REPAIR VALVE

• US 3,687,166 A
• Filed: 08/25/1970
• Issued: 08/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul E. Herrin
• Original Assignee: Paul E. Herrin
• Inventors: Herrin, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Herbert F.
• Application Number:
  US05/066,737
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 138/94.3,94 137/318 251/217,218
• US Class Current: 138/94
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/044 slide valves with flat obturating members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/02 with flat sealing faces; Packings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/06 making use of attaching means embracing the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/105 Closing devices introduced radially into the pipe or hose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6123 With aperture forming means

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a control valve arranged for installation at a point along the length of a pipe whose fluid flow is to be controlled. The disclosed valve comprises a split housing that is hermetically sealed around a portion of the pipe and a pipe cutting arrangement carried within the housing on the flow control element then cuts away a section of the enclosed pipe. The flow control assembly is then inserted into the cutaway area, and thereafter, serves to control the flow of fluid through the control valve.

Claims

1. A control valve comprising:

a valve housing;

means for affixing said valve housing in an enclosing manner around a portion of a pipe whose flow is to be controlled;

cutting means for cutting away a section of the pipe enclosed in said valve housing, leaving a cutaway area;

flow control means for controlling the flow of fluid through said control valve, said flow control means being positioned in said valve housing;

means for energizing said cutting means for cutting away said section of said enclosed pipe; and

inserting means for inserting said flow control means into said cutaway area for controlling the fluid flow through said control valve;

wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of spaced apart nonrotating cutters movable toward each other during the cutting operation, each positioned to cut through said enclosed pipe section substantially flush with a respectively associated sealing surface of the valve housing.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing surface of said valve housing are tapered and said flow control surfaces of said flow control means are tapered to mate with said tapered sealing surfaces.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 including guide means comprising a ridge positioned on said flow control means, and track means positioned in said valve housing, for guiding the movement of said flow control means longitudinally and against rotation.

4. A control valve comprising:

a split valve housing having a pair of tapered sealing surfaces;

means for affixing said valve housing in an enclosing leakproof manner around a portion of a pipe in which fluid flow is to be controlled;

means for cutting away a section of the pipe enclosed in said valve housing, leaving a cutaway area, said cutting means comprising a pair of spaced apart, V-shaped cutters, each positioned to cut through said enclosed pipe section substantially flush with its associated sealing surface;

means, positioned in said valve housing, for controlling the flow of fluid through said control valve, said flow control means comprising a wedge having a pair of flow control surfaces that are tapered to mate with said tapered sealing surfaces;

means for affixing said flow control means and said cutting means to each other such that the spacing between the cutters is diminished when the flow control means is initially energized;

means for energizing said flow control means for cutting away said section of said enclosed pipe;

means for inserting said flow control means into said cutaway area with said tapered flow control surfaces in mating orientation with said tapered sealing surfaces for controlling the fluid flow through said control valve.

5. A control valve comprising:

a transversely split valve housing having, a retaining recess, an internally threaded sleeve, a threaded valve stem engaging the threads of said sleeve, a valve handle affixed to the external end of said valve stem whereby a given rotation of said handle drives the internal end of said valve stem further into said valve housing, and a pair of tapered sealing surfaces;

bolt means for affixing said valve housing in an enclosing leakproof manner around a portion of a pipe whose fluid flow is to be controlled;

means for cutting away a section of the pipe enclosed in said valve housing, leaving a cutaway area, said cutting means comprising a pair of spaced apart V-shaped and pointed cutters, each cutter oriented to cut through an end of said enclosed pipe section substantially flush with its associated sealing surface;

gate means, positioned in said valve housing for controlling the flow of fluid through said control valve, said flow control gate means comprising a wedge having a pair of flow control surfaces that are tapered to mate with said tapered sealing surfaces;

means for affixing said cutting means to said flow control means;

cutting and inserting means, comprising said valve handle and said valve stem, for driving said cutters through said enclosed pipe section and for inserting said flow control means into said cutaway area with said tapered flow control surfaces in mating orientation with said tapered sealing surfaces for shutting off the fluid flow through said control valve; and

means for depositing said cutaway pipe section into said retaining recess of said valve housing;

the combination of the flow control means and the cutters being deformable as an incident to initial action of said cutting and inserting means to diminish the spacing between the cutters and to make the flow control surfaces wedge-shaped in combination.