Rick D Pruett

US Patent:

6755916, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Jun 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/172691

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Kellyville OK

Assignee:

TDW Delaware, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B08B 904

US Classification:

134 8, 15104061

Abstract:

A method of distributing liquid present in the lower portion of a gas pipeline to the interior upper surface of the pipeline including the steps of passing a pig having a venturi therein, through the pipeline, the venturi being actuated by gas pressure taken from within the pipeline, the pig being asymmetrically weighted providing a pig upper portion and a pig lower portion, siphoning liquid from a lower interior portion of the pipeline through the venturi, storing liquid drawn from a lower portion of the pipeline in a reservoir carried by the pig, distributing siphoned liquid from the reservoir onto the pipeline upper interior surface and wherein the gas pressure is taken from a rearward portion of the pig.

US Patent:

6874193, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Mar 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/790454

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Kellyville OK, US

Assignee:

TDW Delaware, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B08B009/04

US Classification:

15104061, 1510403, 1510405

Abstract:

A pipeline pig that is moved by pressurized gas flow and that provides for distribution of treating liquid subsisting in the lower portion of the pipeline, having a pig body with a nose cone at a foward end thereof, centralizers affixed to the pig body by which it is supported in the pipeline, a bypass passageway within the nose cone communicating with the pipeline interior, a siphon passageway within the nose cone communicating with a lower portion of the pipeline interior and therby with any liquid subsisting therein and having an outlet end, and a venturi in communication with the siphon passageway and the bypass passageway, gas flowing through the bypass passageway serving to draw liquid from the lower portion of the pipeline through the siphon passageway whereby the liquid is discharged form the siphon passageway outlet end onto ineterior surfaces of the pipeline.

US Patent:

7827646, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Feb 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/028078

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Oologah OK, US

Assignee:

TDW Delaware, Inc. - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B08B 9/04

US Classification:

15104061, 1510405

Abstract:

A pipeline pig—that moves by pressurized gas flow and provides for distribution of treating liquid subsisting in a lower portion of a pipeline—having a longitudinally extending nozzle located at a forward end of the pig, an array of helical-shaped louvers located on the discharge side of the nozzle and arranged circumferentially, and two perforated sealing elements that create a cavity that serves as a low pressure plenum. The louvers create a vortex effect and the perforated sealing elements allow vapor and liquid in front of the pig to be drawn into the cavity and discharged through the ports and back into the discharge of the nozzle. In this manner, liquid subsisting at a bottom portion of the pipeline is dispersed to achieve a complete 360 coating application of the interior cylindrical wall of the pipeline.

US Patent:

20100000037, Jan 7, 2010

Filed:

Jul 3, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/167664

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Oologah OK, US
Robert F. Strong - Collinsville OK, US
Eric N. Freeman - Kiefer OK, US
Charles Culver Gidden Cooper - Arvada CO, US
Scott Douglas Nelson - Denver CO, US
Mark Russell Henault - Westminster CO, US

International Classification:

B08B 9/04

US Classification:

15104061

Abstract:

A pipeline pig includes a venturi and a modulating valve located rearward of the inlet side of the venturi. When the valve is in the open position, a predetermined maximum bypass flow is allowed through the venturi. The closed position allows a predetermined minimum bypass flow. The valve may be a poppet-style valve or a frusto-conical shaped stopper. The stopper has sufficient mass and/or aerodynamic drag to overcome the spring force holding the valve in the open position. When the pig stalls, the valve closes and the stopper chokes bypass flow through the venturi. When the pig starts running again, the valve opens as inertia forces the stopper away from the inlet side of the venturi. Also, as friction of the pig increases due to changes in the internal diameter of the pipeline or accumulation of debris ahead of the pig, increased airflow across the valve creates drag sufficient to partially overcome the spring force, thus keeping the pig moving at a desirable rate of travel.

US Patent:

20100180391, Jul 22, 2010

Filed:

Jan 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/355133

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Oologah OK, US
William Jack Rankin - Sapulpa OK, US

International Classification:

B08B 9/04

US Classification:

15104061

Abstract:

The present invention is a pipeline pig for cleaning the interior of a pipeline, the pipeline pig having a longitudinal pig body with forward and rearward elastomeric propulsion members affixed to and supporting the pig body substantially concentrically in a pipeline, the propulsion members functioning to move the pig body through a pipeline by the force of fluid flow and a plurality of spaced apart elastomeric diagonally oriented scrapers radially extending from the pig body, each scraper member having a semi-circular outer peripheral edge configured and dimensioned to engage the interior wall of a pipeline to thereby scrape and clean the interior pipeline wall as the pig is moved through the pipeline and provide additional support for the pig substantially concentrically in a pipeline. Orientation of the scraper enhances scraping effectiveness by slicing through any debris buildup, separating the debris from the inner pipe wall so that it can be pushed out of the pipeline by the pig discs or cups.

US Patent:

20110120499, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Nov 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/625169

Inventors:

Rick D. Pruett - Anchorage AK, US
Eric N. Freeman - Kiefer OK, US
Phillip K. Morrison - Broken Arrow OK, US
Brad E. McSweeny - Tulsa OK, US

International Classification:

B08B 9/00

US Classification:

134 2212, 15104062

Abstract:

This invention relates to a method and system for inserting a larger diameter foam pig into a tubular member, such as a pipe or pipeline, through a smaller diameter access connection when the tubular member contains a pressurized product flow. A foam pig sized appropriately for the tubular member is reduced in size so as to reside within a canister or vacuum-packed bag within the canister. The canister is located above an access connection to the tubular member. The reduced size foam pig is then injected from the canister through the small diameter access connection. As the foam pig enters into the interior space of the tubular member, the pig expands and turns and travels downstream of the access connection. The expanded foam pig has a diameter substantially equal to that of the tubular member and a volume substantially greater than that of the foam pig prior to its injection.

US Patent:

6406587, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Sep 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/656818

Inventors:

Gene R. Ralls - Tulsa OK
Rick D. Pruett - Kellyville OK

Assignee:

Connectra Fusion Technologies, LLC - Gainesville TX

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156293, 156296, 156499, 156538

Abstract:

An apparatus for fusing a plastic fitting on to a plastic pipe has first and second spaced parallel vertical support shafts each having a lower end removably attachable to the plastic pipe. A horizontal transverse housing is secured to an upper end of the support shafts and has a central opening therethrough that slidably receives a vertical main shaft. A brake supported by the transverse housing controls the vertical position of the main shaft. A transverse load cell has spaced apart openings slidably receiving the support shafts is affixed to a lower end of the main shaft. A hydraulically displaceable force shaft is telescopically received in an opening in the load cell and has a fitting holder at a lower end thereof. A hydraulic force generator in the load cell operated by a hand wheel displaces the force shaft to force a fitting held by the fitting holder against the plastic pipe.