System and method for providing upkeep and maintenance to piping systems
OwnerJames M Hendersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for providing upkeep and maintenance to piping including in improved pipe freezing apparatus. In a specific embodiment, the system is quite useful to replace worn valves that may require digging underground to expose enough of the pipe system. Novel tools for removing the valve are additionally provided by the present invention. The preferred embodiment further improves upon job safety when using CO2 (dry ice) evaporating and venting the chamber as a gas displacing oxygen. The novel design of the pipe freezing apparatus described herein can be installed by hand without tools. Said design further obviates a need for a specifically designed vent for the pipe freezing apparatus.
Claims9
A system for providing upkeep and maintenance to a piping system including a pipe comprising:
- a pipe freezing apparatus mountable around the pipe to freeze a plug of liquid within the pipe including:
- a first half pipe portion having a cylindrical outer wall;
- a semi-circular end plate fixedly welded to the first half pipe portion, the semi-circular end plate configured to fit around a predetermined pipe diameter;
- and
- a swivel injector permanently affixed to the first half pipe portion having the cylindrical outer wall and protruding outwardly from the cylindrical outer wall, cylindrical shape for attachment to a refrigerant supply hose, the swivel injector further configured to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the first half pipe portion;
- and the swivel injector further comprising:
- a circular rotatable head at a second end opposite a first end, the circular rotatable head having a diameter greater than a diameter of a hole in the cylindrical outer wall;
- a convergent divergent nozzle extending through the hole for delivering compressed refrigerant to atmospheric pressure in the pipe freezing apparatus;
- and
- wherein the circular rotatable head at the second end opposite the first end is situated on an inside surface of the cylindrical outer wall relative to the pipe freezing apparatus, the cylindrical outer wall having a recessed flat portion carved out of an outside surface of the cylindrical outer wall opposite the inside surface, and further comprising a circular clasp configured around and contacting the recessed flat portion, the circular clasp being slidable within the recessed flat portion, which creates a swiveling effect, wherein the hole in the cylindrical outer wall connects said inside surface with said outside surface;
- and
- further the system comprising one or more tools for providing maintenance to the piping system, the one or more tools for performing one or more of a plurality of functions, the one or more of the plurality of functions including removing a valve.
A pipe freezing apparatus mountable around a pipe to freeze a plug of liquid within the pipe, the pipe freezing apparatus including:
- a first half pipe portion having a cylindrical outer wall;
- a semi-circular end plate fixedly welded to the first half pipe portion, the semi-circular end plate configured to fit around a predetermined pipe diameter;
- and
- a swivel injector permanently affixed to the first half pipe portion having the cylindrical outer wall and protruding outwardly from the cylindrical outer wall, and having a cylindrical shape for attachment to a refrigerant supply hose, the swivel injector further configured to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the first half pipe portion;
- and the swivel injector further comprising:
- a circular rotatable head at a second end opposite a first end, the circular rotatable head having a diameter greater than a diameter of a hole in the cylindrical outer wall;
- a convergent divergent nozzle extending through the hole for delivering compressed refrigerant to atmospheric pressure in the pipe freezing apparatus;
- and
- wherein the circular rotatable head at the second end opposite the first end is situated on an inside surface of the cylindrical cuter wall relative to the pipe freezing apparatus, the cylindrical outer wall having a recessed flat portion carved out of an outside surface of the cylindrical outer wall opposite the inside surface, and further comprising a circular clasp configured around and contacting the recessed flat portion, the circular clasp being slidable within the recessed flat portion, which creates a swiveling effect, wherein the hole in the cylindrical outer wall connects said inside surface with said outside surface, and wherein the first end comprises threads for coupling to a refrigent supply hose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.