Pipe for pipeline infrastructures

Abstract

A pipe with anti-degradation features used in industrial applications where pipelines carry a liquid with solid particles. The pipe having an abrasion resistant coating to protect the interior surface of the pipe. There being at least one band which is situated inside the pipe for particle collection. The particle collection path is used to collect solid waste that is commonly found mixed with the liquid waste.

Claims

1. An abrasion-resistant pipe system for use with fluids carrying solid material, the pipe system comprising: a modified pipe having an inner surface and an overall length, the modified pipe including a coating of abrasion-resistant particles adhesively attached to a portion of the inner surface along at least a portion of the overall length; and a flow-obstructing circular or semi-circular band affixed to the inner surface, the band positioned proximal to or within the coating of abrasion-resistant particles, the band having an outer joining surface that is configured to seat against the inner surface and a radial thickness greater than a thickness of the coating of abrasion-resistant particles, the band forming a flow obstacle for solid material traveling in the pipe sufficient to cause the solid material to accumulate such that the resulting accumulation of solid material further protects the interior surface of the pipe from abrasion.

2. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the coating extends along the entire overall length.

3. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the flow-obstructing band is affixed to the inner surface via friction between the joining surface and the inner surface.

4. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the flow-obstructing band has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the pipe, wherein the flow-obstructing band is affixed to the inner surface by compressing the flow-obstructing band to insert the flow-obstructing band into the pipe and releasing the flow-obstructing band to expand against the inner surface.

5. The pipe system of claim 4, wherein the flow-obstructing band further includes at least one pull handle connected to the flow-obstructing band, and wherein the flow-obstructing band is compressed by exerting force on the at least one pull handle.

6. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the coating extends along a portion of the overall length proximal to a flow inlet end of the pipe.

7. The pipe system of claim 6, wherein the flow-obstructing circular band is positioned distal to the flow inlet end.

8. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the radial thickness of the flow-obstructing band is 1.5 inches.

9. The pipe system of claim 1, wherein the flow-obstructing band is one of a plurality of flow-obstructing bands spaced apart along at least a portion of the overall length.

10. The pipe system of claim 9, wherein the plurality forms a series of flow obstacles along the at least a portion of the overall length of the pipe.

11. The abrasion-resistant pipe system of claim 10, wherein the coating further covers at least a portion of the plurality of flow-obstructing bands.

12. The abrasion-resistant pipe system of claim 10, wherein the abrasion-resistant particles have a diameter between 0.5 millimeters and 1.0 millimeters.

13. The abrasion-resistant pipe system of claim 10, wherein the abrasion-resistant particles are metallic.

14. The abrasion-resistant pipe system of claim 13, wherein the metallic particles are stainless steel balls.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pipe embodying features of the present invention for anti-degradation;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another version of a pipe embodying features of the present invention for anti-degradation; and.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of another embodiment of the present invention being used in a steel manufacturing process.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Overview

(6) As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment of a pipe 4 shows a perspective of the present invention. Within the pipe 4 and adhered to a portion of the inner surface of the pipe 7 is a layer of shot 6, the shot being made from hard particles. In this version of my invention I prefer stainless steel balls for the layer of shot 6 that are mixed with epoxy and sprayed onto the inner surface 7. The layer of shot 6 extends up the sides and down the pipe 4 only so far as is needed to slow solid materials. This is easily calculated and dependent upon the slope of the pipe 4 installation and the speed with which solid material laden fluids flow through the pipe.

(7) Also within the pipe 4 are shown two at least one bands 8. These at least one bands are made from steel, or other durable material, and have a certain amount of flexibility. They are attached to the interior, or inner, surface along a joining surface 9. A worker can position the at least one bands 8 inside the pipe 4 by grabbing onto the at least one pull handles 5 and manipulating the at least one bands 8 to fit where needed. The at least one bands 8 have a lip 10, essentially formed from the side of the at least one bands 8, that is useful for stopping solid materials (not shown) flowing through the pipe 4.

(8) As shown in FIG. 2, another embodiment of a pipe 23 shows a perspective of the present invention with a cutaway view. The pipe 23 has shot, hard particles, applied in a layer 26 on a portion of the interior surface of the pipe. There are a plurality of at least one bands 24 positioned within the pipe 23 along the length of the pipe 23. This creates a pathway for collecting solid materials (not shown) that flow through the pipe 23 and also a protective layer, via the hard particles, which slow the material and prevent the material from abrading the pipe's interior surface. I have found that the hard particles 26 and bands 24 become less effective further along the pipe and are not used 21, though they could be used for an entire extent of a pipeline infrastructure.

(9) I have found it preferable that the band be from 4 to 144 in diameter, but the size is suited to the pipe. Hard particles are best if measuring 0.5 MM to 1 MM depending on the diameter of the pipe, slope, elbows, and pipe length. However, any size hard particles can be used where the essential quality is to provide a hard surface layer that protects solid materials, flowing with the liquids through a pipe, from causing abrasion of the pipe's interior surfaces.

(10) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this illustration, a steel mill's blast furnace 31 is shown. Such a blast furnace is known to use water to cool the hot metal in its towers. That water is drawn away from the furnace and deposited into a waste water treatment plant. Most industrial processes use what is referred to as contact water to transport debris from their processed goods. This illustrated version of the present invention has a pipe 39 attached to a blast furnace discharge that water with solid materials flowing 33. The water and solid materials flow down the pipe 39. Water and solid materials travel over the hard particles, the shot, 35 and continues on over the at least one bands 37. The solid materials collect in a space 43 between the at least one bands 37. Cleaner water 41 flows down the pipe 39.

(11) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this illustration one aspect of a useful function of the present invention is shown for clarification. A pipe 44 has an interior surface 40. Though not shown, a hard particle layer precedes the at least one bands 41 and often that layer can also be made to cover the surface of the bands. The at least one bands 41 have a joining surface 42, which is essentially the underside of the at least one bands 41. That joining surface 42 is securely attached to the interior surface 40. This attachment occurs due to the torsion that the spring exerts against the interior surface 40. A user manipulates the at least one bands 41 by exerting force on at least one pull handles 49 that are fixedly attached to the at least one bands 41. Once in place the bands fit snugly in the pipe 44. More specifically, a user can compress the at least one band 41 to insert the band into the pipe 44 by exerting force on at least one pull handles 49 that are fixedly attached to the at least one bands 41. Once in place the compressed band expands to fit snugly in the pipe 44.

(12) The at least one bands 41 have a lip 45. I have found the at least one bands to be best if made of 1.5 thickness, though any size can be used. Solid material 47 that flows with a liquid through the pipe 44 gets stopped by the lip 45 and collects in a space 48 between the at least one bands 41. It is this collection of solid materials 47 that allows for easy removal of these undesired materials, and also prevents the solid materials 47 from traveling further down the pipe 44 and being discharged into the environment.

(13) Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with the reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

(14) Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function, or step for performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112, 6.