Deployment of equipment into fluid containers and conduits

• US 6,889,703 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pure Technologies Limited (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WRC, PLC (RSK Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bond, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 738/638.1, 738/638.3, 738/638.6, 738/665, 738/669, 73/405.R, 73/405.A, 738/658, 137/15.12, 137/15.13, 137/15.14, 137/15.15, 137/317, 137/318, 137/1, 137/15.08, 137/315.01, 254/134.3, 254/134.3 FT, 254/134.4, 254/134.3 R, 251/62, 251/63.5, 251/63.6
• US Class Current: 137/317
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/30 Inspecting, measuring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/60 Stopping leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/46 Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/48 Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/246 using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0441 Repairing, securing, replacing, or servicing pipe joint, valve, or tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0458 Tapping pipe, keg, or tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/612 Tapping a pipe, keg, or apertured tank under pressure

Abstract

Apparatus for deploying equipment in a fluid container or fluid conduit comprises a fluid housing having an outlet aperture, the fluid housing being adapted to be secured to the container or conduit such that the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container or conduit. The apparatus further includes a piston in the fluid housing dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the interior of the container or conduit via the outlet aperture when the fluid housing is secured in fluid communication with the container or conduit. The piston is movable within the fluid housing toward the outlet aperture in response to increases of fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber. The apparatus further includes a guide means for guiding deployment of the equipment into the container or conduit. The guide means is secured to the piston, whereby movement of the piston within the fluid housing can move the guide means at least partially into the container or conduit through said outlet aperture.

Claims

1. Apparatus for deploying equipment into a fluid container, comprising:

a fluid housing having an outlet aperture, the fluid housing being adapted to be secured to the container such that the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container;

a piston in the fluid housing dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the interior of the container via the outlet aperture when the fluid housing is secured to the container and the equipment is deployed therein, the piston being movable within the fluid housing towards the outlet aperture in response to an increase of fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber; and

a guide means for guiding deployment of the equipment into the container, the guide means being secured to the piston, whereby movement of the piston within the fluid housing can move the guide means at least partially into the container through said outlet aperture.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a guide tube through which the equipment can be deployed into the container.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guide tube is a wire reinforced hose.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide means is sufficiently flexible that it can bend when deployed in the container.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide means has a free end which is provided with a protective fitting.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the protective fitting is a metal ferrule.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber, and a pump for pumping fluid from the fluid reservoir to the first fluid chamber in order to move the piston towards the outlet aperture.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pump is a hand pump, and the fluid reservoir is a self-contained reservoir provided in the hand pump.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pump is a powered pump.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means to place the first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the fluid within the container, and a booster pump for pumping fluid from the container to the first fluid reservoir in order to move the piston towards the outlet aperture.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow restriction which restricts the rate at which fluid can flow out of the first fluid chamber.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid housing includes an inlet aperture.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inlet aperture is provided with a fluid tight seal to prevent the egress of fluid from the fluid housing during insertion of the equipment into the fluid housing.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an elongate carrier which is adapted to be secured to the equipment, whereby the equipment can be deployed by pushing the carrier through the fluid housing inlet aperture, through the fluid housing outlet aperture, and into the container.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a winch assembly for pushing the carrier through the fluid housing, the winch assembly comprising a rotatable wheel having a peripheral surface with a groove therein, and means to press the carrier into engagement with the rotatable wheel within the groove.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the means to press the carrier into engagement with the rotatable wheel comprises at least one guide wheel which is adapted to be forced into contact with the carrier.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a chamfered guide tube through which the carrier is passed prior to being passed to the fluid housing.

18. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the carrier is wrapped at least one time around the rotatable wheel.

19. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the carrier is wrapped less than or equal to halfway about a circumference of the rotatable wheel.

20. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a drive means for rotating the rotatable wheel, and wherein the drive means has a maximum drive force which is set at a level below a buckling compressive force of the carrier.

21. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a groove alignment guide for guiding the carrier into alignment with the groove in the rotatable wheel.

22. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means to measure a distance traveled by the carrier.

23. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a drogue adapted to be secured to the equipment, in such a way that when the equipment is deployed in the container, the drogue is deployed in the container ahead of the equipment.

24. Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a drogue adapted to be secured to the carrier, in such a way that when the equipment is deployed in the container, the drogue is deployed in the container ahead of the equipment.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the drogue is collapsible, so that the drogue can be deployed in the container in a collapsed state, and can adopt an open state when in the container.

26. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the carrier is sufficiently stiff to be pushed into the container, through the fluid housing, without buckling.

27. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the carrier is selected to be neutrally buoyant when disposed in fluid in the container.

28. Apparatus for deploying equipment in a fluid container, comprising:

a fluid housing having an outlet aperture, the fluid housing being adapted to be secured to the container such that the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container; and

a piston in the fluid housing dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the interior of the container via the outlet aperture when the fluid housing is secured to the container and the equipment is deployed therein, the piston being movable within the fluid housing in response to an increase of fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber, and wherein the piston is adapted to be secured to the equipment,

whereby movement of the piston within the fluid housing can deploy the equipment at least partially in the container through said outlet aperture.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the equipment is adapted to be secured to the container by means of an elongate at least semi-rigid support which is secured to the piston.

30. A method of deploying an article in a fluid container, comprising the steps of:

securing a deployment apparatus to the container, the deployment apparatus comprising a fluid housing having an outlet aperture that is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container when the apparatus is secured to the container, and a piston dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with an interior of the container via the outlet aperture when the apparatus is secured to the container and the equipment is deployed therein, and a guide means secured to the piston;

increasing fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber in order to move the piston towards the outlet aperture and thereby move the guide means through the outlet aperture at least partly into the interior of the container; and

guiding deployment of the equipment in the container using the guide means.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the guide means comprises a guide tube, and the equipment is deployed in the container by moving the equipment through the guide means.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein the fluid housing includes an inlet aperture, and the equipment is moved into the guide means through the inlet aperture.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the container is a fluid conduit, and wherein the equipment is deployed into the conduit at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein the container is a fluid conduit, and wherein the equipment is deployed into the conduit at an angle of approximately 90°

to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein the container is a fluid conduit, and wherein the equipment is moved into alignment with a centre line of the conduit after it has been deployed in the conduit.

36. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of pumping a fluid into the first fluid chamber in order to move the piston towards the outlet aperture.

37. A method of deploying an article in a fluid container, comprising the steps of:

securing a deployment apparatus to the container, the deployment apparatus comprising a fluid housing having an outlet aperture that is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container when the apparatus is secured to the container, and a piston dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with an interior of the container via the outlet aperture when the apparatus is secured to the container and the equipment is deployed therein;

securing the equipment to the piston; and

increasing fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber in order to move the piston towards the outlet aperture and thereby move the equipment through the outlet aperture at least partly into the interior of the container.