# US 9,016,727 B2 · Apparatus for repairing tubular members

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- Number: US 9,016,727 B2
- Document ID: US9016727B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/934,479
- Filed: 2009-03-25
- Published: 2011-04-21
- Granted: 2015-04-28
- Earliest claimed: 2008-03-25
- Assignees: Flexlife Limited
- Applicants: Matthew David Meredith; John Marsden; Stuart Mitchell; Nicholas John Ryan
- Inventors: Matthew David Meredith; John Marsden; Stuart Mitchell; Nicholas John Ryan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9016727B2

## CPC

- F16L 55/175: by using materials which fill a space around the pipe before hardening
- F16L 1/26: Repairing or joining pipes on or under water
- F16L 17/10: the packing being sealed by the pressure of a fluid other than the fluid in or surrounding the pipe
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

An apparatus for repairing a sheath of a pipe includes a sleeve adapted to surround the pipe, at least two circumferential seals between the surface of the pipe and a pressure source for forcing a sealing solution against the surface of the pipe between the two circumferential seals. The apparatus is arranged such that the sleeve is spaced from the outer sheath of the pipe to form a sealed annulus and a sealing solution is introduced into the sealed annulus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pipe sheath repair apparatus comprising:
a sleeve adapted to surround a pipe;
a first collar disposed at a first end of the sleeve;
a second collar disposed at a second end of the sleeve;
a first reservoir disposed in the first collar and a second reservoir disposed in the second collar;
a first sealing arrangement disposed between a surface of the pipe and the first collar and a second sealing arrangement disposed between the surface of the pipe and the second collar;
a first sealing solution disposed in the first reservoir and the second reservoir, the sealing solution being forced, via pressure in the first reservoir and the second reservoir, against the surface of the pipe between the first and second sealing arrangements, respectively, when the apparatus is installed; and
wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of modules that flex relative to one another the plurality of modules being arranged such that the sleeve is spaced from an outer sheath of the pipe to form a sealed annulus and a second sealing solution is introduced into the sealed annulus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first sealing solution and the second sealing solution comprises a solution of discrete sealing elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the solution is an epoxy or elastomeric solution.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the epoxy or elastomeric solution is a gel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a pressure source connected to at least one of the first reservoir and the second reservoir for forcing the discrete sealing elements against the surface of the pipe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a pressure gauge and a pressure sensor is provided for monitoring the pressure in at least one of the first reservoir and the second reservoir and in the apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a seal is provided between adjacent modules.