Leakage plugging method and implement
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorJoseph H. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable plug within a fragile streamlined cover attached to a rigid lance tube is pushed through a leakage hole to plug it on an upstream end by being inflated with pressurized fluid conducted through the lance tube to rupture the fragile cover and position the plug against the wall sealingly covering the upstream end of the hole.
Claims9
In combination with an enclosure having a wall exposed to an external substance, an implement for plugging an opening formed in said wall through which leakage of the external substance occurs from an upstream end of the opening to a downstream end thereof within the enclosure, comprising:
- an elongated lance adapted to be positioned within the enclosure in alignment with the opening;
- a flexible plug;
- fragile cover means attached to the lance and enclosing the plug therein for guided insertion thereof through the opening in response to force applied to the lance inside of the enclosure;
- and pressurized inflation means extending through the lance into the plug for inflation thereof after said insertion thereof through the opening to rupture the fragile cover means and sealingly close the opening on the upstream end thereof under pressure of the external substance.
In combination with an enclosure having a wall exposed to an external substance, a method for plugging a hole formed in the wall to prevent leakage of the external substance therethrough from an upstream end of the opening into the enclosure to a downstream end of the opening, comprising the steps of:
- positioning an inflatable plug within the enclosure in spaced adjacency to the downstream end of the opening;
- enclosing the positioned plug within a fragile streamlined cover for guiding insertion thereof through the opening;
- applying a force to the cover and the plug from a location inside of the enclosure spaced from the downstream end of the opening for effecting said guided insertion of the plug through the opening into the external substance;
- and controllably inflating the plug after entry thereof into the external substance from a pressurized source within the enclosure to rupture the fragile streamlined cover and sealingly close the opening on the upstream end thereof under pressure of the external substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.