Pipes and tubular conduits – With closures and plugs – Inflatable
Patent
1995-01-30
1996-04-02
Bryant, III, James E.
Pipes and tubular conduits
With closures and plugs
Inflatable
138121, F16L 5510
Patent
active
055031889
ABSTRACT:
A pipeline flow stopper is insertable in a collapsed, deflated form in a pipeline through a tap hole and then inflated to temporarily block fluid or gas flow through the pipeline. The stopper comprises an inner inflatable bladder encased within an outer bladder casing. The inflatable bladder receives a pressurized gas and inflates to an inflated form within the pipeline. The bladder casing is constructed of fabric coated with a flexible polymer to render the fabric impervious to the fluid or gas in the pipeline. The fabric is joined together along seams either by stitching which is thereafter sealed by liquid seam sealer, cementing, vulcanization or the like, or the stitching can be eliminated entirely and all the seams electronically heat sealed to join them and prevent fluid or gas from escaping past the stopper through the seams. The bladder casing encloses the inflatable bladder and sealingly engages with the inner wall surface of the pipeline when the inflatable bladder is inflated to seal off the pipeline. In order to assist in preventing leakage of fluid or gas past the outside of the inflated pipe flow stopper and the inside of the pipeline wall, a flexible sealing member, such as an O-ring made of soft rubber or plastic, is placed circumferentially around the outside diameter of the bladder casing for sealingly engaging with the pipeline wall.
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