OPERATIONS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, NFP Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130186477 | INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF INFLATABLE PIPELINE FLOW STOPPER BAGS - An apparatus for fluid flow control, including flow stoppage, in a pipe having a saddle fitting with an axially extending outer launch tube and a coaxially aligned inner launch tube longitudinally split into two inner launch tube halves disposed within the axially extending outer launch tube. At least one inflatable flow stopper bag is disposed within the inner launch tube for stopping flow of a fluid through the pipe with which the saddle fitting is connected. An inner launch tube control rod for manipulating each of the inner launch tube halves during the inflatable stopper insertion and removal processes is connected with each of the inner launch tube halves, and a flow stopper bag control rod for manipulating the inflatable flow stoppers is connected with each of the inflatable flow stopper bags. | 07-25-2013 |
20120150338 | SADDLE-SHAPED TRAJECTORY GENERATOR FOR TWO INTERSECTING PIPES - An apparatus for generating a saddle-shaped trajectory for intersection of two cylindrical conduits. The apparatus includes an encoder module, a motorized axial module connected with the encoder module and movable only in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of an intersecting cylindrical conduit and a motorized rotatable module connected with the motorized axial module and rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the intersecting cylindrical conduit. Control software provided in one of the modules includes an algorithm providing control of the modules for generation of the saddle-shaped trajectory on the two cylindrical conduits. The algorithm requires input of only a radius of each of the cylindrical conduits. | 06-14-2012 |
20120043960 | NON-INTRUSIVE DETECTION OF LIVE ELECTRICAL LINES - A method for determining a presence of live 3-phase electrical lines inside a buried pipe or conduit from outside the pipe or conduit and preferably from an above ground location. A sensor suitable for detecting vibratory signals is placed on the ground proximate the location of the buried pipe. The sensor is then used to determine the presence of a current frequency signal and a current harmonic frequency signal, whereby presence of the current frequency signal and/or the current harmonic frequency signal corresponds to a presence of a live 3-phase electrical line within the buried pipe or conduit. Although intended primarily for use in connection with buried pipes, the method may also be employed on exposed pipes and conduits. | 02-23-2012 |
20100012199 | LOW PRESSURE DIRECTIONAL STOP BYPASS DEVICE - A low pressure directional stop bypass device including a saddle fitting having an axially extending tubular connection element having a connection element wall forming a lateral bypass port, a valve assembly connected with the axially extending tubular connection element having a first valve port in fluid communication with the lateral bypass port and having a second valve port, and a stuffing box connected with the second valve port. A launch tube assembly is inserted through the stuffing box and the valve assembly into the axially extending tubular connection element. The launch tube element includes an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member disposed within the outer tubular member, and a stopper supply tube having a leading end and a trailing end and disposed within the inner tubular member. A flexible inflatable stopper plug connected with the leading end of the stopper supply tube. Connected with the outlet end of the outer tubular member is at least one guidance pin which ensures insertion of the flexible inflatable stopper plug into a pipe fitted with the saddle fitting in a predetermined direction. | 01-21-2010 |
20090277270 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING JOINED MATERIAL INTERFACES - A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest. | 11-12-2009 |