Apparatus and method for removing material from pipelines

摘要

A pipeline evacuating device includes a first relatively rigid portion and a second relatively deformable portion. The deformable portion is arranged to be compressable against the rigid portion when the device is forced through a pipeline by the reaction of the material in the pipeline against the force of movement of the device. The compression causes the second portion to deform to at least substantially slidingly seal against the inside of the pipeline. Efficient evacuation of the material from the pipeline is provided as the device is forced therealong.