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The present invention relates to safety caps for lancing procedures, and a method of using said safety caps for cleaning of piping systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved safety cap fitting apparatus for use in cleaning a selected piping system (e.g., oil and gas well pipes to be cleaned onsite) that allows for the cap and lancing tools to be used in hard-to-reach places.
Pipe systems are typically used to carry material such as drilling mud on oil and gas drilling platforms. Drilling mud is a thick and viscous material that can adhere to the inner surface of the pipe bore and its fittings over time. Eventually this caked on drilling mud must be removed because it reduces the effective inside diameter of the pipe, thus reducing flow rates.
The apparatus of the present invention is an improved safety cap fitting apparatus for enabling piping systems such as oil and gas well pipes to be cleaned onsite and that allows for the cap and lancing tools to be used in hard-to-reach places. The present invention also includes an improved method of using the safety cap fitting apparatus to clean pipes onsite and in hard-to-reach places.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
The improved configuration of the lance-line clean-out safety cap fitting 10 of the present invention provides for possible access where space may be limited or unavailable. Fitting or safety cap fitting apparatus 10 has an adapter or flange 21 which is connected (e.g., welded) to housing or body 19. Flange or adapter 21 enables easy attachment of fitting 10 to a pipe flange 302, 303 that is part of a piping system 300 or other system where pipe flanges are used (see
Camlock fitting 31 can connect to pipe nipple/tube extension 28 with a threaded connection at 32 (e.g., NPT threading with pipe thread seal tape). Fitting 31 can provide camlock ears 33, 34. Pipe nipple or tube extension 28 has an internal bore 35 that is in communication with bore or interior 20 of housing 19. Housing 19 has catch cylinder 23. Preferably, proximal end portion 22 of cleanout stem/catch cylinder 23 is provided with hose stop plate or bushing 36. Plate 36 has opening 37 that is in communication with cleanout stem 23 bore/interior 38. Lance line 16 has a hose stop 63 that is preferably placed about 6-12 inches from the cleaning tool 11.
Safety cap fitting 10 may include a quick connect, quick disconnect connection such as a camlock fitting 31, preferably configured for connecting to a transfer hose 15 which is connected to pump 12 (see
Cleaning tool 11 dislodges debris, such as drilling mud, scale, or other unwanted paterial from the inside bore of components of piping system 300, by spraying cleaning fluid into pipe system 300 as shown by arrows 57 in
Flange or adapter 21 is preferably designed to connect (e.g., bolted connection 40) with a random or selected flange 302, 303 on a piping system 300 to be cleaned. In some embodiments, a high strength, rubber gasket or ring gasket 13 (see
The safety cap 10 or 10A of the present invention can be used in a method of cleaning piping systems 300 located in hard-to-reach areas or areas with limited space to work in. Preferably, the cleaning method comprises the following steps:
Preferably, the small opening 37, 47 at the proximal end of the cleanout stem is of a diameter that a lance line 16 can be placed through the opening 37, 47, but the cleaning tool 11 is too large to fit through the opening 37, 47. Thus, the lance line 16 must be placed through the opening 37, 47 prior to attaching the cleaning tool 11 to the lance line 16. In a preferred embodiment, a hose stop, hose stop plate, or hose bushing 36, 43 is placed at the small opening 37, 47 at the distal end 26, 51 of the cleanout stem or housing 19, 41. The lance line 16 is first threaded through the hose stop opening 37, 47, and then the cleaning tool 11 is attached to the lance line 16. The hose stop 36, 43 further prevents the cleaning tool 11 from being forced backward out of the cleanout stem or housing 19, 41 during cleaning operations.
Preferably, the housing or cleanout stem 19, 41 of the safety cap 10, 10A is shaped to allow access to pipes in hard-to-reach locations with limited space to work in.
Arrows 58, 59 (see
The present invention also inclues a method of cleaning a piping system 300 onsite, comprising the steps of:
In a preferred embodiment, the pipe nipple extension 28, 45 further includes a means for attaching a pump 12 to remove the discharge of step (e), such as a female camlock 31.
Preferably, the cleanout stem 19, 41 further includes a hose bushing 36, 43 at the small opening 37, 47 at the proximal end 26, 51 of the cleanout stem 19, 41, the hose bushing 36, 43 functioning to prevent the cleaning tool 11 from being forced backward out of the piping system 300 during cleaning.
In a preferred embodiment, shown in
In another preferred embodiment, shown in
In preferred embodiments, the flange adapter 21, 42 connects to the pipe flange 302, 303, 305, 306 via bolts 40. Preferably, a gasket 13, 49 is used between the flange adapter 21, 42 and the pipe flange 302, 303, 305, 306.
The safety cap 10, 10A can be used in cleaning a piping system 300 onsite on an oil and gas drilling platform, or offsite at a cleaning facility using the above methods.
The safety cap fitting apparatus 10, 10A of the present invention preferably comprises:
Preferably, the safety cap 10, 10A further comprises a hose bushing 36, 43 at the proximal end 26, 51 of the cleanout stem 19, 41 for engaging with a high pressure lance line 16 for cleaning.
More preferably, the cap 10, 10A further comprises a camlock 31 at the proximal end 29, 55 of the pipe nipple extension 28, 45 for engaging with a means for collecting discharge from cleaning. Preferably, the means for collecting discharge is a pump 12, which preferably is connected to the camlock 31 with a hose 15, as shown in
Alternately, the means for collecting discharge can be a container, such as a catch pan 14, also shown in
Preferably, the cleanout stem 19, 41 is welded to the flange adapter 21, 42, and the pipe nipple extension 28, 45 is welded to the cleanout stem 19, 41 at weld 27, 50.
In a preferred embodiment shown in
In another preferred embodiment shown in
Preferably, the flange adapter 21, 42 includes a flange having multiple bolt circle openings and a central flange opening, allowing the cap 10, 10A to attached to a flange 302, 303, 305, 306 of the pipe system 300 via the flange adapter 21, 42 using a bolted connection 40.
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only: the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/181,361, filed 22 Feb. 2021 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,541,436 on 3 Jan. 2023), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/974,432, filed on 8 May 2018 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,926,304 on 23 Feb. 2021), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/503,126, filed 8 May 2017; priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/503,126, filed 8 May 2017; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/974,432, filed on 8 May 2018; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/181,361, filed 22 Feb. 2021, is hereby claimed. Incorporated herein by reference are U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/503,126, filed 8 May 2017: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/068,441, filed 24 Oct. 2014: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/164,978, filed 21 May 2015: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/164,985, filed 21 May 2015: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/191,991, filed on 13 Jul. 2015: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/245,697, filed 23 Oct. 2015: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/329,341, filed 29 Apr. 2016; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/162,460, filed on 23 May 2016; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/162,540, filed on 23 May 2016.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62503126 | May 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17181361 | Feb 2021 | US |
Child | 18149132 | US | |
Parent | 15974432 | May 2018 | US |
Child | 17181361 | US |