Abstract: A pipeline apparatus has a body configured to fit inside a pipeline. A flow channel is formed within the body and includes an inlet, an outlet, and a bypass channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being configured to receive a portion of a fluid flowing through the pipeline, and the outlet being configured such that the fluid flowing through the bypass channel flows out of the bypass channel through the outlet. A flow control valve is attached to the body and has a sleeve configured to move to vary a flow rate of the fluid flowing out of the outlet. A motor is provided in a chamber in the body and is configured to move the sleeve.

Abstract: An inline inspection system and method for calibrating an acoustic monitoring structure installed along a pipe. The system includes a pipe inspection vehicle; a microprocessor configured to attach a time stamp to a measured distance traveled by the pipe inspection vehicle; an acoustic source attached to the pipe inspection vehicle and configured to generate sound waves inside the pipe, the sound waves having predetermined frequencies and predetermined amplitudes; plural sensors disposed along the pipe and configured to record time of arrivals and intensities of the sound waves generated by the acoustic source; and a processing unit configured to communicate with the plural sensors and receive the time of arrivals, intensities and frequencies of the sound waves from the plural sensors. The processing unit calibrates the acoustic monitoring structure by calculating a distance between the acoustic source and a first sensor of the plural sensors.

Abstract: A pipeline apparatus has a body configured to fit inside a pipeline. A flow channel is formed within the body and includes an inlet, an outlet, and a bypass channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being configured to receive a portion of a fluid flowing through the pipeline, and the outlet being configured such that the fluid flowing through the bypass channel flows out of the bypass channel through the outlet. A flow control valve is attached to the body and has a sleeve configured to move to vary a flow rate of the fluid flowing out of the outlet. A conduit is connected between the flow control valve and a back face of the body and configured to communicate a high pressure of the fluid to the flow control valve.

Abstract: A trailing pig cleaning device is adapted to be dragged by a pig towing device. The cleaning device collects a predetermined quantity of debris. The cleaning device has a continuous outer surface portion of variable diameter urged into normal contact with the internal wall of the pipeline. The continuous outer surface portion presents a continuous upstream or leading edge portion for scraping debris from the cylindrical internal wall in advance of the outer surface portion. The device has a debris collecting surface portion extending radially inward from the outer surface portion for collecting the predetermined quantity of debris scraped from the cylindrical internal wall. The device has at least one debris and pipeline media bypass opening passing through the debris collecting surface portion permitting excess scraped debris to pass therethrough back into the pipeline and permitting media to pass thereby to propel the pig towing device.

Abstract: A pig towing device is adapted for movement through a conduit having bends and open T intersections. The pig has a front leading cup and a rear trailing cup adapted to seal with the conduit for propelling the device through the conduit. The leading and trailing cups are spaced apart a predetermined distance to maintain the seal with the conduit as the pig towing device negotiates past the open T intersections. The pig towing device has a flexible body interconnecting the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup. The flexible body is urged normally into a straight position extending along a central axis thereof to maintain the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup spaced apart by the predetermined distance. The flexible body has predetermined limited flexibility permitting it to bend relative to the central axis as the pig towing device negotiates through the bends in the conduit.

Abstract: A pipeline apparatus has a body configured to fit inside a pipeline. A flow channel is formed within the body and includes an inlet, an outlet, and a bypass channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being configured to receive a portion of a fluid flowing through the pipeline, and the outlet being configured such that the fluid flowing through the bypass channel flows out of the bypass channel through the outlet. A flow control valve is attached to the body and has a sleeve configured to move to vary a flow rate of the fluid flowing out of the outlet. A motor is provided in a chamber in the body and is configured to move the sleeve.

Abstract: A pipeline apparatus has a body configured to fit inside a pipeline. A flow channel is formed within the body and includes an inlet, an outlet, and a bypass channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being configured to receive a portion of a fluid flowing through the pipeline, and the outlet being configured such that the fluid flowing through the bypass channel flows out of the bypass channel through the outlet. A flow control valve is attached to the body and has a sleeve configured to move to vary a flow rate of the fluid flowing out of the outlet. A conduit is connected between the flow control valve and a back face of the body and configured to communicate a high pressure of the fluid to the flow control valve.

Abstract: A pig towing device is adapted for movement through a conduit having bends and open T intersections. The pig has a front leading cup and a rear trailing cup adapted to seal with the conduit for propelling the device through the conduit. The leading and trailing cups are spaced apart a predetermined distance to maintain the seal with the conduit as the pig towing device negotiates past the open T intersections. The pig towing device has a flexible body interconnecting the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup. The flexible body is urged normally into a straight position extending along a central axis thereof to maintain the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup spaced apart by the predetermined distance. The flexible body has predetermined limited flexibility permitting it to bend relative to the central axis as the pig towing device negotiates through the bends in the conduit.

Abstract: A hollow universal joint having a first member, a second member and a first hollow yoke ring coupling the first member to the second member to transfer rotational motion between the first and second members. The first hollow yoke ring has a first central axis. The first hollow yoke ring has first pivot points pivotally coupled with the first member. The first pivot points define a first axis extending therebetween. The first pivot points are spaced from the first central axis. The first hollow yoke ring comprises second pivot points pivotally coupled with the second member. The second pivot points define a second axis extending therebetween. The second pivot points are spaced from the first central axis. The first axis extends orthogonal to the second axis and the first and second axes each extend orthogonal to the first central axis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hollow universal joint having a first member, a second member and a first hollow yoke ring coupling the first member to the second member to transfer rotational motion between the first and second members. The first hollow yoke ring has a first central axis. The first hollow yoke ring has first pivot points pivotally coupled with the first member. The first pivot points define a first axis extending therebetween. The first pivot points are spaced from the first central axis. The first hollow yoke ring comprises second pivot points pivotally coupled with the second member. The second pivot points define a second axis extending therebetween. The second pivot points are spaced from the first central axis. The first axis extends orthogonal to the second axis and the first and second axes each extend orthogonal to the first central axis.

Abstract: A pig towing device is adapted for movement through a conduit having bends and open T intersections. The pig has a front leading cup and a rear trailing cup adapted to seal with the conduit for propelling the device through the conduit. The leading and trailing cups are spaced apart a predetermined distance to maintain the seal with the conduit as the pig towing device negotiates past the open T intersections. The pig towing device has a flexible body interconnecting the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup. The flexible body is urged normally into a straight position extending along a central axis thereof to maintain the front leading cup and the rear trailing cup spaced apart by the predetermined distance. The flexible body has predetermined limited flexibility permitting it to bend relative to the central axis as the pig towing device negotiates through the bends in the conduit.