EP2926044A1

EP2926044A1 - Device for closing off a pipe

Info

Publication number: EP2926044A1
Application number: EP13798650.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William BERDAT
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-30
Filing date: 2013-11-28
Publication date: 2015-10-07
Also published as: FR2998939A1; FR2998939B1; WO2014083128A1

Abstract

Device for closing off a pipe, comprising a balloon (1) configured to exhibit an inflated configuration in which the balloon is able to plug the pipe (10) and a deflated configuration in which the balloon is unable to plug the pipe, characterized in that said device comprises a system (2, 7) for fixing the balloon in the pipe, said system being able to collaborate with a hole in the wall of the pipe.

Description

"Device for closing off a pipeline"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for closing a pipe. It finds a particular non-limiting application in the field of plumbing to facilitate interventions in piping circuits of water or other liquids. BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

There are known devices for momentarily plugging pipes, especially large industrial pipes via balloons. The balloon is introduced into a deflated position at one end of the pipe that is to be plugged. Once the introduction has been effected, the balloon is filled with a fluid, for example simply air, so as to expand so that the balloon is applied to the inner peripheral walls of the pipe for the butcher. One can thus quickly and reversibly plug one end of a pipe.

For example, WO-A2-2006 / 049509 discloses an inflatable system cooperating with a longitudinal mouth of a pipe. Existing devices are effective in capping but offer little scope for application of this technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of shutter devices known hitherto and to this end has a device for closing off a pipe, comprising a balloon configured to have an inflated configuration in which the balloon is able to plug the pipe and a deflated configuration in which the balloon is not able to plug the pipe.

Advantageously, it comprises a system for fixing the balloon in the pipe, said system being able to cooperate with a hole in the wall of the pipe.

Thanks to the invention, the closure device can be used in all types of pipe and especially plumbing pipes for example for the discharge of wastewater by taking advantage of a hole in the wall of the pipe, preferably small dimension, so as to achieve a lateral introduction of the closure device and to fix relative to the wall of the pipe. An advantage of the invention is that the mobility of the device in the pipe is stopped by the fastening system. This avoids any risk of loss of the balloon, for example if the pressure exerted by the fluid in the pipe is too great.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a pipe and a device, the pipe having a hole in its wall cooperating with the fastening system.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for closing a pipe, comprising steps of:

introducing a shutter device with a balloon in a deflated configuration in the pipe;

inflating the balloon to an inflated configuration in which the balloon closes the pipe;

characterized by the fact that it comprises:

the formation of a hole in the wall of the pipe;

introducing the shutter device into the pipe through the hole; securing the closure device by a fastening system cooperating with the hole in the wall of the pipe. INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting example.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the device of the invention in deflated configuration.

Figure 2 is an example of a constituent part of the fastening system.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the device of the invention in inflated configuration and in a dotted line situation in a pipe.

Figure 4 is a top view of the device and Figure 5 a profile view in a pipeline situation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before going into the details of the embodiment description of the invention in particular with reference to the drawings, non-limiting but advantageous features of the invention that can be implemented either individually or in any combination between them are stated. below:

- The balloon cooperates on a portion of its outer surface with the rod.

the system comprises a rod whose first end is connected to the balloon and configured to pass through the hole in the pipe.

- The system comprises a stop member in translation of the rod in the hole of the pipe.

- The stop member is configured to be applied on an outer surface of the wall of the pipe.

- The stop member comprises a bar extending perpendicularly to the rod.

- It comprises a counter-support portion adapted to be applied on an inner surface of the wall of the pipe so as to exert a force opposite to that of the stop member.

the counter-support portion is an area of the balloon.

- The balloon area has an extra thickness.

- The rod is threaded and the stop member has a threaded hole mounting on the rod.

- An area of the ball surrounding the rod is supported on an inner surface of the pipe.

- The fastening comprises, during inflation of the balloon, a bearing of a balloon area located around the rod on an inner surface of the pipe. - The formation of a hole comprises a hole in the thickness of the wall of the pipe.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the closure device and in particular the presence of a balloon 1 here in a deflated configuration. By this is meant a situation of the balloon 1 in which the volume occupied by the balloon 1 is less than the volume occupied by the balloon 1 in an inflated position, the latter position corresponding to a position in which the balloon 1 blocks the pipe, its volume sufficient to apply on the inner walls of the latter.

The balloon 1 may be of elastomeric material or of natural rubber or any other material. Its sufficiently elastic composition is advantageous for operating the inflation and deflation phases in an effectively reversible manner. The balloon 1 cooperates on a portion of its outer surface with a rod 2 extending elongate between a first end 5 connected to the balloon and a second end 6 corresponding to a distal end at which a valve 3 is located. Advantageously , as will be seen later, the rod 2 participates in a function of fixing the device in the pipe. Moreover, it is advantageous for the same rod 2 to be used for the inflation and deflation phases. For this purpose, the rod 2 is preferably made in the form of a rod having an internal conduit from the valve 3 towards the inside of the balloon 1 so as to allow the introduction or the exit of fluid into the interior volume of the balloon 1 .

As indicated above, the rod 2 is also advantageously used for fixing the device. For this purpose, it is advantageous to ensure that the rod 2 is of sufficient length to pass through a hole formed in the wall of the pipe to be equipped. This ability of the rod 2 to pass through the wall of the pipe 10 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The wall of the pipe 10 is the peripheral envelope which delimits the internal channel of the pipe 10. It extends around the inner channel along its longitudinal dimension. The hole 8, 12 therefore has an orientation according to the thickness of the pipe and differs from the mouths of the pipe, along its longitudinal direction.

To complete the fastening system with the rod 2, the invention advantageously comprises a member shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a bar 7 and having a principal direction marked L in this figure perpendicular to the direction of the rod 2. The bar 7 constitutes an element capable of cooperating with the rod 2 once the device is in position in a pipe 10 so that the bar 7 is applied to an outer surface of the pipe 10 and constitutes a support. Advantageously, the bar 7 has a hole 8. In one embodiment, the hole 8 is threaded and the rod 2 is threaded so that these two members cooperate in the form of helical slide and allow the rise or fall of the bar 7 along the rod 2. In a variant, the hole 8 is not threaded but the fastening system comprises a nut so as to ensure the helical slide function and the fixing in relative position in translation along the rod of the bar 7.

Other configurations are possible for fixing in position the bar 7 or any other form of member relative to the rod 2. In an embodiment not shown, the bar 7 is not threaded and comprises only an introduction passage of the rod 2. A locking member, such as a nut is then attached above the bar 7 to stop the relative translation of the rod 2 and the bar 7. Moreover, the bar may have a more complex profile than the elongated shape of the figures. In particular, it may have a "U" profile whose base is perpendicular to the rod 2 and whose branches are configured to be applied around the pipe 10, parallel to the rod. The device is thus provided with a locking rotation. Other shapes are possible, including curved profiles.

It is understood that once the balloon has been introduced in deflated position in the pipe 10, the rod 2 is projecting through the wall of said pipe and can receive the bar 7 which will be applied on the outer surface of the pipe. pipe. This prevents the balloon 1 from being carried into the pipe 10, in particular if the fluid pressure in said pipe is too great. This retention function is advantageously completed by a support complementary to that of the bar 7, complementary support made at the inner surface of the wall of the pipe 10.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the pipe 10 comprises a surface portion forming a bearing surface 1 1 to cooperate with a portion facing the outer surface of the balloon 1. In this configuration, a reinforced zone 9 of the outer surface of the balloon 1 is applied directly to the inner surface of the pipe 10. Reinforced zone 9 is understood to mean a portion of the balloon 1 configured to offer increased resistance with respect to the remainder of the surface of the balloon . The reinforced zone can be made in the form of an extra thickness of the wall of the balloon 1.

The counter-support portion made by the reinforced zone 9 may, in a complementary or alternative manner be carried out with a separate element of the balloon. For example, the closure device may comprise a sheet applicable to the surface external balloon 1 at an area adjacent the rod 2 so as to achieve an intermediate element between the outer surface of the balloon 1 and the inner surface of the pipe 10. For example, a resistant textile web can be used.

It will be noted that the counter-support portion does not necessarily have a reinforced zone 9 on the balloon 1, in particular if the intermediate element is present, or if the general resistance of the balloon 1 is sufficient to dispense with the reinforced zone. 9.

The counter-support zone is located around the place of cooperation with the rod 2. It advantageously surrounds it. This allows support, preferably continuous, around the rod 2, between the balloon and the inner surface of the pipe 10.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the bar 7 fitted to the device. Note that the bar 7 may be a member having a main direction L much greater than its width. In this way, by orienting the bar 7 substantially in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10, it can operate a relatively long length of support without the bar 7 does not exceed the section of the pipe 10. This is configuration which is shown in Figure 4. Thus, the length L of the bar 7 may be greater than the diameter of the pipe 10 without impeding the operation and allowing support all the more effective. Its width is instead preferably less than this diameter.

The invention can be implemented with a pipe shutter process whose steps follow.

At first, if it is not already formed, a hole is made through the pipe as the hole 12 shown in Figure 4. This hole is not necessarily circular section but present in a way generally a section of sufficient size to allow the introduction of the balloon 1 inside the pipe, the balloon 1 being deflated position.

Note that the rod 2 may be of sufficient length on the one hand to pass through the thickness of the wall of the pipe 10 but also to facilitate handling of the assembly. Once the balloon introduced into the pipe 10, the bar 7, which was either already present on the rod 2 is reported at that time, descended along the rod 2 through the helical slide formed by the threaded system. Any other provision allowing the translation adjustment of the bar 7 is possible. The bar 7 is lowered until the latter comes into contact with the outer surface of the pipe 10.

In a next or previous step, the balloon 1 is inflated so that it passes into the plugging position of the pipe 10. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the dashed lines schematize an example of lateral expansion of the balloon 1 in the duct due to the inflation 1. In general, the pressure exerted by the balloon 1 on the internal surface of the wall of the pipe 10 is sufficient to plug the pipe in the desired application.

In general, the deflated position is at least such that the size of the balloon allows its introduction into the hole. On the contrary, the inflated position is at least such that the balloon can not leave the hole. Its diameter is greater than that of the hole.

During the inflation step, an area of the balloon surrounding the rod 2 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the pipe so as to exert a support. It is understood that this support is complementary to that exerted by the bar 7 so that the assembly takes in a vise the wall of the pipe 10. This arrangement allows an effective fixation of the closure device in the pipe 10.

In the case of using a reinforced zone 9, as appearing in dashed line in FIG. 4, this zone is advantageously slightly larger than the dimension of the hole 12. For example, it may be a zone circular section of diameter "a" at least 10% larger than the diameter of the hole 12.

It is understood that the disassembly of the closure device is very practical.

Indeed, at first, one can deflate the balloon 1 by acting on the valve 3. Once it is deflated, the pipe is no longer clogged. When the deflation is operated, there is nothing to prevent the balloon 1 is extracted from the pipe 10 through the hole 12.

The device can be reused for other operations.

Advantageously, the hole 12 is plugged by any common means after the operation.

As a preferred application, it should be noted that the closure may be used to plug a sewage pipe momentarily when the plumbing intervention is necessary, in particular to repair a leak or reorganize an exhaust pipe. 'waste. REFERENCES

1. Ball

2. Rod

3. Valve

4. Threading

5. First end

6. Second end

7. Barrette

8. Hole

9. Reinforced area

10. Pipe

1 1. Bearing surface

12. Hole

Claims

Device for closing off a pipe (10), comprising a balloon (1) configured to have an inflated configuration in which the balloon (1) is able to plug the pipe (10) and a deflated configuration in which the balloon (1) ) is not suitable for plugging the pipe (10), characterized in that it comprises a system for fixing the balloon (1) in the pipe (10), said system being able to cooperate with a hole (8, 12) in the wall of the pipe (10) and wherein the system comprises a rod (2) whose first end (5) is connected to the balloon (1) and configured to pass through the hole (8, 12) of the pipe (10). Device according to the preceding claim wherein the balloon (1) cooperates on a portion of its outer surface with the rod (2).

Device according to one of the two preceding claims wherein the system comprises a stop member in translation of the rod (2) in the hole (8, 12) of the pipe (10).

Device according to the preceding claim wherein the stop member is configured to be applied on an outer surface of the wall of the pipe (10).

Device according to the preceding claim wherein the stop member comprises a bar (7) extending perpendicular to the rod (2). Device according to one of claims 4 or 5, comprising a counter-bearing portion adapted to be applied on an inner surface of the wall of the pipe (10) so as to exert a force opposite to that of the body of the 'stop.

Device according to the preceding claim wherein the counter-bearing portion is a zone of the balloon (1).

Device according to the preceding claim wherein the balloon region (1) has an extra thickness.

Device according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the rod (2) is threaded and the stop member comprises a hole (8, 12) threaded mounting on the rod (2).

Assembly comprising a pipe (10) and a device according to one of the preceding claims, the pipe (10) having a hole (8, 12) in its wall cooperating with the fastening system. Assembly according to the preceding claim wherein an area of the balloon surrounding the rod is supported on an inner surface of the pipe (10). A method of sealing a pipe (10), comprising steps of: introducing a shutter device with a balloon (1) in a deflated configuration in the pipe (10);

inflating the balloon (1) to an inflated configuration in which the balloon (1) closes the pipe (10) the device comprising a rod cooperating with a portion of its outer surface;

characterized by the fact that it comprises:

forming a hole (8, 12) in the wall of the pipe (10);

introducing the closure device in the pipe (10) through the hole (8, 12);

securing the closure device by a fixing system cooperating with the hole (8, 12) of the wall of the pipe (10).

Method according to one of the two preceding claims, in which the fastening comprises, during the inflation of the balloon (1), a bearing area of the balloon (1) situated around the rod (2) on an internal surface of the pipe (10).

Method according to the preceding claim wherein the formation of a hole (8, 12) comprises a hole in the thickness of the wall of the pipe (10).