Pipeline joint tester

A high-pressure joint tester, for testing the ability of pipeline joints to retain fluids under pressure, including in combination:

• a rigid annular frame having a cylindrical wall with first, second, third, and fourth radially outwardly extending walls integral therewith,
• a first hollow annular inflatable ring filling the space between said first and second walls and having a circular interior passage and an inlet in an inner cylindrical wall of the ring,
• a second hollow annular inflatable ring filling the space between said third and fourth walls and having a circular interior passage and an inlet in an inner cylindrical wall thereof,
• a support mount secured to the interior of said frame's cylindrical wall,
• ring inflating means supported by said support mount for sending a fluid under pressure into said rings for inflating them,
• fluid inlet means leading through said frame's cylindrical wall between said second and third radially outwardly extending walls,
• a fluid control valve connected at its outlet to said fluid inlet means and having an inlet for fluid under pressure,
• a pressure gauge connected to the outlet of said fluid control valve,
• a plurality of rollers mounted on a lower portion of said frame and supporting the frame for movement through a pipeline whose joint or joints are to be tested, and
• air drain means extending through and above the frame's cylindrical wall at the highest portion thereof above said rollers and between said second and third radially outwardly extending walls, said air drain means including a valve.

A high-pressure joint tester for testing the ability of a pipe joint between two pipe sections to retain a fluid under pressure, comprising:

• two pairs of plugs, each pair having two annular rigid channels, each channel containing an inflatable elastomeric annular tube, said channels being in spaced parallel relationship with the two pairs of plugs spaced apart from each other,
• a rigid annular wall spanning between said pairs of plugs and joining all said channels in a leak-tight fit therewith,
• means for inflating said tubes at preselected pressures to seal against interior pipe walls on opposite sides of said joint, and
• means for introducing fluid under a known pressure through said annular wall to the outer surface thereof in between said pairs of plugs.

A high-pressure joint tester, for testing the ability of pipeline joints to retain fluids under pressure, including in combination:

• a rigid annular frame having a cylindrical wall with first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth outwardly extending radial walls integral therewith,
• a first ring filling the space between said first and second radial walls,
• a second ring filling the space between said second and third radial walls,
• a third ring filling the space between said fourth and fifth radial walls,
• a fourth ring filling the space between said fifth and sixth radial walls,
• each of said first, second, third, and fourth rings being hollow and inflatable and having a circular interior passage and an inlet in an inner cylindrical wall thereof,
• a support mount secured to the interior of said frame's cylindrical wall,
• ring inflating means supported by said mount for inflating all of said rings and for deflating them,
• fluid inlet means leading through said frame's cylindrical wall between said third and fourth radially outwardly extending walls,
• a fluid control valve connected at its outlet to said fluid inlet means and having an inlet for fluid under pressure,
• a pressure gauge connected to the outlet of said fluid control valve,
• a plurality of rollers mounted on a lower portion of said frame and supporting the frame for movement through a pipeline whose joint or joints are to be tested, and
• air drain means extending through and above the frame's cylindrical wall at the highest portion thereof above said rollers and between said third and fourth radially outwardly extending walls, said air drain means including a valve.

A method for testing the ability of pipe joints to retain fluids under pressure comprising:

• transporting through the pipeline an annular frame smaller than the interior of the pipeline, until said frame bridges a joint to be tested,
• inflating with a liquid under pressure a spaced-apart pair of gasket assemblies that are rigidly retained by said frame, one on each side of said joint, each gasket assembly being axially within a different one of the two pipes, and thereby sealing off the exterior of said frame relative to both pipes,
• introducing between said gasket assemblies and through said frame, into the annular space between said frame and said pipes, a fluid under a known pressure, and
• determining whether any leakage of said fluid occurs out from said space at known pressures of said fluid, said gasket assemblies being kept inflated at such pressure as retains the fluid against leakage between said frame and said pipes.

A method for testing the ability of pipe joints to retain fluids under pressure comprising:

• transporting through the pipeline an annular frame smaller than the interior of the pipeline, until said frame bridges a joint to be tested,
• inflating with liquid a spaced-apart pair of gasket two assemblies each that are rigidly retained by said frame, one pair on each side of said joint, each gasket assembly being axially within a different one of the two pipes, and thereby sealing off the exterior of said frame relative to both pipes,
• introducing between said gasket assemblies and through said frame, into the annular space between said frame and said pipes, a liquid while expelling air from said space,
• closing off said space after the air has been expelled,
• applying a known pressure to said liquid in said space, and
• determining whether any leakage of said liquid occurs out from said space at said known pressure of said liquid, said gasket assemblies being kept inflated at such pressure as retains the liquid against leakage between said frame and said pipes.

A method for testing the ability of pipe joints to retain fluids under pressure comprising:

• rolling through the pipeline a roller-mounted annular frame smaller than the interior of the pipeline, until said frame bridges a joint to be tested,
• inflating with liquid a spaced-apart pair of gasket assemblies that are rigidly retained by said frame, one assembly on each side of said joint, each gasket assembly being axially within a different one of the two pipes, and thereby sealing off the exterior of said frame relative to both pipes,
• introducing liquid between said gasket assemblies and through said frame, into the annular space between said frame and said pipes, while expelling air through a drain outlet from the upper end of said annular space,
• closing off said drain outlet after the air has been expelled,
• exerting a known pressure on said liquid after said outlet has been closed, and
• determining whether any leakage of said liquid occurs out from said space at said known pressure of said liquid, said gasket assemblies being kept inflated at such pressure as retains the liquid against leakage between said frame and said pipes.