Apparatus, systems and methods for plugging a high temperature pipe
First Claim
1. A method of plugging a pipeline comprising the steps of:
- (a) welding onto the exterior of the pipeline first and second spaced apart collars, each collar having a sealing face in a plane perpendicular the pipeline axis;
(b) affixing, by welding, a containment housing to said collars to fully encompass a section of the pipeline between said collars, the containment housing having an open top;
(c) removably attaching a tapping machine to said containment housing in communication with said open top;
(d) by use of said tapping machine, cutting and removing a length of the pipeline from between said collars leaving two open pipe ends;
(e) positioning, by means of said tapping machine, first and second seal elements between said collars, each seal element having on a forward face a forwardly extending circumferential lip of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the pipeline; and
(f) moving said seal elements apart from each other to force each said circumferential lip into sealing engagement with a said collar sealing face closing said pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of plugging a pipeline includes the steps of welding onto the exterior of the pipeline (10) first (12) and second (14) spaced apart collars, each having a sealing face (26,26A) in a plane perpendicular the pipeline (10) axis. A containment housing (34,36) is affixed by welding to the collars (12,14) to fully encompass a section of the pipeline (10) between the collars (12,14). A tapping (60) machine is then removably attached to an open top of the containment housing (34). Using the tapping machine (60) a short length of the pipeline (10) is cut and removed from between the collars (12,14) leaving two open exposed pipe ends (78,80). First and second seal elements (92,94) are positioned between the collars (12,14), Each having a forward sealing face. The seal elements (92,94) are forced apart from each other into sealing engagement with the collar sealing faces thereby closing the open, exposed ends (78,80) of the pipe (10).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of plugging a pipeline comprising the steps of:
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(a) welding onto the exterior of the pipeline first and second spaced apart collars, each collar having a sealing face in a plane perpendicular the pipeline axis;
(b) affixing, by welding, a containment housing to said collars to fully encompass a section of the pipeline between said collars, the containment housing having an open top;
(c) removably attaching a tapping machine to said containment housing in communication with said open top;
(d) by use of said tapping machine, cutting and removing a length of the pipeline from between said collars leaving two open pipe ends;
(e) positioning, by means of said tapping machine, first and second seal elements between said collars, each seal element having on a forward face a forwardly extending circumferential lip of internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the pipeline; and
(f) moving said seal elements apart from each other to force each said circumferential lip into sealing engagement with a said collar sealing face closing said pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An assembly for use in a system for plugging a pipeline comprising:
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a first and a second toroidal collar each formed of a lower half semi-toroidal portion and a detachable mating upper half semi-toroidal portion, the portions when assembled having an internal circumferential surface of diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the pipeline, each collar having on its inward face a plannar sealing surface and a rearward surface; and
an alignment fixture having paralleled end plates spaced apart a substantially accurate predetermined distance, the end plates adapted for removable attachment to said rearward surfaces of said lower half semi-toroidal collar portions whereby said inner plannar sealing surfaces are accurately supported in paralleled and spaced apart positions and whereby said alignment fixture with said lower half semi-toroidal portion of each said collar may be positioned in contact with the pipeline and thereby ready to receive said upper half semi-toroidal portions. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. Apparatus for use in a system for plugging a pipeline comprising:
a first and second toroidal collar each formed of a lower half semi-toroidal portion and a detachable mating upper half semi-toroidal portion, the portions when assembled having an internal circumferential surface of diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the pipeline, each collar having on a forward face a planar sealing surface, said collars adaptable for fixation to the exterior of a pipeline and for receiving seal elements having circumferential sealing lip pressed against said planar sealing surfaces.
Specification