Method and Apparatus for Transporting Package Material in a Pipeline (Patent No: 673280)

Inventor: Canadian Patents and Development Limited

Location: Ottawa, ON

Comments: N/A

Description: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of transporting a substance which comprises
(a) flowing a carrier liquid stream through a pipeline,
(b) packaging said substance into a multiplicity of packages each having an axis of approximate symmetry and a substantially circular contour about said axis of a diameter less than the internal diameter of said pipeline,
(c) inserting at one location said packages serially into said pipeline stream,
(d) controlling the average velocity of said pipeline stream to render said velocity substantially
uniform and constant throughout said pipeline and to cause flow of said packages with said pipeline stream, and
(e) retrieving said packages from said pipeline at another location.

2. A method of transporting a substance which comprises
(a) flowing a carrier liquid stream through a pipeline,
(b) packaging said substance into a multiplicity of packages each having an axis of approximate symmetry and a substantially circular contour about said axis of a diameter less than the internal diameter of said pipeline,
(c) inserting at one location said packages serially into said pipeline stream,
(d) controlling the average velocity of said pipeline stream to render said velocity substantially uniform and constant through said pipeline and to cause flow of said packages with said pipeline stream at a velocity not substantially less than that of said pipeline stream, and
(e) retrieving said packages from said pipeline at another location.

3. A method of transporting a substance which comprises
(a) flowing a carrier liquid stream through a pipeline.
(b) packaging said substance into a multiplicity of packages each having an axis of approximate symmetry and a substantially circular contour about said axis of a diameter not substantially more than 9/10 of the internal diameter of said pipeline..
(c) inserting at one location said packages serially into said pipeline stream..
(d) controlling the average velocity of said pipeline stream to render said velocity substantially uniform and constant throughout said pipeline and to cause flow of said packages with said pipeline stream, and
(e) retrieving said packages from said pipeline at another location.

4. A method of transporting a substance as defined in claim 1, wherein said packaging step comprises the step of encapsulating said substance.

5. A method of transporting a substance as defined in claim 3, wherein each said package is of cylindrical form.

6. A method of transporting a substance as defined in claim 3, wherein each said package is of spherical form.


7. A method of transporting a substance as defined in claim 3, wherein said packaging step comprises filling a multiplicity of rigid-walled containers with said substance, said filled containers constituting said packages.

8. A method of transporting a granular substance which comprises

(a) flowing a carrier liquid stream through a pipeline,

(b) forming said substance into a multiplicity of shaped articles each having an axis of approximate symmetry and a substantially circular contour about said axis of a diameter not substantially more than 9/10 of the internal diameter of said pipeline,
(c) inserting at one location said shaped articles serially into said pipeline stream,
(d) controlling the average velocity of said pipeline stream to render said velocity substantially uniform and constant throughout said pipeline and to cause flow of said articles with said pipeline stream, and

(e) retrieving said packages from said pipeline at another location.


9. A method of transporting a granular substance as defined in claim 8, including the step of mixing said substance with a binder prior to said forming step.

10. A method of transporting a substance which comprises

(a) flowing a carrier liquid stream of lower density than that of said substance through a pipeline,
(b) forming said substance into a multiplicity of spheres each having an axis of approximate symmetry and a substantially circular contour about said axis of a diameter not substantially more than 9/10 of the internal diameter of said pipeline,
(c) inserting at one location said spheres serially into said pipeline stream,
(d) controlling the average velocity of said pipeline stream to render said velocity substantially uniform and constant throughout said pipeline and to cause said spheres to roll through said pipeline under the influence of said stream, and (e) retrieving said spheres from said pipeline at another location.