GB2355293A

GB2355293A - Pipe repair clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2355293A
Application number: GB9918857A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Nigel Dewing; Geoffrey Charles Godfrey
Original assignee: Thames Water Products Ltd
Current assignee: Thames Water Products Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-10
Filing date: 1999-08-10
Publication date: 2001-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-10
Also published as: GB2355293B; GB9918857D0

Abstract

Apparatus 1 for repairing a pipe, comprises two parts 2, each part including an arcuate body member 3, a wedge member 4 for wedging engagement with the other part 2, a seal 5, and means 6 to secure the parts together on the external periphery of a pipe (not shown). The arcuate body member 3 and wedge member 4 of each part 2 are preferably relatively rigid, being made for example from rigid cast iron. The body member 3 of each part 2 may have a boss 7 for drilling and tapping for an offtake or branch duct from a pipe on which the apparatus 1 is mounted. The internal surface of the respective body member 3 is complementary in shape to the external configuration of the pipe, and the seal 5 retained therein preferably has a waffle-like configuration.

Description

2355293 APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING A PIPE The invention relates to apparatus

for repairing a pipe.

A pipe, which is herein to be understood to be a main, pipe, tube, channel or conduit for carrying a fluid such as water, oil, gas or the like, may develop a fault. It is often the case that such a fault, which may lead to leakage, is sustainable or containable if the pipe can be repaired, without the trouble and expense of replacing the pipe with a new one.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide apparatus for repairing a pipe.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for repairing a pipe, comprising two parts, each part including an arcuate body member, a wedge member, a seal and means to secure the two parts together on the external periphery of a pipe, whereby to repair same'.

Thus using the invention it is possible to provide apparatus which has no loose parts, so that there are no loose parts to drop or lose during assembly, particularly when each part may comprise semi-captive bolts.

The body member and wedge member of each part may be connected by respective interengageable connector elements. Suitably these connector elements may comprise a guide element of 2 the body member and a hook element of the wedge member, the arrangement being such that when the elements are engaged, the members of one part are connected. This assists in the nonseparation of the members of a part so that a composite unit is obtained, which facilitates assembly.

Each wedge member may comprise a wedge-shaped projection depending from each body member for wedging engagement with the other body member when the apparatus is assembled round a pipe.

The seal may be secured to the wedge member.

The seals may each comprise a semi-cylindrical resilient member.

Opposite edges of each seal may be tapered whereby mating edges of respective seals overlap to provide a seal of uniform thickness around the periphery of the pipe in use.

The seal may have a waff le-like configuration.

The respective members may be relatively rigid, being made for example from rigid cast iron.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pipe, whenever repaired with apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

Apparatus for repairing a pipe is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention, assembled as it would be in position round a pipe to repair same; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but "exploded" to show constructional details; Figs. 3 to 5 show respectively an external elevational view, an end elevational view and an internal elevational view of a body member of a part of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail at 'D' of Fig. 4; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively transverse sectional views on lines A-A and B-B of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view at 'C' on Fig. 3; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are respectively side elevational, plan and end elevational views of a wedge member of a part of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively transverse sectional views on lines A-A and B-B of Fig. 10; Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a seal of a part of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view on line A-A of Fig. 15.

4 Referring to the drawings there is shown apparatus 1 for repairing a pipe, comprising two parts 2, each part including an arcuate body member 3, a wedge member 4, a seal 5, and means 6 to secure the parts together on the external periphery of a pipe (not shown), whereby to repair same.

The arcuate body member 3 and wedge member 4 of each part 2 are relatively rigid, being made for example from rigid cast iron.

The body member 3 of each part 2 has a boss 7 for drilling and tapping for an offtake or branch duct from a pipe on which the apparatus 1 is mounted.

The internal surface of the respective body member 3 is complementary in shape to the external configuration of the pipe. There is a generally radial projection or flange 8 at each side, and projecting therefrom is a plurality, in the embodiment two, of depending fingers 9 which are tapered towards their respective free ends 10. At one side of each body member, the flange 8 mounts semi-captive securing means in the form of bolts 11, held captive by nuts 12 which screw down onto the flange 8. At the opposite side of each body member 3, the flange 8 has cut-outs or lugs 13 of square shape in which the heads of these bolts are received. Adjacent the cut-outs or lugs 13 there is a right angle recess 14 and an upstanding detent 15 against which is received an oppositely facing projection or finger 9.

At the laterally opposite sides of each body member 3 there is a connector element in the form of an L-shaped guide 16, each of which is interengageable with a connector element in the form of a hook element 17 of a respective wedge member 4.

Turning now to the wedge members 4 (Figs. 10 - 14), each is arcuate, and rigid, and carries at each lateral side the hook elements 17. There is also a tooth or detent 18 at each side, inboard of the hook element 17, which is received in a cut-out 19 of complementary shape in a respective body member 3.

The wedge members 4 each have ribs 20 on which the seal (Figs. 14 and 15) is received and secured as by adhesive. Externally, each wedge member has spaced wedge-shaped ribs 21.

The seals 5 are each made of suitable polymeric material and have a waffle-like body 22 as shown, whereby to provide for compressibility, and an ability to accommodate irregularities in pipes being repaired. The opposite lateral edges 23 of each seal 5 are tapered.

In use of the apparatus 1, each part 2 is assembled, the hook elements 17 and guide elements 16 being engaged so that the respective body members 3 and wedge members 4 are joined together, the bolts 11 being in position and semi-captive.

A pipe can then be repaired by offering each part 2 up to a pipe at a desired position, for example to repair a leak, and the bolts 11 are received in the lugs 13, and the nuts are tightened, the heads of the 6 bolts being prevented from rotation by being held in the square recesses. The opposite tapered edges 23 of the two seals 5 overlap and form a seal of uniform thickness which surrounds the pipe. As the nuts 12 are tightened, the composite seal 5 is compressed to seal the pipe leak and to prevent damage to the pipe.

It will be understood that pipes of various diameter may be repaired, the interengaging means 16, 17 allowing this as they can slide relative to one another to accommodate a particular pipe diameter.

In all embodiments, as the two parts 2 form complete, assembled units, assembly around a pipe is facilitated as there are no separate, loose, parts which have to be manipulated, and which could be lost or dropped.

Moreover, each part 2 is identical, so being made of identical body members, wedge members, seals and bolts, so rendering repeatability and ease of production.

7

Claims

1 Apparatus for repairing a pipe, comprising two parts, each part including an arcuate body member, a wedge member, a seal, and means to secure the two parts together on the external periphery of a pipe, whereby to repair same.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1. the body members each being made of relatively rigid material.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the securing means of each part comprising semi-captive bolts.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, the body member and wedge member of each part being connected together by respective interengageable connector elements.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, the connector elements comprising a guide element of the body member and a hook element of the wedge member, the arrangement being such that when the elements are engaged, the members of one part are connected.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, each wedge member comprising a wedge-shaped projection depending from each body member for wedging engagement with the other body member when the apparatus is assembled round a pipe.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the seal being 8 secured to the wedge member.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, the seals comprising a semicylindrical resilient member.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, opposite edges of each seal being tapered whereby mating edges of respective seals overlap to provide a seal of uniform thickness throughout the periphery of a pipe in use.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the seal having a wafflelike configuration.

11. Apparatus for repairing a pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A pipe, whenever repaired with apparatus according to any preceding claim.