GB2186654A

GB2186654A - Improvements relating to plumbing devices

Info

Publication number: GB2186654A
Application number: GB08700632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Durant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-13
Filing date: 1987-01-13
Publication date: 1987-08-19
Also published as: GB2186654B; GB8700632D0; GB8603605D0

Abstract

A plumbing device for temporarily stopping flow in a pipe (2) comprises a valve body (1) having a tool access bore (4) through it to the pipe (2). The tool access bore (4) is closable by a valve (6) and accommodates three tool members in sequence. The link member is a drill (10, Fig. 3 not shown) capable of providing a hole through the pipe wall. The second tool member (20) confines an expandable resilient blocking member (26) arranged to be inserted through the hole in the pipe wall and to be expanded using an upper plunger (23) and a lower floating plunger (24) to block off the pipe (2). The third tool member (30, Fig. 5 not shown) is a closing member, e.g. a rivetter, for closing off the hole in the pipe (2) after the blocking member (26) has been removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to plumbing devices This invention relates to plumbing devices for temporarily closing off a section of pipework in a water supply or central heating system.

The plumbing device is intended for use by plumbers to eliminate draining down the sys tern prior to repairing or altering the pipework section. It is also useful in a situation where work has to be carried out on a low lying section of pipework which can not be drained or where water continues to run due to faulty valves or stop cocks.

Devices are already known for closing off a section of pipework and comprise a pipe freezing jacket which freezes the water in the pipework on both sides of the section to be closed off. This is a somewhat hit or miss device since it is difficult to ascertain if and how well the pipe has frozen and even when it has frozen. Time is limited for whatever operation is to be carried out due to the possibility of premature thawing. Further, it is absolutely essential when using the freezing jacket, that the water in the pipe which is to be frozen is absolutely still and cold.

One object of the present invention is to provide a plumbing device for temporarily closing off a section of pipework and which does not suffer from the above stated disadvantages of the freezing jacket.

According to the present invention a plumbing device comprises a valve body adapted to be fitted to the pipework and having a tool access bore through it to the pipe, which tool access bore is closable by a valve, and three tool members, the first of which is a hole forming member capable of providing a hole through the pipe wall, the second of which is an expandable resilient blocking member together with means for feeding the blocking member through the hole in the pipe wall and then expanding it to block the pipe and the third of which is a closing member for closing off the hole in the pipe after the blocking member has been removed.

One construction of plumbing device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of the valve body, Figure 2 is a view of the valve body in the direction of arrow A, and Figures 3 to 5 show sectional elevations of each of the three tools or so-called probes.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the valve body 1 is adapted to be clamped around a pipe 2 by clamping screws 3 (Figure 2). A bore 4 extends through the valve body 1 and leads to the pipe 2. The valve body 1 is sealed to the pipe 2 around the bore 4 by an '0' ring seal 5. The upper end of the bore 4 is provided with '0' ring seals 8 for sealing with tool members fitted into the bore 4 as will be described. The valve body 1 is provided with a stop valve 6 for closing off the bore 4 and also with a test cock 7.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 to 5 showing the three tool members, Figure 3 shows a twist drill device 10 which sealingly fits in the bore 4 of the valve body 1 and can be operated either by the manual hand crank 11 or by a hand drill fitted to the shaft end 12 to drill a hole in the pipe 2.

Figure 4 shows a special tool member 20 which fits in the bore 4 of the valve body 1.

The tool member 20 has an outer elongated cylinder 21 which seals with the '0' ring seals 8 at the top of the bore 4 in the valve body 1. Below the '0' ring seals 8 the cylinder can be a loose fit in the bore 4 to allow water to rise up to the test cock 7. Alternatively the cylinder 21 can be a close fit and have a groove cut in it to allow the water to reach the test cock 7. At its lower end the cylinder 21 has a tubular guide 22 which extends with clearance through the hole drilled in the pipe 2 the lower part of the tubular guide 22 being cut away and curved to provide a chute which guides the rubber tube 26 to one side of the cylinder 21 and allows it to expand. Slid ably located in the cylinder 21 are upper and lower plungers 23 and 24. The upper plunger 23 has an operating head 25 extending out of the cylinder 21 so that it can be moved into and out of the cylinder 21.The !owner plunger 24 is a floating plunger and has a rubber tube 26 leading from it into the tube guide 22. The lower end of the tube is closed and in its normal position has the position shown in full line. The upper end of the tube passes through the plunger 24 and opens into the space 27 between the plungers 23 and 24 which is filled with fluid such as oil. When the plunger 23 is pressed downwards it first causes, under the hydraulic pressure created, the plunger 24 to be moved down to its lower limiting position. This causes the tube 26 to move into the pipe 2 guided by the tube guide 22 so that its closed end moves along the pipe 2 away from the hole drilled in the pipe 2. Continued downward movement of the plunger 23 then causes the hydraulic pressure to expand the tube 26 and block off the pipe 2 as shown in dotted line.Tests have shown that the expanded tube 26 can hold back a pressure of greater than 20 psi which is twice what is required for a domestic central heating system.

The third tool member 30 is a rivetter which also is a close fit in the bore 4 of the valve body 1. The tool member 30 comprises a barrel 31 which sealingly fits in the bore 4, a rivet pin 32 having a tail 33 for insertion into rivet pliers and a rivet head 34 for locating in the hole drilled in the pipe 2 and fitting a rivet which seals off the hole. Alternatively the hole drilled in the pipe may be closed off by a tool which fits a plug into the hole to seal off the hole.

In operation the valve body 1 is clamped to the pipe 2 at a point suitable for the work that is to be carried out (two plumbing devices are normally required so that the work is carried out on the run of pipework between them) and stays in this position until the whole sequence of the operation has been completed.

Tool member 10 is then inserted and turned either by hand or hand-drill until a hole is bored into the pipe 2 (the escaping water is contained within the main valve body) and then withdrawn. It should be noted that it is necessary to operate the ancillary stop-valve 6 on the side of the body 1 each time a tool member is either inserted or withdrawn after the hole has been drilled.

Tool member 20 is then inserted and the plunger 23 pushed all the way down and locked in position thus inflating tube 26 inside the pipe 2 (though not directly at the point of entry). If two plumbing devices are being used they should both have been brought to this stage before the next operation which is to open the small test cock 7 on the side of the valve body 1.

After an initial spurt of water the pressure should be seen to drop off which indicates that both devices have sealed and that the area of pipework between the two devices is now of zero pressure and can be worked on (if a blow-lamp is to be used there is obviously a minimum distance that should be kept from the devices and this is suggested to be about 600mm or 2 feet). Once the work has been completed and the pipe can be re-pressurised the plunger 23 should be slowly released and then the tool member 20 withdrawn completely.

Tool member 30 is then loaded with a rivet and inserted into the valve body 1 and snapped off with rivet pliers in the usual way.

Finally, the valve body 1 is removed with the only visible evidence of its use being a small rivet on the pipe.

Claims

1. A plumbing device comprising a valve body adapted to be fitted to a pipe and having a tool access bore through it to the pipe, which tool access bore is closable by a valve, and three tool members adapted to locate in said bore, the first of which is a hole forming member capable of providing a hole through a pipe wall, the second of which is an expandable resilient blocking member arranged to be inserted through the hole in the pipe wall and can then be expanded to block off the pipe and the third of which is a closing member for closing off the hole in the pipe after the blocking member has been removed.

2. A plumbing device according to claim 1, wherein each of said tool members has an elongated tubular housing which is a sealing fit in said tool access bore.

3. A plumbing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first tool member comprises a twist drill.

4. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said second tool member comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger for forcing hydraulic fluid into said blocking member to expand it.

5. A plumbing device according to claim 4, wherein said hydraulic cylinder has a second plunger to which said blocking member is attached, whereby the initial movement of the first mentioned plunger causes the second plunger to move under hydraulic pressure to a limiting position and thus causes said blocking member to be inserted through the hole into the pipe.

6. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said third tool member is a rivetter.

7. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim and having a test cock which can be opened for testing the fluid pressure in the tool access bore.

8. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said valve for closing said tool access bore is positioned so that it can be operated while the tool member is still in said bore at a position remote from said valve.

9. A plumbing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of closing of a section of pipe using two plumbing devices as claimed in any preceding claim positioned at either end of said section.

10. A plumbing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS New claims or amendments to claims filed on 30/3/87.

Superseded claims 1-10.

New or amended claims:

1. A plumbing device comprising a valve body adapted to be fitted to a pipe and having a tool access bore through it to the pipe, which tool access bore is closable by a valve and three tool members adapted to locate in said bore, the first of which is a hole forming member capable of providing a hole through a pipe wall, the second of which is an expandable resilient blocking member arranged to be inserted through the hole in the pipe wall and can then be expanded to block off the pipe and the third of which is a closing member for closing off the hole in the pipe after the blocking member has been removed, and each of said tool members having an elongated tubular housing which is a sealing fit in said tool access bore.

2. A plumbing device according to claim 1, wherein said first tool member comprises a twist drill.

3. A plumbing device according to claim '1 or 2, wherein said second tool member comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger for forcing hydraulic fluid into said blocking member to expand it.

4. A plumbing device according to claim 3, wherein said hydraulic cylinder has a second plunger to which said blocking member is attached, whereby the initial movement of the first mentioned plunger causes the second plunger to move under hydraulic pressure to a limiting position and thus causes said blocking member to be inserted through the hole into the pipe.

5. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said third tool member is a rivetter.

6. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim and having a test cock which can be opened for testing the fluid pressure in the tool access bore.

7. A plumbing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said valve for closing said tool access bore is positioned so that it can be operated while the tool member is still in said bore at a position remote from said valve.

8. A method of closing of a section of pipe using two plumbing devices as claimed in any preceding claim positioned at either end of said section.