Patent ID: 7856997

Claim:
A removable automatic insertion apparatus with an extendable segmented drainage shaft for draining unwanted liquids from a pressurized pipeline comprising: the extendable segmented drainage shaft being formed from a plurality of independent hollow drainage shaft segments which engage each other, the extendable drainage shaft further including a segmented hollow actuation tube being formed from a plurality of independent hollow actuation tubing segments, each being slightly longer than the length of each drainage tube segment, each actuation tube segment being connected to the other, the drainage shaft and the actuation tube being extended on a segment by segment basis into the pipeline and being withdrawn on a segment by segment basis; a connector positioned proximate the pipeline through which the extendable drainage shaft is inserted into the pipeline, the connector sealing against the escape of pipeline pressure and further including a locking assembly to selectively secure the extended drainage shaft inside the pipeline to the connector, after each drainage shaft segment has been inserted into the pipeline to prevent unwanted expulsion of the extended drainage shaft from the pipeline due to pipeline pressure; the removable automatic insertion apparatus for the extendable drainage shaft having: a double acting piston/cylinder with an insertion rod extending from the piston and outside of the double acting cylinder, the tip of the insertion rod engaging each drainage shaft segment as it is inserted into the pipeline; an extension assembly separating the double acting piston/cylinder from the connector at least the distance of a drainage shaft segment; and a termination assembly attached to the tip of the extendable drainage shaft, the termination assembly having a drainage valve element and a drainage valve actuation assembly; and the segmented hollow actuation tube in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and connected on the other end to the termination assembly, the source of pressurized fluid forcing fluid through the segmented hollow actuation tube into the drainage valve actuation assembly to move the drainage valve element from the normally closed position to the open position allowing liquids to be forced past the drainage valve element through the hollow extendable drainage shaft and out of the pipeline due to pipeline pressure.