US 8,573,655 B2Granted

Pipe sealing tool with external clamp

AssigneeCAR-BER Investments Inc.

InventorGlenn Carson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus for sealing an open end of a pipe includes a clamp for frictionally being secured to the exterior of the pipe, a sealing plate for covering the open end of the pipe and being connectable to the clamp, and an urging mechanism for urging the sealing plate towards the clamp and for forming a seal between the sealing plate and the open end of the pipe. In one aspect, the clamp comprises an annular body formed by at least two sections that are radially tightened over the pipe exterior. In another aspect, the clamp comprises cooperating annular bodies, one capable of radially narrowing the other for frictionally engaging the pipe outer surface. In another aspect the method provides a method of sealing an end of a pipe. According to the invention, once the open end is sealed, the interior of the pipe may be pressurized, for example for testing the integrity thereof.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for sealing an open end of a pipe comprising:

at least one generally annular shaped clamp having an inner diameter adapted to be provided over an outer surface of the pipe, the clamp including a means for circumferentially gripping the outer surface of the pipe and preventing relative axial movement there-between;
a sealing plate, adapted to cover and seal the open end of the pipe;
an urging means for urging the sealing plate axially towards the clamp and against the open end of the pipe when said apparatus is in use;
the clamp comprising at least two clamp sections adapted to be joined together;
each of the clamp sections including connecting flanges, provided at opposite ends of respective clamp sections;
a plurality of first connecting elements for connecting the opposed flanges of adjacent clamp sections, when the apparatus is in use, and for tightening adjacent clamp section together;
each of the clamp sections including a sealing flange extending along at least a portion of the length thereof, wherein, when said clamp sections are assembled, said sealing flanges form a generally circumferential flange on the clamp.

4 more elements

A method for sealing a section of a pipe having an open end, the method comprising:

securing at least one external clamp circumferentially over the outer surface of the pipe at a location spaced away from the open end, the clamp being frictionally secured to the pipe surface so as to prevent relative axial movement between the clamp and the pipe;
positioning a sealing plate against the open end of the pipe, for covering and sealing the open end of the pipe;
connecting the sealing plate to the clamp;
forcing the sealing plate axially towards the clamp and forming a seal between the open end of the pipe and the sealing plate;
wherein the clamp comprises a generally annular body formed of at least two sections, and wherein the step of securing the clamp over the outer surface of the pipe comprises connecting and tightening the at least two sections together to cause frictional engagement between the clamp and outer surface of the pipe.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/715,168Filed 1 Mar 2010 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Oct 2005
Published: US 2010/0206416 A119 Aug 2010
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F16L 55/11
Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses: plugs
F16L 55/1283
Introduced axially into the pipe or hose: plugging pig
F16L 55/132
Introduced axially into the pipe or hose: the closure device being a plug fixed by radially deforming the packing
G01M 3/022
By using fluid or vacuum: test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe

Family

Application60/723,915Us provisional application · filed 6 Oct 2005
PCT/CA2006/001641Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Oct 2006
Application12/098,273Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Apr 2008
US 7,669,899 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Mar 2010
US 2010/0206416 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Aug 2010
Application12/098,273Parent of this continuation
US 2008/0211228 A1Published application
US 8,573,655 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.