CA1087530A

CA1087530A - Leak repair clamp

Info

Publication number: CA1087530A
Application number: CA298,792A
Authority: CA
Inventors: George W. Harrison
Original assignee: Team Inc
Current assignee: Team Inc
Priority date: 1977-09-12
Filing date: 1978-03-13
Publication date: 1980-10-14
Also published as: NL186830B; DE2838655A1; GB2004019B; NL7808379A; NL186830C; JPS5451021A; GB2004019A; BE870325A

Abstract

LEAK REPAIR CLAMP

Abstract of the Disclosure A leak repair clamp for pipe and pipe flanges includes a frame having a plurality of seg-ments positionable in end-to-end relation around the pipe. Each segment includes speaced parallel annular lips flaring from its inner periphery with each lip being an integral part of the segment and having a bent tip portion extending toward the matching oppositely positioned tip portion of the opposite lip. A connecting means is used to connect the segments together in end-to-end relation, the lips extending from the segments to thus form an annular recess around the pipe when the segments are connected. An access means is provided in the frame to permit passage of a liquid sealant into the recess and the lips direct flow of the sealant into direct contact with the pipe to form a self-energizing seal between the lips and pipe.

Description

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~f the Inventia'n This inventlon relate~ genera~lly to means for repairlng pipeline leak~ and, more par-ticularly, to a leak repair cl~np for sealing leaking flange pipe couplings, valve bonnet flanges, S or leaks through ~he ~xterior o~ a pipe wall.
Flanged pipe coupling~ are widely u~ed for connecting section~ of pipe which operate in moderate to high pr~ssure~. Various configurations of seals are utilized between the flanges. One of ~he most common configurations is a raised face on the inner portion of each of the f langes with an annular gasket being placed between th~ raised faces. When the flanges are bolted together the raised faces compress the gasket material to onm a sealO
Leaks often begin in ~uch flange pipe couplings because of deterioration of the ga~ket material, shifting of the pipe and for other rea- -sons. Similarly, a leak may occur in the outer wall of a pipe ~ection due to a defect in the manu- -facture of the pipe or becau~e of damage due t~
the pipe during or after installation. Such l~aks must be repaired and often in the pa~t the pipe-line had to be shut down and drained o~ 5 con~
ents before repair could be effected. ;~
Pipe flange repair clamps for sealing the leak between pipe f langes are known

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7~i3~1 in the prior art and some examples are those di~-closed in U. S. Patent Nos. 866,~95 and 3,:L52,816 ~r-~-my~ pen~-~ng-p~te~t_c~ppl~a~L~T~ ~L
No~-632,~'. Ilowever, some of the pipe flange re-pair clamp5 are extremely complex and have a number of movable and adjustable parts that make the ~lamp expensive and di~ficult to utilize. Moreover, such :pipe flange repair clamps normally embody an elasto- :
meric material for centering the clamps around the : ~pipe, pipe flanges and the like which also provide ~-an initial sealing arrangement between the pipe and clamp. Such elastomeric seals are fine in most ~ituation~, but may be adversely affected in cer-tain situations, such as when the leaking fluid is an acid or at a high temperature and pre~sure which effects the l.ife of the material. To solve ~ome of these problems, the elastomeric material can be : :specially selected, but this still does not solve the compression set properties of the material which leads to seal failure.
Accordingly, one of the primary objectives of the present invention i s to provide a repair .
clamp for pipe and pipe flange~ and the like which utilize~ a self-energizing seal.
Ano~her object of the present invention is to provide a leak repair clamp fvr pipe and pipe f langes and the like tha~ centers the clamp aroulld ~;the pipe when connected thereto. :.

. - 3 -7~3e:1 Anot}ler object of the present invention i~ to provide a leak r~pair clamp for pipe and pipe flanges and the like that receive~ a liquid sealant and directs the 1OW of the liquid ~ealant into contact with the pipe to thereby provide a self-energizing seal between the clamp and the pipe.
Another feature o~ the present invention i~ to provide a repair clamp for pipe and pipe flanges and the like that utilizes a lip which is an integral part of the clamp and formed to direct a liquid sealant into contact with the pipe.
Yet another feature of the present inven-tion i8 to provide a simple clamp that can be uti-lized with minor modifications for sealiny leaks in pipelines and pipeline ~ection~ and flange~.

Summary of the Invention The pre~ent invention remadie~ the pxo- ~
blems of the pxior art by providing a leak repair : -clamp for pipe and pipe flanges, valve bonnet :
~langes and the like. The clamp includes a divided clamp rame made up of a plurality of frame seg-ments po~itionable in end-to-end relation about the pipe. Each segment has spaced parallel annu-lar lips flaring from it~ inner periphery with ea~
lip being an integral part of the segment and having :~
a tip portion bent to extend toward the o~her tip portion of the oppositely positioned spa~ed annu-_ ~ _ - -.

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lar lip. Means are u~ed to connect the! frc~me ~eg-m~nts to one another when positioned in end-to-end relation so that the spaced annular lips extending longitudinally on the interior of each pipe seg-ment aligns with the next ad~acent end-to-end lip to form a pair of circumferential spaced lip3 having a recess therebetween de~ined by the interior of the flange ~egments, ~he lips and the pipeline mem-ber. Access means are provided in the frame to permit passage of a liquid sealant into the recess with the lips being used to direct 10w of the sea-lant into contact with the pipe to form a self- ~ -energizing seal between the lips and pipe. ~ ~;

Brief Description of the Drawings -~
Other objects and advantages of the in-vention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which~
FIG. 1 is a per~pective view of a frame segment used in a leak repair clamp constructed according to the present invention.
; FIG. 2 is a detailed vertical cross-sec-tional view of a leak repair clamp constructed . . .
according to the present in~ention mounted on a pipeline to sea~l a pipe flange leak.
FIG. 3 is a detailed vertical cross-~ec-tional view o~ a second leak repair cl~mp constructed ;

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: - : .. ., . . :,:, : . . . .: . :.

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according tQ the present invention mounted on a pipeline to s~al a pipe flallg~ leak.
FIG. 4 i~ a detailed vertical cross-sec-tional view taken in the direction of arrow 2-2 o the leak repair clamp shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a detailed vertical cros~-sec- -tional view of a third leak repair clamp constructed ~:
according to the present invention mounted on a pipeline to seal a pipe flange leak.
FIG. 6 is a ragmentary vertical cros ~
sectional view of amodification to the third leak repair clamp shown in FIG. S.
FIG. 7 is a detailed vertical cross-sec-tional view of a fourth leak repair clamp constructed according to the present invention mounted on a pipeline to seal a pipe flange leak.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross- ~ :
sectional view of a modification to the ourth leak ~ , . .
repair cl~lp shown in FIG. '7. ~ :~
Whila the invention will be described : ~:
in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will ~:
be under~tood that it i~ not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifi-cations and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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~etAiled Description of the Inve.ntion Referring now to FIG. 1~ a p~rspective view o a portion of a leak repair cl~lp con~truct~d according to the pre~ent invention for pipe and pipe flanges and the like i3 shown. The clamp ~`
comprise~ a fr~e constructed from a plurality o~ :
frame ~egments 10 which axe positionable in end-to~
end relation about the pipe and pipe flanges and :
the like, which is preferably semi-circular in ~hape. Each segment 10 has spaced parallel annu~
lar lip9 12 and 14 that flare from the inner peri~
phery 16. Each lip 12 and 14 i~ an integral part of each segment 10 and has a tip portion 18 and 20 : bent over in order to extend toward the other tip portion. That is, first tip portion 18 of first .
lip 12 is bent over in order to extend toward se-, . , ~ .
: cond lip 14 and second tip portion 20 of second Iip ~.
14 is bent over in order to extend toward ~irst ~
q~ ' - ~ .
lip 12. ~ `
Means are mounted to each segment 10 for connecting the frame segments to one another ;
::
when positioned in end-to-end relation. Preferably, :
this connecting means is an end f~ange 22 positioned ; ~ ~ on each end of semi-circular frame segment 10 ,:
: which has apertures or bolt holes 24 extending therethrough~ ~hus, when connecting segments 10 to one another, the spaced lips 12 and 14 extend from frame segmeDts 10 to form an annular receBs : around ~he pipe and pipe 1ange and the lilce. -~;

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Access mean~ are pxovided in the frame fox penmittin~ passage of a liquid sealant into the recess. Preferably, the acce~s means are pro-vided on each frame segment 10 and is ~ plurality ~. .
of radial ports or passageways 26 extellding from the outside of the segment to the recess with a nipple 28 for each port 26 mounted to the ~egment.
As liquid sealan~ is injected into the recQss, lips 12 and 14 direct or channel the flow into contact with the pipe and pipe flange and the like to form a self-energizing seal between the lips and pipe.
That is, the sealant will force lips 12 and 14 in- ~.
to stronger engagement with the pipe and pipe :
flanges and the like when the leak pressure pushes : : :
against the sealant.
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As shown in FIG. 2, the leak repair clamp of FIG. } is shown po~itioned in end-to-end ~ . -relation abouta.pipeline 30 and, more specifically, about adjacent abutting pipe f}anges 32. Flanges 32 of pipe 30 are held securely together by means ;~ :
of a flange bolt 34 and f lange bolt nuts 36. A ;.
flange gasket 38: is located ~etween the raised end faces of flanges 32 and compressed therebetween for sealing ~he two pipeline section 30 together.
25 : I a leak develops through gasket 38, the leak re~
pair clamp seals such leak when positioned about the flanges as illust:rated. Frame segmsnts ~ O
: are positioned and centered about the periphery : ~;

.
, -~............................... - 8 -~75;~3 of adjacent pipe flanges 32 with tip portions 18 and 20 of spaced annular lip5 12 and 14 in contact with the outer surface of pipe flanges 32. Bolts 34 ax~ extended through holes 24 an~ nuts 35 screwed thereto, to bring the end ~aces of segments 10 into sealing engagement and to provide a compressive , : :
force from lips 12 and 14 to the outer surface of ~:
pipe flanges 32 and effectuate an annular recess enclosing th~ pipe flanges between the lips 12 and 14. A liquid sealant is then introduced into the annular recess by means of a pressurized system (not shown~, which can be fitted to the threaded ~. ~
end of nipple 28. Thus, the liquid sealant is forced ~ :
against lips 12 and 14 to provide a firm contact ~ ~-from tip portions 18 and 20 against the out~r peri-phery of flanges 32 and thereby create a self-energizing seal The embOdiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 ::~
~ .
has frame segments 110 which seal the leak in a pipe flange connection which is described with respect to the embodiment of the invention shown ~ :
in FIG. 2, the xeference numerals identifying the `
same pipe flange connecting elements. In this embodiment, frame segments 110 ar~ preferably semi- :
circular and have 4 first section 112 which inte~
gra11y supports a first lip 114 and a second sec-tion 116 which integrally supports a second lip 118.

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S~ctions 112 and 116 ar~ joined by a me!-chanism to provide single sealing frame ~egment 110.
Thi~ mechanism is praarably a bolt 120 running through matching bolt holes located in irst and second sections 112 and 116 and threadedly connected to nuts 122. For ease in manufacturing, it i5 preferred that first seckion 112 has a surface 1~4 extending transversely relative to its inner peri.-phery and s~cond section 116 has a matching trans~
vsrse surface 126 extending relative to its inner periphery for butting against transverse surface 124 :
of fir~t section 112. Thus, first section 112 an~
second section 116 are metal-to-metal sealingly joined by bolt 120 and nuts 122.
First lip 114 may flare from the inner periphery of section 112 as described or lip 12 of segment 10 and ~econd lip 118 may ~}are from the inner periphery of section 116 as described ~g , for lip 14 of segment 10. However, a~ shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first lip 114 may flare from the inner periphery of section 112 while forming an edge of a channal 128 disposed within the section and second lip 118 may flare from the inner peri- :
phery of section 116 while forming an edge of a channel 130 di~posed within the section. Although channals 128 and 130 may ba disposed within trans- ;
verse surace 124 and 126, r~spectively, it i8 preferred that channels 128 and 130 be di~posed '' ~' '' ~

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in surfaces 132 and 134, respectively, which are inset from ~urfaces 12~ and 126. Such construction aid~ ln increasin~ the ~ize of the annular recess ~.
formed around the pipe and pipe 1ange and the likeL
The means for connecting fr~ne se~ments 110 to one another when positioned in end-to-end relation about the pipe is pxeferably an end flange 132 positioned on each end of semi-circular seg-ment~ 112 and 116 which ha~ an aperture or bolt hole 134 extending therethrough. Thus, each sec-tion 110 is connected to another section 110 by using bolts 136 and nuts 138.
The liquid ~ealant access means of thi~
embodiment preferably permits access to the recess by use o~ a port or passageway 140) which e~tends :
from the recess outwardly through firs~ section 112. A tube 142 leading from liquid sealant supply ~ :
system threadedly engages first section 112 to permit liquid sealant communication into the re~
, ~
cess. .
To po~ition the leak repair clamp on -~
the pipe and plpe f lange and the like, sections 112 and 116 are joined together, as by bolting with bolt 1~0 and nuts 1220 Each segment 110 is positioned in ~end-to-end relation about pipeline 30 similar to the positioning of segments 10 and connected to one another with bolts 136 and nuts 138. Th~ liquid sealant is introduced into the : ;, , ::

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annulax recess by means of the supply system via ~ube 142, the liquid sealant coacting with lips 114 and 118 to thereby form a sel-energizing seal within the annular recess.
. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the leak re- -paix clamp may be mounted directly to pipe 30 and around the 1ange connection to prevent a leak from : :
the flange. The le~k repair clamp uses a plurality ~ -of frame segments 210 positionable in end-to-end relation around pipe 30. Spaced paxallel annular lip~ 212 and 214 are integrally supported on each section of ~egment 210. As shown in FIG. 5, lip~
212 and 214 may be constructed similar to that described with respect to the embodiment shown in :, :
FIGS. 1 and 2. Or, a~ ~hown in FIG. 6, lips 212 ~
and 214 may ~e constructed ~milar to th2t d~scribed~ ~:
with respec~ to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 ~:
7 and 4. In the latter case, lip 212 would fonm an edge of a channel 216 disposed in one ~ection and ~:.
lip 214 would form dn edge of a channel (not shown) ~
~ ~;
disposed ln the othex section.
: The means for joining the fir~t section to the second section in this embodiment includes ~.
a ~emi-circular plate 220 welded to the first and ~:
second sections. ::
The means for connecting frame segment~
210 to one ano~her embodies an end flange 222 p~
tioned on each end of each segment, wh ch has bolt : - 12 -r .: ~ .: ,.

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holes with bolts 224 provided therein. Thus, s~g-ments 1~ are connectable one to anothex wh~n pos:L~
tioned in end-to-end relation around the pipe.
The acce~s means 226 in thi0 embodiment i~ cimilar to that described in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and permits liquid sealant acces-~ into the annular recess formed by the irst and second sections and plate 220 to thereby form the sel~-energizing seal directly onto pipe 30. .
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, another embo~
diment used to prevent leaks around.a ~lanq~ con-nection is illustrated. In this embodiment, a seal ~ :
is provided around the pipe without contact between the sealant and the flange with each segment having connecti~n. This is accomplished using semi-cir- i . . .
cular segments 310, a first section 312 integrally suppoxting a first lip 314 attached to a third , ~ section 316 integrally ~upporting à lip 318 with ~p .
a tip portion of lip~ 314 and 31~ bent over in order to extend toward the other lip to form a first annular recess. Alæo, each segment 310 has a ~econd~section 320 integrally supporting a second ~ : -~: lip 322 attached to a fourth lip 326 with a tip ~ portion of lips 322 and 326 bent over in order to : 25 ext~nd toward the other lip to form a second annu-~; : la~ recess. As shown in PIG. 7, lips 314 and 318 -~
foxming the first annular reces~ and lips 322 and .
- 326 forming the second annulax recess may be con-;, ~,:, :
~ : - 13 - ;~

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structed similar to that descrih~ with. re~pect t:o the en~odiment shown in ~IGS. l and 2. Or, as shown in FIG. 8, lips 314 and 318 and lips 322 and 326 may ~e constructed similar to that described with respect to ~he embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
In the latter case, lip 314 Eorms an edge of a chan-nel 328 dispos~d in section 312, lip 318 forms an edge of a channel 330 di~posed in section 31b, lip 322 forms an edge of a channel (not shown) in sec-tion 320 and lip 326 fonms an edge of a channel ~not shown) in section 324 The means for joining first section 312 to section 320 in this embodiment, includes a ~ .
semi circular plate 334 welded to third section : ~ ;
316 and fourth section 324. Thus, the third and ourth sections are a part o~ the joining means.
The mean~ for connectin~ frame segment~
310 to one another embodies an end flanye 336 :::
positioned on each end of each segmentO Matching bolt holes with bolts 338 extending therethrvugh ar~ provided in each end flange 336 for conn~cting ~- :
the frame ~egments when positioned in end-to-e~d relation around pipe 30 An access means 332 is provided in irst sections 312 and second ~ection~ 320 to permit liquid sealant access into the first and second annular recesses and seal the lips to the pipe.

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Thus, it i3 apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a leak repair clamp that fully satisfies the ob-jects, aims and ad~antages set ~orth ab~ove. While S the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modi~ications and variations : :
will be apparent to those skilled in the art in :
light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it i~ intended to embrace all such alternatives, modificationq and variations as fall within the 9pi~
rit.and broad scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-

1. A leak repair clamp for pipe and pipe flanges and the like, comprising:
a frame having a plurality of frame segments po-sitionable in end-to-end relation about the pipe, each segment having spaced parallel annular lips flaring from its inner periphery, each lip being an integral part of the segment and having a tip portion bent over in order to extend toward the other tip portion;
means for connecting the frame segments to one another when positioned in end-to-end relation, the spaced lips extending from said frame segments to form an annular recess around the pipe when the frame segments are connected;
and access means provided in said frame for permitting passage of a liquid sealant into the recess, the lips direct-ing flow of the sealant into contact with the pipe to form a self-energizing seal between the lips and pipe.

2. The leak repair clamp of claim 1, wherein said access means includes injection port means mounted within each frame segment for permitting the liquid sealant to be injected into the recess.

3. The leak repair clamp of claim 1, wherein the segment connecting means includes a flange on each end of each segment for disposal adjacent the flange of an adjacent segment, the end faces of said segments being brought into sealing engagement with one another when the frame segments are connected.

4. The leak repair clamp of claim 1, wherein said plurality of frame segments includes:

(i) a first section integrally supporting a first of the spaced parallel lips, (ii) a second section integrally supporting a second of the spaced parallel lips, (iii) means for joining the first section to the second section to therby make each frame segment with paced parallel annular lips.

5. The leak repair clamp of claim 4, wherein said access means includes injection port means mounted within each section of said first section for permitting the liquid sealant to be injected into the sealing cavity.

6. The leak repair clamp of claim 5, wherein said access means includes injection port means mounted within each segment of said second section for permitting the liquid sealant to be injected into the sealing cavity.

7. The leak repair clamp of claim 4, wherein said joining means includes a bolt running through matching bolt holes located in the said first and second sections for holding a surface on each section in butting engagement.

8. The leak repair clamp of claim 4, wherein said first section has a surface extending transversely relative to its inner periphery and said second section has a trans-verse surface for butting against the transverse surface of said first section when the sections are joined.

9. The leak repair clamp of claim 8, wherein the first lip supported by said first section forms an edge of a channel disposed within the transverse surface of the first section and the second lip supported by said second section forms an edge of a channel disposed within the transverse surface of the second section, the channels in the sections being a part of the annular recess formed around the pipe.

10. The leak repair clamp of claim 8, wherein each section includes a surface inset from the transverse surface and the channel is disposed within the inset surface.

11. The leak repair clamp of claim 4, wherein said joining means includes a third section to which said first section is joined, the third section having a third lip flaring from its inner periphery, the lip being an integral part of the third section and having a tip portion bent over toward the tip portion of the first lip to form a first recess between the lips of the first and third sec-tions and a fourth section to which said second is joined, the fourth section having a fourth lip flaring from its inner periphery, the lip being an integral part of the fourth section and having a tip portion bent over toward the tip portion of the second lip to form a second recess between the lips and channels of the second and fourth sections; and said access means includes means for permitting passage of the liquid sealant to the first and second recesses.

12. The leak repair clamp of claim 11, wherein said access means includes injection port means mounted within said first and second sections for injecting the liquid sealant into the first and second recesses.

13. The leak repair clamp of claim 11, wherein said first section has a surface extending transversely relative to its inner periphery, and the first lip forms an edge of a channel disposed within its transversely surface and said third section has a transverse surface for butting against the surface of the first section and the third lip forms an edge of a channel disposed within its transverse surface to thereby form a part of the first annular recess, said second section has a surface extending transversely relative to its inner periphery and the second lip forms an edge of a channel disposed within its transverse surface and said fourth section has a transverse surface for butting against the surface of the second section and the fourth lip forms an edge of a channel disposed within its transverse surface to thereby form a part of the second annular recess.

14. The leak repair clamp of claim 4, wherein the segment connecting means includes a flange on each end of each section for disposal adjacent the flange of an adjacent section, the end faces of said sections being brought into sealing engagement with one another when the frame segments are connected, said joining means includes a bolt running through matching bolt holes located in each section for holding a transverse surface on each section in butting engagement with another section, said access means includes injection port means mounted within each section for in-jecting the liquid sealant into the recess, and each section has a surface inset from the transverse surfaces, the lips of each section forming an edge of a channel disposed within its inset surface, to thereby form a part of the annular recess when the segments are connected to one another.