High pressure live service pipe renewal apparatus and method

A pipeline renewal apparatus for insertable use in an existing gas pipeline of a gas piping system having a high pressure gas flowing therein, said apparatus facilitating insertion and sealing of a new section of pipeline in place of said existing pipeline, the existing section of pipeline having an inlet end, an outlet end, a section of leaking pipeline therebetween, and a high pressure gas flowing from said inlet towards said outlet, said apparatus having a proximal end facing said inlet end of said existing section, and a distal end facing said outlet end, wherein an annular space exists between said existing pipeline and said new pipeline when said new pipeline is inserted, comprising:

• means for sealing an existing pipeline in order to terminate said flow of high pressure gas therethrough, said sealing means insertable within an existing pipeline between an inlet and a leaking section thereof, said sealing means including a central passageway therethrough, which said central passageway is adapted to be temporarily closed when said sealing means is inserted within said existing pipeline;
• and
• means for receiving and retaining a new pipeline section for renewal of said leaking section, said receiving and retaining means including a central passageway therethrough and being coupled to said sealing means such that said respective central passageways of said sealing means and said receiving and retaining means are in fluid communication;
• wherein opening of said central passageway of said sealing means introduces said high-pressure gas into said new pipeline;
• said means for sealing comprises a stopper assembly having a central passageway therethrough and a nosecone assembly, said nosecone assembly including means for terminating a flow of gas into said central passageway, said stopper assembly including at least one distendable member for engagement with an inside surface of an existing pipeline so as to form a seal between said apparatus and the inside surface;
• said distendable member of said stopper assembly comprises an elastomeric sleeve received within a pair of identical collars, said elastomeric sleeve deformable upon compression so as to create a gas-tight seal between said old pipeline and said stopper assembly.

A pipeline renewal apparatus for insertable use in an existing gas pipeline of a gas piping system having a high pressure gas flowing therein, said apparatus facilitating insertion and sealing of a new section of pipeline in place of said existing pipeline, the existing section of pipeline having an inlet end, an outlet end, a section of leaking pipeline therebetween, and a high pressure gas flowing from said inlet towards said outlet, said apparatus having a proximal end facing said inlet end of said existing section, and a distal end facing said outlet end, wherein an annular space exists between said existing pipeline and said new pipeline when said new pipeline is inserted, comprising:

• means for sealing an existing pipeline in order to terminate said flow of high pressure gas therethrough, said sealing means insertable within an existing pipeline between an inlet and a leaking section thereof, said sealing means including a central passageway therethrough, which said central passageway is adapted to be temporarily closed when said sealing means is inserted within said existing pipeline;
• and
• means for receiving and retaining a new pipeline section for renewal of said leaking section, said receiving and retaining means including a central passageway therethrough and being coupled to said sealing means such that said respective central passageways of said sealing means and said receiving and retaining means are in fluid communication;
• wherein opening of said central passageway of said sealing means introduces said high-pressure gas into said new pipeline;
• said means for sealing comprises a stopper assembly having a central passageway therethrough and a nosecone assembly, said nosecone assembly including means for terminating a flow of gas into said central passageway, said stopper assembly including at least one distendable member for engagement with an inside surface of an existing pipeline so as to form a seal between said apparatus and the inside surface;
• each of said distendable members of said stopper assembly comprises a respective elastomeric sleeve received within a respective pair of collars, each sleeve having an inside end and an outside end, said inside ends of each sleeve received within a shared, split-ring collar, wherein said outside ends of each sleeve are received in respective, identically dimensioned collars including a second and a third collar and a second elastomeric sleeve therebetween.

A pipeline renewal apparatus for insertable use in an existing gas pipeline of a gas piping system having a high pressure gas flowing therein, said apparatus facilitating insertion and sealing of a new section of pipeline in place of said existing pipeline, the existing section of pipeline having an inlet end, an outlet end, a section of leaking pipeline therebetween, and a high pressure gas flowing from said inlet towards said outlet, said apparatus having a proximal end facing said inlet end of said existing section, and a distal end facing said outlet end, wherein an annular space exists between said existing pipeline and said new pipeline when said new pipeline is inserted, comprising:

• means for sealing an existing pipeline in order to terminate said flow of high pressure gas therethrough, said sealing means insertable within an existing pipeline between an inlet and a leaking section thereof, said sealing means including a central passageway therethrough, which said central passageway is adapted to be temporarily closed when said sealing means is inserted within said existing pipeline;
• and
• means for receiving and retaining a new pipeline section for renewal of said leaking section, said receiving and retaining means including a central passageway therethrough and being coupled to said sealing means such that said respective central passageways of said sealing means and said receiving and retaining means are in fluid communication;
• wherein opening of said central passageway of said sealing means introduces said high-pressure gas into said new pipeline;
• means for introducing a sealant through said new piping and outwardly to said annular space, said sealant introduction means coupled between said sealing means and said receiving and retaining means;
• said sealant introduction means comprises a sealant control valve operable within a cylindrical receiver housing, said receiver housing comprising an inner container connected with a sealant dispersion assemblage;
• said sealant control valve housing has a central passageway axially extending therethrough and a spring-biased sealant flow control gate received within said housing, which said gate has a resting and closed position and a compressed and open position.

A pipeline sealing apparatus for fluidly sealing an existing gas pipeline of a gas piping system having a high pressure gas flowing therein, the existing pipeline having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a high pressure gas flowing from said inlet towards said outlet, said sealing apparatus insertable within said existing pipeline and having a proximal end facing said inlet end of said existing pipeline and a distal end facing said outlet end, wherein an annular space exists between said existing pipeline and said sealing apparatus, comprising:

• means for temporarily terminating the flow of said high pressure gas, said flow terminating means operable from a location outside of said existing pipeline and removable therefrom;
• means for re-establishing said high pressure gas flow, said re-establishing means coupled to said flow terminating means such that said flow terminating means and said flow re-establishing means are in fluid communication, wherein manipulation of said flow re-establishing means re-establishes a flow of said high pressure gas through said flow terminating means and said existing pipeline;
• said flow terminating means comprises a stopper assembly having a central passageway therethrough and a nosecone assembly, said stopper assembly including at least one distendable member for engagement with an inside surface of an existing pipeline so as to form a seal between said apparatus and the inside surface, thereby terminating gas flow;
• said nosecone assembly comprises a hollow end cap having an internal shoulder and said flow re-establishing means comprises a punctureable pressure disk mounted on said internal shoulder.