Repair sleeve for piping

• US 4,647,072 A
• Filed: 03/27/1985
• Issued: 03/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stig Westman
• Original Assignee: Stig Westman
• Inventors: Westman, Stig
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US06/716,468
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 285/15, 285/16, 285/17, 285/23, 285/318, 285/397, 285/387.4, 285/258, 285/244, 285/381, 285/370, 138/97, 138/98, 138/DIG. 5, 267/1.5 X, 267/166 X, 29/456, 29/450, 29/451, 29/234, 29/235, 29/255, 29/257, 254/10.5
• US Class Current: 285/15
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/02 for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same B25D1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/06 inserting or withdrawing sleeves or bearing races
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/30 positioning or withdrawing springs, e.g. coil or leaf springs B25B27/26 takes precedence; watchmakers' or watch-repairers' tools G04D
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/163 a ring, a band or a sleeve being pressed against the inner surface of the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/17 by means of rings, bands or sleeves pressed against the outside surface of the pipe or hose
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/18 Appliances for use in repairing pipes F16L55/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 138/05 Pre-stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53843 Tube, sleeve, or ferrule inserting or removing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a repair sleeve comprising a flexible, hose-like main part (1) and a spiral spring (2), which, when the sleeve is mounted in a pipe line, pretensions the hose-like main part (1) into sealing engagement against the inner wall of the surrounding pipe. The invention also includes an insertion device (4) for the repair sleeve, said device being a cylindrical body (5) mounted on wheels. At the ends of this body (5) there are latching means (7, 8) which are releasably fastenable to the ends of the spring (2). The latching means comprise a pin (7) biased to thrust out through the wall of the body (5) and into holes at the ends of the spring (2) wound round the body (5). Both pins (7) are simultaneously releasable with the aid of a linkage system (11, 13, 14, 15) on actuating the system. Eyes or cages (8) accommodating the ends of the springs are also associated with the pins (7).

Claims

1. A repair sleeve for insertion in and repair of a pipe comprising a flexible tubular member and a spiral spring positioned within said tubular member such that said tubular member circumferentially overlaps said spring, said spring being connectable to a stressing device for insertion into said pipe, said spring having a central portion and opposite first and second end portions and having a stressed condition and unstressed condition, said spring being disconnected from said stressing device in said unstressed condition, said spring being expandable radially and axially in said unstressed condition from said central portion towards said opposite first and second end portions, and said tubular member being correspondingly expandable radially and axially into engagement with an inner surface portion of said pipe by said spring in said unstressed condition, said central portion having a greater outer diameter than said opposite first and second end portions when said spring is in said unstressed condition.

2. Repair sleeve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spring (2) is wound from a metal strip.

3. Repair sleeve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said strip is wound to provide a plurality of turns of said spring, each turn being inclined relative to an axis of said spring as said spring progresses from said central portion to said first and second end.

4. Repair sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible tubular member comprises means attached thereto for pretensioning said tubular member before said spring is in said unstressed condition.

5. Repair sleeve as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the pretensioning means comprise circular springs (30, 31) of rectangular cross-section, which extend only partially around the interior circumference of the sleeve (1).

6. Repair sleeve as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the pretensioning means comprise air ducts in the sleeve wall (41, 42, 43).

7. A device for inserting a repair sleeve into a pipe, the repair sleeve including a flexible, tubular member and a spiral spring positioned within said tubular member, comprising an elongated tubular body which is extended internal of said spiral spring from a first spring end to an opposite second spring end, said tubular body having one end adjacent said first spring end and another end adjacent said second spring end, a plurality of wheels extending radially outwards said tubular body to facilitate inserting said repair sleeve into said pipe and means coupled to said tubular body for stressing said spring in a first condition for insertion into said pipe and for unstressing said spring in a second condition so that said spring is released from said tubular body to urge said flexible, tubular member into engagement with an inner surface portion of said pipe.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7 including a high pressure hose attached at one end to the insertion device, the one end being blanked off so that said hose will be stiff when pressurized to function as a bar for pushing said device within said pipe, and flexible when not pressurized.

9. Device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each pin is operable by linkage system, the operation of said mutual linkage systems simultaneously actuating each pin.

10. Device as claimed in claim 8 wherein each pin is operable by a linkage system, the operation of said mutual linkage systems simultaneously actuating each pin.

11. Device for inserting a repair sleeve in a pipe or pipe line, said sleeve including a flexible, hose-like main part and a spring for urging the main part into engagement against an interior wall of the surrounding pipe, comprising a substantially tubular body with a latching means at either axial end for releasably fastening the spring about the tubular body, and wheels coupled to said tubular body carrying the insertion device for moving the insertion device in said pipe or pipe line, said latching means comprising a pin, spring biased radially outwards, which thrusts through the wall of the tubular body and through the spring end, and said device further including a cage placed in association with the pin for accommodating a spring end.

12. Device as claimed in claim 11 including a high pressure hose attached at one end to the insertion device, the one end being blanked off so that said hose will be stiff when pressurized to function as a bar for pushing said device within said pipe, and flexible when not pressurized .

13. Device as claimed in claim 11 wherein each pin is operable by a linkage system, the operation of said mutual linkage systems simultaneously actuating each pin.