Method and compositions for delivery of a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel
First Claim
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1. A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising:
- deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site;
the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site;
wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak; and
wherein the body of material is contained within a frangible membrane and the method further comprises rupturing the membrane upon impact with the leak site to deliver the at least one sealing element directly to the leak site.
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Abstract
A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel includes deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site. The body of material transports the sealing elements through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to the leak by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site. The sealing element(s) are constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising:
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deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the sealing element(s) become(s) entrained within the leak; and wherein the body of material is contained within a frangible membrane and the method further comprises rupturing the membrane upon impact with the leak site to deliver the at least one sealing element directly to the leak site. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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2. A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site;
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wherein the body of material is adapted to undergo a change or degrade for based upon the temperature within the vessel, a change in temperature within the vessel or within the fluid flowing in the vessel, a reaction to an agent such as a chemical agent deployed into the vessel or in response to light stimulation, such as by ultraviolet light.
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3. A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site;
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wherein a lubricant is applied to the outer surface of the body of material to assist in transport of the body of material and the at least one sealing element through the vessel.
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4. A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising:
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deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the at least one sealing element becomes entrained within the leak; and wherein the at least one sealing element is introduced into the vessel downstream of the body of material such that as the body of material flows along the vessel it drives the at least one sealing element through the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A method of delivering a concentrated quantity of sealing elements to a leak site in a vessel, the method comprising:
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deploying a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element into fluid flowing within the vessel upstream of the leak site; the body of material transporting the at least one sealing element through the vessel to the leak site where the body of material is drawn to a leak of the leak site by fluid flow created by a pressure differential at the leak site; wherein the at least one sealing element is constrained by the body of material at the leak site such that the at least one sealing element becomes entrained within the leak; and wherein the passage of the body of material through the vessel is controlled by varying the density of the body of material to ensure that the body of material flows through the vessel at the optimum position to be drawn to the leak site; and wherein the density of the body of material is selected in response to the position of the leak site upon the inner surface of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A sealing composition comprising a flexible body of material and at least one sealing element, the body of material being adapted to transport the at least one sealing element in a controllable and targeted manner to a leak site within a vessel and to constrain the at least one sealing element at the leak site;
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wherein the sealing composition further comprises a membrane, the membrane surrounding the body of material. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification