venturi. When the pig starts running again, the valve opens as inertia forces the stopper away from the inlet side of the venturi. Also, as friction of the pig increases due to changes in the internal diameter of the pipeline or accumulation of debris ahead of the pig, increased airflow across the valve creates drag sufficient to partially overcome the spring force, thus keeping the pig moving at a desirable rate of travel.