Inflatable isolation tool with enhanced monitoring unit

An inflatable isolation tool for positioning in a pipe bore and providing a sealing barrier extending transversely across the pipe bore for isolating a section of the bore during replacement of a section of the pipe, the tool comprising a linear assemblage of components including:

• a front plate defining recesses housing gripper inserts moveable from unactuated positions within the recesses to actuated positions extending outwardly from the recesses to contact and grip the inner surface of the pipe to hold the tool stationary during operation;
• a back plate carrying support leg assemblies for assisting installation and removal of the tool within the pipe bore;
• an annular subassembly positioned between the front plate and the back plate, and comprising an annular core and an annular ring defining grooves for engaging a pair of identical front and back inflatable seal elements;
• the front and back inflatable seal elements being resilient, deformable and annular, and comprising threaded pipe lock nuts for coupling to a single gas inlet for inflating the front and back inflatable seal elements simultaneously, wherein when the front plate, the back plate, and the annular subassembly are compressed, the front and back inflatable seal elements are prevented from dislodging into the interior of the tool, and are inflatable simultaneously to be deformed radially inwardly against the annular subassembly and radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the pipe, thereby combining with the outer surface of the tool and the inner surface of the pipe to form a tightly sealed annular space.