Abstract: A method for butt welding first and second thermoplastic pipes to each other including the steps of locating the end portions of first and second pipes to be joined in clamps that are moveable towards and away from each other by the application of hydraulic pressure, the pipe end portions being moveable against a facer for trimming the pipe ends at a first predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, moveable against a heater for heating the pipe ends to a molten state at a second predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure and moveable towards each other while the ends are in a molten state to fuse the pipes at a third predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, determining the hydraulic pressure required to move the pipe end portions towards each to determine a drag force hydraulic pressure, adding the drag force hydraulic pressure to each predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure to obtain first, second and third operating hydraulic pressures, and butt welding the pipes to each other using the first, second and thi

Abstract: A machine for use in butt fusing in axial alignment plastic pipe having a selected maximum diameter is adaptable by the use of specially designed inserts secured in the lower portions of fixed and moveable clamps, the inserts serving to elevationally raise segments of pipes to be joined when the machine is used to manufacture a segmented pipe turn. In addition to the employment of inserts providing increased height of support for pipe segments, the pivotal upper portions for the fixed and moveable clamps are replaced by specially designed upper clamp portions that have contacting surfaces configured to accept inclined and elevationally upwardly supported pipe segments. By the use of such specially designed inserts and replacement upper clamp portions a butt fusion machine can be employed to manufacture segmented pipe turns of the maximum pipe diameter for which the machine is designed.

Abstract: A facer for use with a plastic pipe butt fusion machine, the machine being of the type that supports two lengths of plastic pipe in spaced apart, end-to-end relationship. The facer has a housing supportable to a butt fusion machine that includes a driven gear rotatably with first and second paralleled facer plates affixed to opposed surfaces of the driven gear. Each facer plate has shapers that, when forced against the ends of plastic pipe shave off portion of the pipe so that the ends become uniform and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. A motor is supposed to the housing and includes a drive shaft having a drive gear that is coupled to the driven gear by a chain. An overriding clutch connects the motor drive shaft to the drive gear.

Abstract: A cleaning device for passing through a pipeline for removal of ferro-magnetic debris includes an elongated body having at least two spaced apart elastomeric cups that fit within a pipeline to be cleaned, the cups supporting the body so that its elongational axis is substantially co-axial with the pipeline cylindrical wall. A carrier is supported by the body and has a peripheral surface spaced adjacent to the pipeline internal wall. At least one permanent magnet is supported by the carrier peripheral surface and adjacent to the pipeline internal wall. A structure is provided to maintain the magnet oriented in the direction of, or parallel to, and adjacent the pipeline internal wall bottom portion so that the magnet attracts and retains ferro-magnetic debris. In one embodiment the carrier is free to rotate about the elongated body so that if the cleaning device rotates as it moves through a pipeline the magnet or magnets carried thereby are always positioned adjacent the pipeline bottom interior surface.

Abstract: A method of inserting a sensor into a pipeline including the steps of securing a fitting onto the pipeline, tapping an opening in the pipeline through the fitting, installing a housing on the fitting, the housing having a nipple extending at an angle to the pipeline, attaching a sensor insertion assembly to the nipple, the insertion assembly having a launch tube movable axially between the insertion assembly and the pipeline, extending the launch tube from the insertion assembly and through the pipeline opening into the pipeline, the launch tube intersecting the pipeline at an acute angle and providing communication between the sensor insertion assembly and the interior of the pipeline, and passing a sensor from the insertion assembly and through the launch tube into the pipeline.

Abstract: An apparatus for plugging the interior of a pipe that is penetrated by an axis opening including an upright tubular plugger housing attachable at its lower end to have communication with the interior of the pipe through the opening. An elongated vertical cylindrical control bar is provided with a plugger at its lower end, the plugger being positioned through the opening into the interior of the pipe to close against further flow of fluid through the pipe. A jack is affixed to the plugger housing upper end and telescopically receives the control bar, the jack being pivotally affixed to the housing so that the control bar, having a plugger on the lower end thereof, can be pivoted relative to the housing and thereby relative to the pipe for proper positioning of the plugger in the pipe.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spherical pigging device for passing through a pipeline by forming a water soluble spherical core, affixing numerous magnets to the surface of the core, suspending the core within a spherical mold, pouring a liquid between the mold and the core that will cure to form a spherical body, removing the spherical body and dissolving the core to leave a hollow spherical body with the magnets encased within it.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-intrusively indicating the passage of a pipeline pig having a housing adapted to be supported adjacent the exterior surface of a pipeline through which a magnet carrying pig moves, the housing containing an armature formed of pole pieces of paramagnetic material having a narrow gap therein that receives a solid-state magnetic sensing member, the sensing member providing changing electrical characteristics in response to changes in ambient magnetic field intensities, and an indicator pivotally attached to the housing and normally held in a ready position by a latch, the latch being operated by a circuit controlled by the magnetic sensing member so that the flag is released to move to an operative position in response to a changed magnetic field intensity caused by the passage of a magnet carrying pig, the armature within the housing serving to increase the sensitivity of the magnetic sensing member.

Abstract: A sidewall applicator for heat fusion of a fitting to a plastic pipe has first and second spaced apart paralleled main shafts each having a lower end that is supported by rounding shells to the exterior of the plastic pipe so that the main shafts are supported in a plane that includes the pipe tubular axis. A housing is slidably supported by and positioned between the main shafts. A hydraulic displaceable force piston extends from the housing in the direction towards the pipe. A fitting holder is removably attached to the force piston which, in turn, removably supports the plastic fitting to be secured to the pipe. Brake arms are pivotally supported to the housing, each having an outer end that releasably engages one of the main shafts. An actuator piston supported in the housing is in closed communication with a fluid filled passageway within the housing, the fluid passageway being in communication with the brake pistons and the force piston.

Abstract: A cutter shell for cutting a circular opening in a metal object formed of a tubular boring portion and a head portion. The boring portion has a tubular sidewall and teeth at the forward circumferential end. The sidewall is of thickness not greater than the teeth. The head portion has an outer circumferential perimeter secured to the tubular portion rearward circumferential end, the head portion being attachable to a boring bar by which the cutter shell is rotated. A circumferential abrasive band is affixed to the exterior circumferential surface of the tubular sidewall for engagement with the wall of a hole as the hole is cut in an object by the teeth to smooth and round out the hole for improved cylindricality.

Abstract: A plastic pipe butt fusion machine has a base, a clamp on the base for securing a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp mounted on the base for securing a second length of plastic pipe to be fusion welded to the first in axial end-to-end alignment, the second clamp being moveable relative to the base, a spring positioned between the second clamp and the base so that when the spring is tension loaded the second clamp is urged in the direction toward the first clamp to thereby resiliently urge the plastic pipes held by the first and second clamps into axial abutted relationship during fusion.

Abstract: A magnetic disc for a cleaning device which is passed through a pipeline having a cylindrical internal wall. The magnetic disc includes a flexible circular disc body perpendicular to the cylindrical wall, the disc body having a plurality of radially spaced openings therethrough. A magnet is installed in each opening in the disc body, each magnet having poles oriented axially with the cylindrical wall. A pair of opposed retainer plates for each magnet are fastened to the disc body to retain the magnet in the disc body and to extend the magnetic field of action.

Abstract: A spherical pigging device for passage through a pipeline wherein magnetic sensors are located exterior to the pipeline. The device includes a non-ferrous spherical body. A plurality of magnets, each magnet having its poles radially aligned, are divided into two groups, a first group having its north poles facing the center of the spherical body and a second group having its north poles facing away from the center of the sphere.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring the wall thickness of a pipeline through which a fluid flows, the pipeline having an interior and exterior surface. The apparatus has a pig body supported by elastomeric cups to thereby cause the pig body to move by fluid flow through the pipeline. The pig body supports a plurality of multi-element transducers. Each transducer is made up of a large number of independent elongated rod-like crystal elements separated by a polymer, each having side walls, a front face and a bottom face. The rod-like elements are arranged so that the side walls are adjacent but mechanically isolated from each other, such as by an epoxy, with the front faces and bottom faces providing transducer front and bottom surfaces. A front metallic film and a bottom metallic film are applied to the front and the bottom surfaces. Each transducer is configured to have an impedance that closely matches the impedance of the pipeline fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus is providing for signal communication between the interior and exterior of a pipeline. A fitting is secured to the external surface of a pipeline, the fitting having a branch opening therein communicating with the pipeline interior. A plug member is sealably positioned in the branch opening, the plug member having a passageway therethrough. At least one conductor is received in the plug member passageway providing an apparatus to conduct an electrical signal from within to the exterior of the pipeline. A potting compound fills the passageway surrounding the conductor to seal the conductor in the plug against the leakage of liquids or gases.

Abstract: A fluid blocking device for a pipeline having a saddle fitting over an opening in the wall of the pipeline. The device includes an elongated, resilient plug passable through the pipeline opening to block passage of fluid through the pipeline. A resilient ring around the resilient plug mates with the opening in the pipeline and with the saddle fitting to form a fluid tight seal therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus for tapping an opening into an existing pipeline that is under internal pressure including an elongated tapping machine body having means on one end for attachment to a pipeline, a boring bar having a rotatable feed screw therein by which the boring bar is axially positioned, and a pressure responsive valve actuated by differential pressure between the interior of a pipeline and the interior of the tapping machine body to control hydraulic pressure inside the tapping machine body to thereby counterbalance the hydraulic force applied to the boring bar.

Abstract: A tool is provided for removing ferrous chips, such as those that fall into the interior of a steel pipe when an opening is drilled into the pipe. The tool has a stem arranged so that a rod can be attached to the upper end to manipulate the tool. A magnet is affixed to the lower end of the stem. An inner non-magnetic tubular casing is telescopically received on the stem, the inner casing having a closed end that normally fits against the magnet. An outer tubular non-magnetic casing is telescopically received on the inner casing. A coil spring urges the outer casing downwardly so that the inner casing having the magnet therein is normally received within the lower end of the outer casing, the outer casing being displacable when forced against an object to move the inner casing and magnet therein to attract ferrous chips. After pressure against the outer casing is removed, it telescopically extends over the inner casing and attracted ferrous chips to retain them against dislodgement.

Abstract: Two geophones located above an underground pipeline are spaced from each other and adjacent to both sides of a benchmark location. As a pig travels through the pipeline sound waves are generated. As a pig approaches a benchmark location, sound waves are received first by the geophone which is closest to the source of the sound waves, that is, the upstream geophone and then by the downstream geophone. The geophones generate electrical signals that are fed to a comparator circuit which is connected to upstream and downstream indicators, one of which is activated when a pig passes the benchmark depending on whether the sound was first received by the upstream or downstream geophone. An alternate embodiment adds a magnetometer at the benchmark location capable of sensing changes in the ambient magnetic field caused by the passage of a pig.

Abstract: A cleaning pig for use in a pipeline to be moved through the pipeline by the flow of fluid therethrough, the pig being formed of a cylindrical body of foam plastic material, the body having a cylindrical surface and the cylindrical surface having shallow depth channels formed in parallelled spiraled patterns. An elongated cleaning member is positioned in each of the channels. Each of the cleaning members has an integral substratum of a width less than the width of a channel and each of the cleaning members has integral upstanding spaced apart studs projecting from the substratum upper surface, the studs each having a top surface that extends above the pig body external cylindrical surface, the substratum lower surface being bonded to the cylindrical body. The upstanding studs each has a top surface to non-abrasively contact and clean the interior surface of a pipeline.