Single or multi-durometer elastomer, self-actuating, dynamic, stress suppressor for hot tapping tools

A plugging tool (10) adapted for insertion into a lateral access connection (A) to a pipe (P), the plugging tool including wheels (13) at a nose end (11), a control bar head (20) at a rearward end (15), and at least one sealing head (30, 40) pivotally connected to the control bar head,

• the at least one sealing head including a sealing element (35) and a plurality of support segments (36) located on one side of the sealing element;
• the control bar head including an upper end (19A) connectable to a control bar and a primary and a secondary stress suppressor (50A, 50B) each located at a lower end (25) of the control bar head and each including a respective portion of an elastomeric element (51);
• the secondary stress suppressor comprising a pair of spaced-apart legs (21) having feet with angled lateral edges (23), the pair of spaced-apart legs defining a bridge volume (60) therebetween oriented in an axial direction of the pipe, the angled lateral edges including the respective portion of the elastomeric element;
• the primary stress suppressor comprising a bridge (57) located in the bridge volume, the bridge including the respective portion of the elastomeric element and unconstrained by the pair of spaced-apart legs in the axial direction of the pipe, the bridge further including an arch-shaped lowermost end (58) oriented in a circumferential direction of the pipe and extending downwardly past the feet.