Assembly for insertion of an object into a pipeline

Abstract

An assembly for insertion of an object into a pipeline comprises a base, a connector, and a set of pins. The base has a cylindrical passage and is connected to a mechanism for configured to drive the object into an inlet in the pipeline. The connector includes a head and a cylinder with a threaded internal surface and a an external surface having a groove spanning a extending around the circumference of the external surface. The connector is rotatable within the cylindrical passage in the base in a first direction and is held substantially axially stationary within the cylindrical passage in the base in a second direction by the set of pins in cooperation with the groove. The base is rotatable in the first direction and held substantially stationary in the second direction while connected to the inlet in the pipeline by the connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for insertion of an object into a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having a cylindrical passage defining an axis, the base connected to a mechanism configured to drive the object into an inlet in the pipeline; 
 a connector including a head and a cylinder with a threaded internal surface and a an external surface having a groove spanning extending around a circumference of the external surface, the connector rotatable within the cylindrical passage in the base in a first direction and held substantially axially stationary within the cylindrical passage in the base in a second direction by a set of pins in cooperation with the groove; and 
 wherein the base is rotatable in the first direction and held substantially stationary in the second direction while connected to the inlet in the pipeline by the connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: a rod insertable into the connector through a slot formed in the base matched to a slot formed in the connector, the rod passable through the cylindrical passage in the base, through the cylinder of the connector, and into the inlet in the pipeline, the rod drivable into the inlet in the pipeline by the mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further including a guide assembly connected to the pipeline and having a joint for attachment with the connector, the rod having an outer diameter with a dimension being substantially the same as a dimension of an inner diameter of the inlet in the pipeline a cylindrical passage in the joint. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein rotation of the connector within the base aligns the slot formed in the base with the slot formed in the connector. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the slot formed in the connector extends an the entire length of the connector. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim  1 , 3 wherein the threaded internal surface of the connector is matched configured to be mated mate with an external threaded surface of the inlet in the pipeline joint. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a coupon for indicating a level of corrosion within the pipeline. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the connector is hexagonal. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base remains axially substantially stationary while the connector is rotated to connect to the inlet. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is made from a material selected to reduce an amount of galling between the connector and the base. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is made from a material comprising of aluminum. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is made from a material comprising of brass. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for insertion of an object into a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having a cylindrical passage, the base connected to a mechanism for configured to drive the object into an inlet in the pipeline;   a connector including a head and a cylinder with a threaded internal surface and a external surface having a groove spanning a circumference of the external surface, the connector rotatable within the cylindrical passage in the base in a first direction and held substantially stationary within the cylindrical passage in the base in a second direction by a set of pins in cooperation with the groove, the threaded internal surface of the connector matched to be mated with an external threaded surface of the inlet in the pipeline;   a rod insertable into the connector through a slot formed in the base matched to a slot formed in the connector, the rod passable through the cylindrical passage in the base, through the cylinder of the connector, and into the inlet in the pipeline, the rod drivable into the inlet in the pipeline by the mechanism; and   wherein the base is rotatable in the first direction and held substantially stationary in the second direction while connected to the inlet in the pipeline by the connector.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , the rod having an outer diameter with a dimension substantially the same as a dimension of an inner diameter of the inlet in the pipeline. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein rotation of the connector within the base aligns the slot formed in the base with the slot formed in the connector. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the slot formed in the connector extends an entire length of the connector. 
     
     
       17. A method for connecting an apparatus for insertion of an object into a pipeline with an inlet in the pipeline, the method comprising:
 inserting a outer surface of a connector into a cylindrical passage in a base, wherein the outer surface of the connector has a groove spanning a circumference of the connector, wherein the connector is rotatable within the cylindrical passage in the base in a first direction, wherein the base is connected to a mechanism for configured to drive the object into the inlet in the pipeline;   rotating a head of the connector to connect a threaded inner surface of the connector to a threaded outer surface of the inlet in the pipeline; and   inserting a set of pins into the base and in cooperation with the groove to hold the connector substantially stationary within the cylindrical passage in the base in a second direction, wherein the base is rotatable in the first direction and held substantially stationary in the second direction while connected to the inlet in the pipeline by the connector.   
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 rotating the base about the connector to align a slot formed in the base with a slot formed in the connector; and 
 inserting a rod into the connector through the slot formed in the base and the slot formed in the connector, wherein the rod is drivable into the inlet using the mechanism. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the slot formed in the connector extends an entire length of the connector further comprising:
 removing the connector by rotating a head of the connector to disconnect the threaded inner surface of the connector from the threaded outer surface of the inlet in the pipeline, withdrawing the set of pins from the groove, separating the connector from the base, and removing the connector from around the rod using the slot formed in the connector while the rod remains inserted in the base and inlet.   
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the connector is made from a material selected to reduce an amount of galling between the connector and the base.