SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PIPELINE DEVICE PROPULSION

• US 20150122364A1
• Filed: 11/05/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cheatham, Jesse R. III, Gates, William, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Pan, Tony S., Petroski, Robert C., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Duncan, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,709,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/98
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1283 Plugging pig
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1645 a sealing material being introduced inside the pipe by means of a tool moving in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1654 and being inflated
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/32 being self-contained
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/246 using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2823 using pigs or moles traveling in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid includes positioning a sealing device within the pipeline, moving the sealing device through the pipeline to a leak location, and internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the sealing device to substantially cover a leak opening and limit release of the fluid from the pipeline.

Claims

1. A method for sealing a leak in a pipeline used to transport fluid, comprising:

positioning a sealing device within the pipeline;

directing a portion of the fluid in the pipeline to a propulsion device coupled to the sealing device; and

moving the sealing device through the pipeline by combusting the fluid with an oxidizer within the propulsion device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising internally generating an inflation pressure to inflate the sealing device to substantially cover a leak opening and limit release of the fluid from the pipeline.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating the inflation pressure by a pyrotechnic reaction.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating the inflation pressure by a chemical reaction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sealing device includes the oxidizer.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

causing the oxidizer to react with the fluid within the pipeline to create the chemical reaction.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealing device is shaped such that the fluid is able to pass through the pipeline and past the leak location once the sealing device has been inflated.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes natural gas.

7-26. -26. (canceled)

28-54. -54. (canceled)

56-126. -126. (canceled)

127. A method of moving a pipeline device through a pipeline, comprising:

positioning a pipeline device within the pipeline, the pipeline device including a propulsion device; and

propelling the pipeline device through the pipeline using the propulsion device by;

directing a portion of a fuel traveling through the pipeline to a combustion chamber of the propulsion device;

directing an oxidizer from an oxidizer source to the combustion chamber; and

combusting the fuel with the oxidizer within the combustion chamber.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein the oxidizer source is provided at least partially within a housing of the pipeline device.

129. The method of claim 127, wherein the oxidizer source includes a conduit configured to direct the oxidizer to the propulsion system from a remote storage container.

132. The method of claim 129, wherein the remote storage container is provided to an exterior of the pipeline.

133. The method of claim 127, wherein the propulsion system includes a jet engine.

134. The method of claim 127, wherein the propulsion system includes a propeller engine.

135. The method of claim 127, wherein the pipeline device is configured to fly within the pipeline.

136. The method of claim 135, further guiding flight of the pipeline device through contact of a contact guide with an interior wall of the pipeline.

139. The method of claim 135, further comprising guiding flight of the pipeline device within the pipeline through use of a non-contact guide.

143. The method of claim 127, wherein the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine.

144. The method of claim 143, further comprising engaging an inner surface of the pipeline with a plurality of wheels, wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to power the plurality of wheels.

145. The method of claim 143, further comprising engaging an inner surface of the pipeline with a rotating track, wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to power the rotating track.

146. The method of claim 127, wherein an accessory device is coupled to the housing.

148. The method of claim 146, wherein the accessory device includes a sensor configured to acquire data regarding a condition of the pipeline.

150. The method of claim 146, wherein the accessory device includes a sealing device.

130-131. -131. (canceled)

137-138. -138. (canceled)

140-142. -142. (canceled)

147. (canceled)

149. (canceled)

151-154. -154. (canceled)

155. A method of moving a pipeline device through a pipeline, comprising:

directing a portion of a fuel traveling through the pipeline to a combustion engine of a pipeline device;

directing an oxidizer from an oxidizer source to the combustion engine; and

combusting the fuel with the oxidizer within the combustion engine to propel the pipeline device through the pipeline in an airborne manner.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein the oxidizer source is provided at least partially within a housing of the pipeline device.

157. The method of claim 155, wherein the oxidizer source includes a conduit configured to direct the oxidizer to the combustion engine from a remote storage container.

160. The method of claim 157, wherein the remote storage container is provided to an exterior of the pipeline.

161. The method of claim 155, wherein the propulsion system includes a jet engine.

162. The method of claim 155, wherein the propulsion system includes a propeller engine.

163. The method of claim 155, wherein the pipeline device is configured to fly within the pipeline.

164. The method of claim 163, further guiding flight of the pipeline device through contact of a contact guide with an interior wall of the pipeline.

167. The method of claim 163, further comprising guiding flight of the pipeline device within the pipeline through use of a non-contact guide.

172. The method of claim 155, wherein an accessory device is coupled to the housing.

174. The method of claim 172, wherein the accessory device includes a sensor configured to acquire data regarding a condition of the pipeline.

176. The method of claim 172, wherein the accessory device includes a sealing device.

158-159. -159. (canceled)

165-166. -166. (canceled)

168-171. -171. (canceled)

173. (canceled)

175. (canceled)

177-180. -180. (canceled)