Variable speed pipeline pig with internal flow cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10119647-B2
Application number	US-201715629292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2017
Priority date	Feb 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments provide a housing defining a trailing end, a leading end and longitudinal axis extending therebetween, at least one relief channel extending longitudinally through the housing between the trailing end and the leading end thereof, the at least one relief channel defining an annular wall, a closure member disposed within the annular wall, the closure member operable to engage a first seat to prohibit fluid flow through the relief channel and operable to disengage the first seat to permit fluid flow through the relief channel, and an annular space defined between the closure member and the annular wall, the annular space exhibiting a smaller cross-section than regions of relief channel upstream and downstream of the closure member such that the annular space represents a constriction for fluid flow and the relief channel defines a venturi.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipeline pig, comprising:
a housing defining a trailing end, a leading end and longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
at least one relief channel extending longitudinally through the housing between the trailing end and the leading end thereof, the at least one relief channel defining an annular wall;
a closure member disposed within the annular wall of each relief channel, the closure member configured to move longitudinally through the relief channel and operable to move toward the trailing end to engage a first seat to prohibit fluid flow through the relief channel and operable to move toward the leading end to disengage the first seat to permit fluid flow through the relief channel; and
an annular space defined between the closure member and the annular wall, the annular space exhibiting a smaller cross-section than regions of relief channel upstream and downstream of the closure member such that the annular space represents a constriction for fluid flow and the relief channel defines a venturi.

2. The pipeline pig according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member is further operable to engage a second seat to prohibit fluid flow through the relief channel while the closure member is disengaged from the first seat.

3. The pipeline pig according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an automated controller arranged within the housing, wherein the automated controller is configured to control, independent of an external control by a user, one or more actuators in response to an internal sensor of the pipeline pig.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Soliman Mohamed Ahmed A

Classifications

• F16L2101/30

  Inspecting, measuring or testing · CPC title

• F16L55/38 Primary

  driven by fluid pressure · CPC title

• B08B9/0553

  Cylindrically shaped pigs · CPC title

• F16L2101/12

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B08B9/0551

  Control mechanisms therefor · CPC title