Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs – Test plugs
Patent
1981-02-10
1982-08-03
Little, Willis
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
Test plugs
138 93, 277 34, F16L 5512
Patent
active
043423361
ABSTRACT:
An improved inflatable seal apparatus (10) is disclosed which includes an annular or closed loop seal element (30, 64) captured during use within an annular supporting channel (20, 54) having a somewhat T-shaped cross-section which is narrowest at its inner, or outer diameter, depending on whether the seal element displaces radially into contact with a body at its outer surface (44) or, inner surface (78), respectively. The seal element is "double-acting" and, when uninflated, is substantially completely positioned within the channel. Upon inflation of the seal element, its inner and outer walls (34, 36 and 68, 70) deflect to essentially the same extent and in the same direction while its radially extending side walls (38, 72) move radially relative to the channel to comply with the simultaneous unidirectional deflection of the inner and outer walls and thus produce a unique "double-acting" displacement. Each of the side walls of the seal element includes an axially extending flange (40, 74) to limit the radial movement of the inflated seal element within the channel upon contact with oppositely facing axially extending flanges (26, 28 and 60, 62) located in the channel, and to form a fluid tight seal between the contacting flanges. The seal element is removable from the support body (12, 46) in which the channel is located when half sections (14, 16 and 48, 50) of the body are separated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1710439 (1929-04-01), Taylor
patent: 2133730 (1938-10-01), Brundred
patent: 2927609 (1960-03-01), Vander Lans
patent: 3457959 (1969-07-01), Cooper
patent: 3578342 (1971-05-01), Satterthwaite et al.
patent: 3593749 (1971-07-01), Reardon
patent: 3689082 (1972-09-01), Satterthwaite et al.
patent: 3722895 (1973-03-01), Mevissen
Riddleberger Dennis M.
Satterthwaite J. Glenn
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