WO1990002290A1 - Method and means for providing a sealing stopper in a tube - Google Patents

Method and means for providing a sealing stopper in a tube Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1990002290A1
WO1990002290A1 PCT/SE1989/000432 SE8900432W WO9002290A1 WO 1990002290 A1 WO1990002290 A1 WO 1990002290A1 SE 8900432 W SE8900432 W SE 8900432W WO 9002290 A1 WO9002290 A1 WO 9002290A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bladder
tube
liquid
pressure
freezable
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE1989/000432
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Johan Trybom
Original Assignee
Johan Trybom
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johan Trybom filed Critical Johan Trybom
Publication of WO1990002290A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990002290A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16KVALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K7/00Diaphragm valves or cut-off apparatus, e.g. with a member deformed, but not moved bodily, to close the passage ; Pinch valves
    • F16K7/10Diaphragm valves or cut-off apparatus, e.g. with a member deformed, but not moved bodily, to close the passage ; Pinch valves with inflatable member

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for providing in a tube a sealing stopper in the form of an inflatable elastic bladder, wherein the bladder is inserted into the tube and there inflated with pressure gas into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tube.
  • the invention also relates to a bladder for carrying out the invention.
  • a rubber bladder is inserted into a tube and expanded with an internal overpressure, such as to be brought into sealing engage- ent with the inner surface of the tube and therewith form a sealing stopper.
  • This stopper is held in position in the tube by the dry-friction obtained between the bladder and the inside surface of the tube.
  • the force which strives to force-out the stopper corresponds to the pressure of the gas or liquid introduced into the tube when the tube is closed by the stopper.
  • the co ⁇ efficient of friction is relatively low and must be compensated for, as far as is possible, by maintaining the inflating-gas in the bladder at a relatively high pressure. This pressure, however, is limited by the mechanical strength of the tube. Nevertheless, the frictional force can be increased by using a long stop ⁇ per or bladder. Stoppers of extreme lengths, however, are unwieldy and often difficult to insert into the tube.
  • EP, Al, 0 218 973 describes a tube-stoppering method in which an elastic bladder is inserted into a tube and filled with water, whereafter the water is frozen, such as to form an ice-plug which seals-off the tube. According to one described embodiment of this known method, it took two hours to produce an ice-plug.
  • One serious drawback with this method is that in some cases there is considerable risk that the tube will be ruptured by the expanding ice-plug and burst, and the method i-s therefore restricted to use with tubes which are able to withstand the pressure exerted by the ice- plug.
  • a further drawback with the known methods which rely upon the formation of an ice-plug is the relatively long time taken to melt the ice-plug, so as to enable the bladder to be removed from the tube upon completion of the repair work.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method which will enable a sealing stopper to be obtained without risk of the tube bursting as a result of an expanding ice-plug, and which will enable the stopper to be removed in a much shorter time than is possible with those methods in which the stopper is obtained with water which is first frozen to form an ice-plug and thereafter thawed out.
  • a method according to the invention which is characterised by the steps of provi ⁇ ding the bladder with a layer of freezable liquid, such as water, in a region around the periphery of the blad- der prior to inserting the bladder into the tube; inserting the bladder into the tube and inflating the bladder into sealing abutment with the inside surface thereof; filling the bladder with a pressure liquid, such as a glycol mixture, while displacing and expelling the inflating gas; using a pressure liquid which has a lower freezing point than the freezable liquid; and cooling the freezable liquid to its freezing point such that the frozen liquid will form a sealing ring which is frozen sealingly to the tube and to the inflated bladder.
  • a pressure liquid such as a glycol mixture
  • the bladder is first in- flated with the aid of a pressure gas, so as to fix the position of the bladder provisionally in the tube. This is necessary when the tube is vertical.
  • a coating of liquid-absorbent material which is saturated with water prior to introducing the bladder into the tube.
  • Glycol or someother liquid which has a freezing point lower than water is then introduced into the bladder. This liquid is then chilled to a temperature beneath the freezing point of water, so that the water in the absor- bent coating will freeze and form an effective seal.
  • a bladder which has a valve- controlled inlet and outlet for a pressure gas and a pressure liquid respectively and which is characterised in that an external peripheral region of the bladder is provided with a layer of liquid-absorbent material, such as cellular rubber with open pores, such as to form a sealing ring, which layer is intended to be saturated with a freezable liquid, such as water, prior to intro- ducing the bladder into the tube concerned, whereafter the freezable liquid is frozen to form a sealing ring.
  • liquid-absorbent material such as cellular rubber with open pores, such as to form a sealing ring
  • Figure 1 illustrates schematically an inventive bladder inserted into a tube and connected to a pressure-gas container and to a pressure-liquid pump respectively
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged view of an inventive bladder structure.
  • the bladder structure 10 has two walls and is inserted in a tube 11.
  • the bladder comprises an inner bladder 12 and an outer bladder 14, the orifices of which are both connected to a connecting piece 16.
  • the connecting piece has an inlet 18 and an outlet 20 with associated conduits 24, 26 for pressure liquid, which in the case of the illustrated embodiment is introduced into the inner bladder such as to extend said bladder together with the outer bladder.
  • Pressure gas such as air
  • a conduit 28 and a nipple 30 such as to inflate the outer bladder 14 in the tube 11 in a first method step, during which the inner bladder is empty and in a collapsed state, as indicated by the chain line in Figure 2.
  • the nipple 30 is connected to a compressed-gas bottle 32, via the conduit 28, which incorporates an over ⁇ pressure valve 34, which is connected to an expansion vessel 38 by a conduit 36.
  • the pressure liquid such as a glycol mixture
  • a system which includes a pump 40 and a cooler 42 which contains, for instance, carbon dioxide snow or dry ice, so as to maintain the pressure liquid introduced into the inner bladder 12 through the conduit 24 at the desired low temperature, e.g. - 20°C.
  • the conduit 26 is connected to the expansion vessel by a conduit 44.
  • the outer bladder 14 has provided on its outer surface a layer of liquid-absorbent material 38, such as an open-cell cellular rubber, which forms a liquid-absorbing elastic sealing ring 40.
  • liquid-absorbent material 38 such as an open-cell cellular rubber
  • the liquid-absorbent seal ⁇ ing ring 40 is first saturated with a freezable liquid which has a higher freezing point than the pressure liquid. Pressure gas is then introduced into the outer bladder 14 through the nipple 30, so as to inflate the bladder and clamp said bladder firmly against the inner surface of the tube. This is particularly important in the case of vertical tubes.
  • Chilled pressure liquid is now introduced into the inner bladder, so as to inflate the inner bladder and expel the gas contained by the outer bladder.
  • the state illustrated in Figure 2 is reached, in which the liquid-filled inner bladder 12 lies sealingly against the outer bladder, which is now empty of gas.
  • the pressure liquid is maintained at a tem ⁇ perature at which the freezable liquid will freeze and form a solid sealing ring 40 which freezes firmly against the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the outer bladder 14.
  • dry ice such as to freeze the liquid e.g. water, pre ⁇ sent in the radially inward sealing ring and form a solid sealing ring 40.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

For the purpose of providing a sealing stopper in a tube (11) which is to be closed-of to the flow of fluid therethrough there is used a bladder (10) which is introduced into the tube and inflated with air into tight abutment with the inner surface of the tube. The bladder has a sealing ring (40) made of liquid absorbent material arranged on the outer periphery thereof. The ring is saturated with water prior to introducing the bladder into the tube. Subsequent to inflating the bladder into tight abutment with the tube wall, the bladder is filled with a cold glycol mixture, which displaces the air from the bladder. The glycol mixture has a temperature of -20°C and the water in the sealing ring will therefore freeze to ice and freeze solid to the inner surface of the tube and to the bladder.

Description

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PROVIDING A SEALING STOPPER IN A TUBE
The present invention relates to a method for providing in a tube a sealing stopper in the form of an inflatable elastic bladder, wherein the bladder is inserted into the tube and there inflated with pressure gas into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tube. The invention also relates to a bladder for carrying out the invention.
According to one known method, a rubber bladder is inserted into a tube and expanded with an internal overpressure, such as to be brought into sealing engage- ent with the inner surface of the tube and therewith form a sealing stopper. This stopper is held in position in the tube by the dry-friction obtained between the bladder and the inside surface of the tube. The force which strives to force-out the stopper corresponds to the pressure of the gas or liquid introduced into the tube when the tube is closed by the stopper. The co¬ efficient of friction is relatively low and must be compensated for, as far as is possible, by maintaining the inflating-gas in the bladder at a relatively high pressure. This pressure, however, is limited by the mechanical strength of the tube. Nevertheless, the frictional force can be increased by using a long stop¬ per or bladder. Stoppers of extreme lengths, however, are unwieldy and often difficult to insert into the tube.
EP, Al, 0 218 973 describes a tube-stoppering method in which an elastic bladder is inserted into a tube and filled with water, whereafter the water is frozen, such as to form an ice-plug which seals-off the tube. According to one described embodiment of this known method, it took two hours to produce an ice-plug. One serious drawback with this method, however, is that in some cases there is considerable risk that the tube will be ruptured by the expanding ice-plug and burst, and the method i-s therefore restricted to use with tubes which are able to withstand the pressure exerted by the ice- plug.
A similar method is known from US-A-3 805 844. According to this method an elastic bladder is filled with water and the water is frozen to form a sealing and expanding ice-plug, which again involves the risk of the tube in which the plug is located bursting.
A further drawback with the known methods which rely upon the formation of an ice-plug is the relatively long time taken to melt the ice-plug, so as to enable the bladder to be removed from the tube upon completion of the repair work.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method which will enable a sealing stopper to be obtained without risk of the tube bursting as a result of an expanding ice-plug, and which will enable the stopper to be removed in a much shorter time than is possible with those methods in which the stopper is obtained with water which is first frozen to form an ice-plug and thereafter thawed out.
This object is achieved with a method according to the invention, which is characterised by the steps of provi¬ ding the bladder with a layer of freezable liquid, such as water, in a region around the periphery of the blad- der prior to inserting the bladder into the tube; inserting the bladder into the tube and inflating the bladder into sealing abutment with the inside surface thereof; filling the bladder with a pressure liquid, such as a glycol mixture, while displacing and expelling the inflating gas; using a pressure liquid which has a lower freezing point than the freezable liquid; and cooling the freezable liquid to its freezing point such that the frozen liquid will form a sealing ring which is frozen sealingly to the tube and to the inflated bladder.
According to the invention, the bladder is first in- flated with the aid of a pressure gas, so as to fix the position of the bladder provisionally in the tube. This is necessary when the tube is vertical. Arranged peri¬ pherally around the outside of the bladder is a coating of liquid-absorbent material which is saturated with water prior to introducing the bladder into the tube. Glycol or someother liquid which has a freezing point lower than water is then introduced into the bladder. This liquid is then chilled to a temperature beneath the freezing point of water, so that the water in the absor- bent coating will freeze and form an effective seal.
Distinct from the known methods in which an ice-plug is formed within the bladder, the liquid located within the bladder when practising the present invention will always be in its liquid state. Consequently, the total time taken to establish and remove the stopper will be much shorter than the time taken when practicing the known methods, since all that is required in order to collapse the stopper and allow it to be removed from the tube, is to thaw out the relatively thin ice-annulus and empty the bladder of its pressure-liquid content. When practicing the method according to the invention there is preferably used a bladder which has a valve- controlled inlet and outlet for a pressure gas and a pressure liquid respectively and which is characterised in that an external peripheral region of the bladder is provided with a layer of liquid-absorbent material, such as cellular rubber with open pores, such as to form a sealing ring, which layer is intended to be saturated with a freezable liquid, such as water, prior to intro- ducing the bladder into the tube concerned, whereafter the freezable liquid is frozen to form a sealing ring.
These and other characteristic features of the invention and advantages afforded thereby will be more apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplifying embodiment of a bladder according to the invention.
Figure 1 illustrates schematically an inventive bladder inserted into a tube and connected to a pressure-gas container and to a pressure-liquid pump respectively, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of an inventive bladder structure.
As will be seen from Figure 2, the bladder structure 10 has two walls and is inserted in a tube 11. The bladder comprises an inner bladder 12 and an outer bladder 14, the orifices of which are both connected to a connecting piece 16. The connecting piece has an inlet 18 and an outlet 20 with associated conduits 24, 26 for pressure liquid, which in the case of the illustrated embodiment is introduced into the inner bladder such as to extend said bladder together with the outer bladder.
Pressure gas, such as air, is blown into the space between the inner and the outer bladders through a conduit 28 and a nipple 30, such as to inflate the outer bladder 14 in the tube 11 in a first method step, during which the inner bladder is empty and in a collapsed state, as indicated by the chain line in Figure 2.
The nipple 30 is connected to a compressed-gas bottle 32, via the conduit 28, which incorporates an over¬ pressure valve 34, which is connected to an expansion vessel 38 by a conduit 36.
In accordance with Figure 1, the pressure liquid, such as a glycol mixture, is circulated in a system which includes a pump 40 and a cooler 42 which contains, for instance, carbon dioxide snow or dry ice, so as to maintain the pressure liquid introduced into the inner bladder 12 through the conduit 24 at the desired low temperature, e.g. - 20°C. The conduit 26 is connected to the expansion vessel by a conduit 44.
As shown in Figure 2, the outer bladder 14 has provided on its outer surface a layer of liquid-absorbent material 38, such as an open-cell cellular rubber, which forms a liquid-absorbing elastic sealing ring 40.
When wishing to close-off the tube 11 by means of the inventive bladder structure, the liquid-absorbent seal¬ ing ring 40 is first saturated with a freezable liquid which has a higher freezing point than the pressure liquid. Pressure gas is then introduced into the outer bladder 14 through the nipple 30, so as to inflate the bladder and clamp said bladder firmly against the inner surface of the tube. This is particularly important in the case of vertical tubes.
Chilled pressure liquid is now introduced into the inner bladder, so as to inflate the inner bladder and expel the gas contained by the outer bladder. Finally, the state illustrated in Figure 2 is reached, in which the liquid-filled inner bladder 12 lies sealingly against the outer bladder, which is now empty of gas. Sub¬ sequent to the pressure liquid having inflated the inner bladder and thereby pressing the outer bladder against the tube, the pressure liquid is maintained at a tem¬ perature at which the freezable liquid will freeze and form a solid sealing ring 40 which freezes firmly against the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the outer bladder 14.
Cold need not necessarily be transmitted via the pres¬ sure liquid and the tube can be chilled with the aid of dry ice, such as to freeze the liquid e.g. water, pre¬ sent in the radially inward sealing ring and form a solid sealing ring 40.

Claims

Claims
l. A method for providing in a tube (11) a sealing stopper in the form of an inflatable elastic bladder, wherein the bladder is inserted into the tube and there inflated with pressure gas into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tube, c h a r a c- t e r i s e d by providing the bladder (10) with a layer of freezable liquid, such as water, in a region (40) around the periphery of the bladder prior to inserting the bladder into the tube; inserting the bladder into the tube and inflating the bladder into sealing abutment with the inside surface of the tube; filling the bladder with a pressure liquid, such as a glycol mixture, while displacing and expelling the inflating gas; using a pressure liquid which has a lower freezing point than the freezable liquid; and cooling the freezable liquid to its freezing point so that the frozen liquid forms a sealing ring which is frozen sealingly to the tube and to the inflated bladder.
2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i s e d by chilling (42) the pressure liquid to a temperature at which the freezable liquid will freeze prior to introducing the pressure liquid into the bladder.
3. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c¬ t e r i s e d by chilling the tube externally with, e. g. dry ice such as to freeze the freezable liquid and form a sealing ring (40).
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which there is used a double-walled bladder structure comprising an inner and an outer bladder, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by filling the space between the outer and the inner bladders (12, 14) with pressure gas such as to inflate the outer bladder (14) into abutment with the inner surface of the tube (11)7 and by subsequently filling the inner bladder (12) with pressure liquid such as to displace the gas, which is allowed to leave the bladder.
5. A bladder for carrying out the method according to claim 1, said bladder having a valve-controlled inlet and outlet for a pressure gas and a freezable liquid respectively, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the the bladder (10) is provided around a peripheral region thereof with a layer of liquid absorbent material (38), such as open-cell cellular rubber, such as to form a sealing ring (40) which is intended to be saturated with a freezable liquid, such as water, prior to introducing the bladder into the tube (11) concerned.
PCT/SE1989/000432 1988-08-25 1989-08-16 Method and means for providing a sealing stopper in a tube WO1990002290A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE8802979A SE461807B (en) 1988-08-25 1988-08-25 STRAIGHT AND BLEED BEFORE ASTATOMATICATING A SEATING PROP IN A TUBE
SE8802979-8 1988-08-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1990002290A1 true WO1990002290A1 (en) 1990-03-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE1989/000432 WO1990002290A1 (en) 1988-08-25 1989-08-16 Method and means for providing a sealing stopper in a tube

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SE (1) SE461807B (en)
WO (1) WO1990002290A1 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0537052A1 (en) * 1991-10-09 1993-04-14 Gaz De France (Service National) Obturator for a fluidum conduct
WO2008015712A1 (en) 2006-08-04 2008-02-07 Lucchini Rs S.P.A. Freight railway wheel with high braking capacity
RU170114U1 (en) * 2016-07-27 2017-04-14 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ПАРК - Сервис" PNEUMATIC SEALING DEVICE
RU171752U1 (en) * 2016-10-05 2017-06-14 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ПАРК-Сервис" Pneumatic sealing device
RU207303U1 (en) * 2021-05-05 2021-10-21 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Научно-исследовательский институт природных газов и газовых технологий - Газпром ВНИИГАЗ" Temporary pipeline sealing device

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3805844A (en) * 1972-12-29 1974-04-23 V Bacon Plugging device for pipe lines
EP0218973A1 (en) * 1985-10-05 1987-04-22 Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for the temporary sealing of large pipe lines

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3805844A (en) * 1972-12-29 1974-04-23 V Bacon Plugging device for pipe lines
EP0218973A1 (en) * 1985-10-05 1987-04-22 Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for the temporary sealing of large pipe lines

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0537052A1 (en) * 1991-10-09 1993-04-14 Gaz De France (Service National) Obturator for a fluidum conduct
FR2682452A1 (en) * 1991-10-09 1993-04-16 Gaz De France DEVICE FOR SEALING A PIPE CARRYING A FLUID.
WO2008015712A1 (en) 2006-08-04 2008-02-07 Lucchini Rs S.P.A. Freight railway wheel with high braking capacity
RU170114U1 (en) * 2016-07-27 2017-04-14 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ПАРК - Сервис" PNEUMATIC SEALING DEVICE
RU171752U1 (en) * 2016-10-05 2017-06-14 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ПАРК-Сервис" Pneumatic sealing device
RU207303U1 (en) * 2021-05-05 2021-10-21 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Научно-исследовательский институт природных газов и газовых технологий - Газпром ВНИИГАЗ" Temporary pipeline sealing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE8802979D0 (en) 1988-08-25
SE461807B (en) 1990-03-26

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