Wear indicator for use with pipeline pig components having a pipe wall contacting surface
A pigging device of this disclosure includes a wear indicator configured to visually indicate an amount of material loss of a pipe wall contacting surface. The material loss may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The pipe wall contacting surface may be any shape suitable, including but not limited to spherical-shaped, cylindrical-shaped, cup-shaped, disc-shaped, conical-shaped, frusto-conical shaped, bowl-shaped, and bullet-shaped. In some embodiments, the pigging device is a pipeline pig such as but not limited to a spherical foam pig, cylindrical-shaped foam pig, or a bullet-shaped foam pig. In other embodiments, the pigging device is a component of a pipeline pig such as but not limited to a cup or disc arranged about a body of the pipeline pig. The pigging device may also be a pigging disc element. The pigging device may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to an elastomer such as urethane.
1. A pigging device comprising:
a pipe wall contacting surface having a first size “S 1 ” at time “t 1 ”, a second smaller size “S 2 ” at time “t 2 ”, and a predetermined minimum effective size “S 3 ,” wherein t 2 >t 1 and S 1 >S 2 ≥S 3 ;
a pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator, the wear indicator configured to visually indicate an amount of material loss of the pipe wall contacting surface between S 1 and S 3 ;
the pipe wall contacting wear indicator including a first raised surface and a second raised surface located adjacent the first raised surface.
2. The pigging device of claim 1 , further comprising, the pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator being located on the pipe wall contacting surface.
3. The pigging device of claim 1 , further comprising, the pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator being located at a predetermined depth “D” relative to the pipe wall contacting surface.
4. The pigging device of claim 1 , further comprising, the pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator being located a predetermined distance D from the size S 1 .
5. The pigging device of claim 1 , the second raised surface having a same height as that of the first raised surface.
6. The pigging device of claim 1 , the second raised surface having a different height than that of the first raised surface.
7. A pigging device comprising:
a pipe wall contacting surface having a first size “S 1 ” at time “t 1 ”, a second smaller size “S 2 ” at time “t 2 ”, and a predetermined minimum effective size “S 3 ,” wherein t 2 >t 1 and S 1 >S 2 ≥S 3 ,
a pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator, the wear indicator configured to visually indicate an amount of material loss of the pipe wall contacting surface between S 1 and S 3 ;
the pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator including an insert having a first end with a first area and a second end with a second area larger than the first area, the first end being located nearer the pipe wall contacting surface than the second end.
8. A pigging device comprising:
a pipe wall contacting surface having a first size “S 1 ” at time “t 1 ”, a second smaller size “S 2 ” at time “t 2 ”, and a predetermined minimum effective size “S 3 ,” wherein t 2 >t 1 and S 1 >S 2 ≥S 3 ;
a pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator, the wear indicator configured to visually indicate an amount of material loss of the pipe wall contacting surface between S 1 and S 3 ;
the pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator including a first cavity having an open end and a closed end.
9. The pigging device of claim 8 , the open end located nearer the pipe wall contacting surface than the closed end.
10. The pigging device of claim 8 , the closed end located nearer the pipe wall contacting surface than the open end.
11. The pigging device of claim 8 , further comprising, the pipe wall contacting wear indicator including a second cavity having an open end and a closed end, the second cavity being spaced apart from the first cavity.
12. The pigging device of claim 11 , wherein a spacing between the first and second cavities is a predetermined spacing.
13. The pigging device of claim 11 , wherein a spacing between the first and second cavities is a random spacing.
14. The pigging device of claim 11 , the first and second cavities being a same size.
15. The pigging device of claim 11 , the first and second cavities being a different size.
16. A method of indicating wear of a pipe wall contacting surface of a pigging device, the method comprising:
inserting the pigging device into one end of a pipeline, the pigging device including:
a pipe wall contacting surface having a first size “S 1 ” at time “t 1 ”, a second smaller size “S 2 ” at time “t 2 ”, and a predetermined minimum effective size “S 3 ,” wherein t 2 >t 1 and S 1 >S 2 ≥S 3 ; and
a pipe wall contacting surface wear indicator, the wear indicator configured to visually indicate an amount of material loss of the pipe wall contacting surface between S 1 and S 3 ;
retrieving the pigging device at another end of the pipeline; and
visually inspecting the wear indicator to determine the amount of the material loss of the pipe wall contacting surface between S 1 and S 3 ;
wherein, the wear indicator at least one of:
a first raised surface and a second raised surface located adjacent the first raised surface;
an insert having a first end with a first area and a second end with a second area larger than the first area, the first end being located nearer the pipe wall contacting surface than the second end; and
a first cavity having an open end and a closed end.