Activation system for pipeline plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12338934-B2
Application number	US-202217838712-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2022
Priority date	Dec 4, 2020
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

A pipeline plug includes a plug body. The plug body includes an outer housing. The interior of the outer housing defines a pressure vessel. The pipeline plug includes a pressure head coupled to the plug body, a seal assembly, a gripper assembly, a movable head, and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a leadscrew, the leadscrew coupled to the movable head. The actuation mechanism includes a captive nut, the captive nut positioned within the pressure vessel. The actuation mechanism includes a motor, the motor operatively coupled to the captive nut and adapted to rotate the captive nut.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pipeline plug adapted for insertion by a running tool through a hot tap connection and into a pipeline under a pipeline operating pressure, the pipeline plug including a pivot link connectable to the running tool, and a seal assembly and a gripper assembly located between a pressure head and a moveable head, the pipeline plug further comprising:
an actuation mechanism including:
a roller screw coupled to the movable head;
a captive nut;
a motor, annular in shape, operatively coupled to the captive nut and adapted to rotate the captive nut, the motor including a stator mechanically coupled to an outer housing of the pipeline plug and a rotor positioned radially within the stator; and
a gearset comprising harmonic gearing, the gearset operatively coupled between the motor and the captive nut; and

wherein a shaft of the roller screw passes through the captive nut, the gearset, and the motor; and wherein the shaft is axially displaceable as the captive nut rotates.

2. The pipeline plug of claim 1 , further comprising a brake assembly including a brake rotor, wherein the shaft of the roller screw passes through the brake rotor.

3. The pipeline plug of claim 2 , the brake assembly including a brake stator coupled to the outer housing.

4. The pipeline plug of claim 2 , further comprising a plug controller, wherein at least one of the motor and the brake assembly is operatively coupled to the plug controller.

5. The pipeline plug of claim 4 , further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a current sensor, and a linear distance sensor, the at least one sensor operatively coupled to the plug controller.

6. The pipeline plug of claim 2 , further comprising a brake failsafe system, the brake failsafe system including:
a brake release cylinder formed in the outer housing;
a brake release piston positioned within the brake release cylinder; and
a brake release leg, the brake release leg coupled to the brake release piston, the brake release leg adapted to engage the brake assembly such that movement of the brake release piston due to differential pressure across the pipeline plug causes the brake assembly to disengage.

7. The pipeline plug of claim 1 , wherein the roller screw is mechanically coupled to the movable head by a frangible link.

8. The pipeline plug of claim 1 , wherein the movable head, at least one of the seal assembly and the gripper assembly, and the pressure head are tapered such that longitudinal movement of the movable head toward the pressure head caused by rotation of the captive nut causes the seal assembly and the gripper assembly to extend radially outward.

9. The pipeline plug of claim 1 , wherein the running tool is removable from the pipeline plug after the pipeline plug is positioned within the pipeline.

10. The pipeline plug of claim 1 , further comprising a power storage unit in communication with the actuation mechanism.

11. An actuation mechanism adapted for use in a pipeline plug including an outer housing and a seal assembly and a gripper assembly located between a pressure head and a movable head, the actuation mechanism comprising:
a roller screw adapted for connection to the movable head of the pipeline plug;
a captive nut arranged about a shaft of the roller screw;
a motor, annular in shape and arranged about the shaft of the roller screw, the motor operatively coupled to the captive nut and adapted to rotate the captive nut, the motor including a stator mechanically coupled to the outer housing of the pipeline plug and a rotor positioned radially within the stator; and
a gearset comprising harmonic gearing, the gearset arranged about the shaft of the roller screw and operatively coupled between the motor and the captive nut;
wherein the shaft is axially displaceable as the captive nut rotates and the axial displacement causes longitudinal movement of the movable head.

12. The actuation mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a thrust structure adjacent to the captive nut, wherein the shaft of the roller screw passes through the thrust structure.

13. The actuation mechanism of claim 12 , further comprising a bearing positioned between the thrust structure and the captive nut.

14. The actuation mechanism of claim 11 , further comprising a brake assembly including a brake rotor, wherein the roller screw passes through the brake rotor.

15. The actuation mechanism of claim 11 , wherein when the roller screw is in a fully extended position, the pipeline plug is in an unset position, and wherein when the roller screw is in a fully retracted position, the pipeline plug is in a set position.

16. A pipeline plug adapted for insertion by a running tool through a hot tap connection and into a pipeline under a pipeline operating pressure, the pipeline plug including a pivot link connectable to the running tool and further comprising:
a seal assembly adapted to engage a pipe wall and movable between an unset position and a set position;
an actuation mechanism adapted to move the seal assembly between the unset and the set positions, the actuation mechanism including:
a roller screw;
a captive nut;
a motor operatively coupled to the captive nut, the motor being annular in shape and including a stator mechanically coupled to an outer housing of the pipeline plug and a rotor positioned radially within the stator; and
a harmonic gearset operatively coupled between the motor and the captive nut;

wherein a shaft of the roller screw passes through the captive nut, the motor, and the harmonic gearset.

17. The pipeline plug of claim 16 , wherein when the roller screw is in an extended position, the pipeline plug is in an unset position, and wherein when the roller screw is in a retracted position, the pipeline plug is in a set position.

18. The pipeline plug of claim 17 , wherein the running tool is removable from the pipeline plug after the pipeline plug is in the set position.

19. The pipeline plug of claim 16 , further comprising a movable head, a pressure head, and a gripper assembly, the seal assembly and the gripper assembly located between the movable head and the pressure head, the roller screw connected to the movable head.

Assignees

• Tdw Delaware Inc

Inventors

• Giles Paul
• Fardsalehi Humon Glenn

Classifications

• F16L55/105

  Closing devices introduced radially into the pipe or hose · CPC title

• F16L55/28

  Constructional aspects · CPC title

• F16L55/1283

  Plugging pig · CPC title

• F16L55/44

  expandable · CPC title

• F16H2025/2087

  using planetary gears · CPC title