Bypass valve and pig having a bypass valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11898649-B2
Application number	US-201716462592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2017
Priority date	Dec 8, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A bypass valve for an inspection and/or cleaning pig which is intended to move through a pipeline through which medium flows. The bypass valve comprises an inner space which is provided with a flow profile and in which there is arranged a piston which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the bypass valve by means of a force storage medium in a pressure-dependent manner. The piston can also be moved between a first open position of the bypass valve which enables a bypass for the medium and a second position which at least substantially closes the bypass. The piston can be further moved from the first position via the second position in the same direction into a maximum position which opens the bypass again and pig for inspection and/or cleaning of pipelines.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bypass valve for an inspection and/or cleaning pig for a pipeline through which a medium flows, the bypass valve comprising:
an inner space which is provided with a flow profile and in which there is arranged a piston which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the bypass valve via a force storage medium in a pressure-dependent manner;
wherein the piston moves between a first open position of the bypass valve which creates a bypass for the medium, and a second position at higher differential pressure, said second position at least substantially closing the bypass,
wherein the piston can be further moved from the first position via the second position in the same direction to a third, maximum position at a critical opening pressure which opens the bypass again,
wherein a flow cross section released in the maximum position is smaller than a flow cross section present in the first position, but is larger than a flow cross section present in the second position of the piston.

2. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein the piston is constructed to assume, in a pressure-dependent manner, intermediate positions in a region (A) between the first and the second position, in a drive pressure range between 0.01 and 0.5 bar, in order to enable a pressure-regulated volume flow through the bypass valve.

3. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum position is located in an upstream and widened region of the inner space with respect to a throughflow direction (F).

4. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow profile of the inner space and the profile of the piston is optimized in terms of flow in such a manner that in at least 50% of the drive pressure region, the volume flow directed through the bypass valve does not change by more than 60%.

5. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein the flow profile of the inner space initially tapers continuously, has a consistent inner diameter for the closed position in the longitudinal direction and subsequently expands again with an in particular more significant absolute inclination than in the tapering region.

6. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein the piston has a hollow rod region in which the force storage medium is at least partially arranged and is guided by a central pin.

7. The bypass valve according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum position is assumed at least one of counter to compression of a second force storage medium and after the pressure-dependent release of an additional piston operating path.

8. The bypass valve according to claim 7 , wherein the two force storage media are configured in such a manner that, from the closed position, in order to assume the maximum position, the second force storage medium is compressed to a greater extent in the longitudinal direction than the first force storage medium.

9. The bypass valve according to claim 8 , wherein the two force storage media when viewed in the longitudinal direction are arranged one behind the other and in abutment with each other.

10. A pig for at least one of inspection and cleaning of pipelines, comprising:
a central member;
a bypass valve in accordance with claim 1 which is arranged in the central member of the pig.

11. A pig for inspection and cleaning of pipelines, comprising:
a central member which is formed at least in part by a bypass valve in accordance with claim 1 .

Assignees

• Rosen Swiss Ag

Inventors

• Voss Wilhelm
• Krallmann Heiner
• Heile Nico
• Bremke Rene
• Schneke Daniel

Classifications

• F16K17/30 Primary

  spring-loaded · CPC title

• B08B9/0551

  Control mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• B08B9/0557

  Pigs with rings shaped cleaning members, e.g. cup shaped pigs · CPC title

• F16K17/044

  with more than one spring · CPC title

• F16K17/048

  combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices · CPC title