Pipeline pig with longitudinally incompressible member

A pipeline pig of the type to be propelled through a pipeline by a pressure gradient in the line to clear accumulations and deposits of sludge, scale and other material from the walls of the pipe. The pig includes an elongated cylindrical foamed elastomer body member and a substantially incompressible column member, located generally co-axially within, and with ends extending beyond the ends of, the body member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
a. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a device for cleaning the interior surfaces of 
pipes, propelled therethrough by a pressure gradient therein. 
B. Description of the Prior Art 
In the operation of pipelines, it periodically becomes necessary to clean 
from the inner surfaces of the pipes accumulations and deposits of sludge, 
scale, debris, and other material. These cleaning operations are most 
commonly carried out by propelling through the pipe, by a pressure 
gradient therein, devices known in the art as pigs. 
There are a variety of designs of pigs available, most of which consist 
generally of a mass of resilient material having a generally circular 
cross section with diameter slightly greater than that of the pipe through 
which they are to be propelled. These pigs are most commonly cylindrical 
in shape, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,543,323 and 
3,277,508. Among other designs for pigs are spheres, described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,543,324, and devices with resilient material mounted upon a 
rigid central shaft, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,484,886 and 
3,541,628. Cylindrical pigs generally have rounded or pointed forward 
ends, examples of which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,538,531 and 
3,277,508. Having a rounded or pointed forward end enables the pig to pass 
obstructions more easily and to negotiate bends in the pipe. Additionally, 
some cylindrical pigs have a concave back end -- examples of which are 
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,538,531 and 3,602,934 -- which transmits a 
radial component of the force thereon caused by fluid pressure to the 
walls of the pipe, effecting a tighter fit. Finally, most cylindrical pigs 
are covered with strips of material which is harder than the resilient 
material of which the pig body is made. Additionally, some strips are 
applied to the pig in a helical pattern, serving to impart spin to the 
pig, thereby equalizing the wear over the surface of the pig. Examples of 
various striping patterns are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,204,274, 3,605,159 
and 3,389,417. 
One system for introducing pigs into a pipeline is described in U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,266,076. A supply of pigs is inserted into a launching tube having 
essentially the same diameter as the pipeline and joined to the pipeline 
in such a way as to allow a smooth passage of the pig into the line. 
Spaced longitudinally along the launching tube is a series of ports, 
connected by valved conduits, to a high pressure fluid supply line. The 
pigs are inserted into the launching tube in such a manner that spaces are 
left between the pigs, such spaces coinciding with the port spacing. To 
launch a pig, the valve immediately upstream of the most downstream pig in 
the launching tube is opened, allowing high pressure fluid to flood the 
space between the most downstream pig and the next most downstream pig. 
The pressure of the fluid upon the upstream end of the pig to be launched, 
being greater than that upon the downstream end thereof, forces the pig to 
move downstream in the launching tube and into the pipeline. 
Cylindrical pigs, as presently known in the art, are manifestly unsuited 
for use in the launching system described above. Since the operation of 
the system depends upon there being spaces between the pigs coinciding 
with the location of the ports, each pig must be rather precisely placed 
within the launching tube. To achieve such placement, personnel are 
required to ram each individual pig, independently of the other pigs, a 
specified distance into the launching tube. 
In addition to the problem associated with achieving proper initial 
spacing, a more severe disadvantage lies in the fact that the injection of 
high pressure fluid into the launching tube accomplishes not only the 
desired result of forcing the most downstream pig into the pipeline, but 
also the undesired result of forcing the upstream pigs further upstream in 
the launching tube. The upstream pigs may be so dislodged in the launching 
tube as to occlude the ports, making the system inoperable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved 
cylindrical pipeline pig that will automatically achieve proper spacing 
when inserted into a pig launching tube. It is a further object of this 
invention to provide an improved pipeline pig that will not become 
displaced in the pig-launching tube as other pigs are launched. 
Briefly stated, the improved pipeline pig comprises an elongated 
cylindrical body member formed of a resilient material, preferably 
polyurethane foam. Bonded within, and coaxial with, the body member is an 
elongated column member which is substantially imcompressible along the 
longitudinal axis thereof. The column member is of somewhat greater length 
than the body member and its ends extend beyond the ends of the body 
member. The column member is bonded within the body member so that the 
body member will not slide longitudinally along the column member. The 
invention may also include mechanical means for maintaining substantially 
constant the longitudinal position of the column member with respect to 
the body member. 
The column member may be cylindrical in shape, or it may be flat sided. 
Further, the column may include disc shaped end portions of greater 
diameter than the column member, joined fixedly at, and generally coaxial 
with, the ends thereof. 
The maintaining means may be in the form of one or more disc-shaped collars 
joined coaxially and immovably to the column member and within the body 
member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring first to FIG. 2, the pipeline pig of the invention is designated 
generally by the numeral 8. Pig 8 is generally comprised of a body member 
1 molded around a column member 2. 
Column member 2 is constructed so as to resist compression or buckling 
under longitudinal force, but so as to be flexible in response to forces 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, in order that pig 8 will 
pass obstructions, such as dents, in the pipe and negotiate moderate 
bends. Column member 2 is a molded solid cylinder of high durometer 
polyurethane. However, the form of column member 2 need not be limited to 
that of a solid cylinder, nor need the material of which column member 2 
is made be limited to polyurethane. Column member 2 may be of virtually 
any cross sectional shape. Likewise, column member 2 may be hollow. If, 
however, column member 2 is hollow, the ends thereof must be sealed in 
order that fluid will not flow therethrough. Additionally, column member 2 
may be constructed of any material which is resistent to longitudinal 
compression yet flexible. Examples of such materials are fiber glass and 
spring steel. The overall length of column member 2 with any end portions 
3, to be described hereinafter, affixed thereto must be substantially 
equal to the distance between the ports 12 of the launching system 10, 
also described hereinafter, with which pig 8 is to be used. 
Column member 2 has immovably joined thereto one or more disc-shaped 
collars 4. Collar 4 is molded as an integral unit with column 2. However, 
collar 4 may also be formed as a ring and slid onto column 2 and there 
fixed in place. A function of collar 4 is to keep column 2 from sliding 
longitudinally in relation to body 1. A related function is to transfer 
longitudinal forces between body 1 to column 2. Collar 4 is of 
substantially larger diameter than column 2 so that the longitudinal 
interface of collar 4 and body 1 is of large enough area to transmit 
forces between body 1 and collar 2 without causing damage to body 1. 
Joined immovably to the ends of column 2 are disc-shaped end portions 3. As 
with collar 4, end portions 3 are molded as an integral unit with column 
2. Similarly they may be formed as rings and slid into column 2 and there 
fixed in place. The face 20 of each end portion 3 is substantially 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of column 2 so that forces exerted 
on a face 20 will be transferred to column 2 substantially parallel to the 
longitudinal axis thereof. The diameter of each end plate 3 is 
substantially larger than that of column 2 in order to provide a greater 
area of contact between adjacent end plates 3 for the transmission of 
force to column 2. 
Body 1 is a generally cylindrical mass of polurethane foam molded coaxial 
with and bonded to column member 2. Body 1 is somewhat shorter than column 
member 2 and must be positioned so that neither end thereof extends beyond 
the ends of column member 2. Further, body 1 must be so positioned on 
column member 2 that no part thereof occludes any port 12 in launching 
system 10, to be described hereinafter. The primary function of body 1 is 
contact the inner surface of the pipe and thereby accomplish the cleaning 
purpose of pig 8. A secondary function of body 1 is to support column 2, 
thereby making said column more resistent to buckling. 
Body 1 may also incorporate features which are generally known in the art 
with respect to cylindrical pigs. For example, body 1 may be covered with 
helical strips 5 of material which will impart spin to, and increase the 
durability of, pig 8. Further, the back 7 of body 1 may be concave and of 
a flexible fluid impermiable material so as to transmit a radial component 
of the force thereon caused by fluid pressure to the walls of the pigs. 
Similarly, the nose 6 of body 1 may be convex so as to allow pig 8 to pass 
obstructions and bends in the pipe more easily. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, a portion of a typical pipeline pig launching 
system has been generally designated by the number 10. Launching system 10 
is comprised generally of a launching tube 9, connected to the pipeline 
through a downstream valved opening (not shown) and closed by closure 
plate 15 at upstream end 17, a high pressure supply line 14, and a 
plurality of valved conduits 11 connecting high pressure supply line 14 to 
launching tube 9 at ports 12. Each conduit 11 is fitted with a launcher 
valve V to control fluid flow therethrough. 
A plurality of pipeline pigs 8 (as many as there are ports 12) are inserted 
into launching tube 9 at upstream end 17. As each pig 8 is inserted into 
launching tube 9, each column member 2 thereof pushes against the column 2 
of the next pig 8 in launching tube 9, causing the next pig 8 and any pigs 
8 further downstream within launching tube 9 to advance. When the last of 
the pigs is inserted into launching tube 9, closure plate 15 is closed 
behind and abutts column member 2 of the most upstream one of pigs 8. 
Since column members 2 are of length essentially equal to the distance 
between ports 12, the loading operation automatically accomplishes proper 
spacing of said pigs. 
To launch a pig 8, valve V in conduit 11 immediately upstream of the most 
downstream of pigs 8 is opened, allowing fluid to flow from high pressure 
supply line 14 into launching tube 9. The high pressure fluid exerts a 
force on the most downstream pig at back 18 thereof, and upon the next 
most downstream pig 8 at nose 19 thereof. The force exerted upon the most 
downstream pig 8, being greater at back 18 thereof than at nose 6 thereof, 
causes said pig to move downstream in the direction of arrow 16 and into 
the pipeline. The force exerted on nose 19 of the next most downstream pig 
is transferred to column member 2 thereof by the interaction of the 
material of body 1 of pig 8 with collar 4 thereof. The force is in turn 
transferred to closure plate 15 via column members 2 of the remaining 
upstream pigs 8. 
Further modification and alternative embodiments of the apparatus and 
method of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in 
view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed 
as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in 
the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood 
that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be 
taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various changes may be taken 
in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. For example, equivalent 
elements or materials may be substituted for those illustrated and 
described herein, parts may be reversed, and certain features of the 
invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all 
as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of 
this description of the invention.