US 7,740,028 B1Granted

Composite plug system and process for high pressure pipeline leaks

AssigneeThe University of Tulsa

InventorsJeffrey M. Wilson, Michael R. Kessler, Roger Walker

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Abstract

A composite plug system and a process to repair a hole in a tubular pipe. The process includes the steps of inserting a fastener through an opening in an oblong inner plate having an elongated diameter and a shorter diameter. The oblong plate is inserted into the pipe hole wherein the elongated diameter is greater than a diameter of the pipe hole and wherein the shorter diameter is less than the pipe hole diameter so that the oblong plate is within the tubular pipe beneath the hole. An initially liquid adhesive filler is applied over the oblong inner plate over the pipe hole. An outer plate having a central opening and a diameter larger than the pipe hole diameter is affixed over the pipe hole so that the central opening receives the fastener. The outer plate is secured to the oblong inner plate and the tubular pipe with the fastener until the adhesive filler solidifies. After the filler solidifies, the oblong plate and the outer plate are structurally bonded to the pipe wall through adhesion.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A process to repair a hole in a tubular pipe, which process comprises:

inserting a fastener through an opening in a slightly resilient oblong inner plate having an elongated diameter and a shorter diameter;
inserting said oblong plate into said pipe hole while altering the angular orientation of said fastener with respect to said oblong plate wherein said elongated diameter is greater than a diameter of said pipe hole and wherein said shorter diameter is less than said hole diameter so that said oblong plate is within said tubular pipe beneath said hole;
applying an adhesive filler on said oblong plate over said pipe hole to completely cover and fill said pipe hole;
affixing an outer plate having an opening and a diameter larger than said pipe hole diameter over said pipe hole so that said opening receives said fastener;
securing said outer plate to said oblong plate and said tubular pipe with said fastener until said adhesive filler cures to a solid so that said adhesive and said oblong plate forms a fluid tight seal;
removing a portion of said fastener extending radially outward from said tubular pipe;
covering said outer plate and surrounding pipe with an adhesive;
and
applying an adhesive impregnated fabric around said pipe and said outer plate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.