Device for launching spherical pigs into a pipeline

摘要

An improvement in a device adapted to be connected to a pipeline for launching generally spherical pigs into the pipeline, which device includes an elongated barrel secured to the pipeline and having a forward end for passage of a pig from the barrel and an escapement means for allowing passage of the pig from the barrel into the pipeline. The improvement involves an elongated pig receptacle having an open end and adapted to be telescopically moved into the barrel to an inserted position with the opened end at the forward end of the barrel and the escapement means includes a first member carried by the receptacle, a second member fixed onto the barrel and interconnecting means for drivingly interconnecting the first and second members when the receptacle is in the inserted position within the barrel so that the member secured on the barrel can be moved in a manner to operate the member fixed and carried by the receptacle.