US 11,873,938 B2
Pressure-responsive, deformable, self-integrating pigging element for use in pipeline pigging applications
Roger L. Poe, Beggs, OK (US); Matt Logan, Broken Arrow, OK (US); John R. Morrow, Tulsa, OK (US); and Charles G. Boellstorff, Tulsa, OK (US)
Assigned to TDW Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by TDW Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/211,257.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,039, filed on Mar. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0301966 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 55/10 (2006.01); F16L 55/128 (2006.01); F16L 55/134 (2006.01); F16L 55/44 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/1283 (2013.01) [F16L 55/134 (2013.01); F16L 55/44 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipeline pigging element (10) arranged to change its size in an axial and a radial direction as a function of applied pipeline pressure when traversing an interior of a pipeline, the pipeline pigging element comprising:
an elastomeric body (11) including:
a first circumferential band (13) having a first section modulus;
a second circumferential band (15) located adjacent the first circumferential band in the axial direction and having a second section modulus different than that of the first section modulus;
each of the first and second circumferential bands changing at different rates from one another between an uninflated and an inflated state at the applied pipeline pressure;
the elastomeric body, when traversing the interior of the pipeline, having a first length and a first diameter at a first applied pipeline pressure and a second length and a second diameter different than the first length and diameter at a second applied pipeline pressure different than the first applied pipeline pressure.