Patent ID: 6481465
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A compressed-ring pneumatic pipe plug comprising:a pneumatic expandable bladder in the form of an annulus, the bladder having opposite open ends with end cuffs, and, a pair of rigid end caps coupled to the opposite ends of the bladder, each end cap being constructed with a circular end plate with an outer perimeter and a rigid rim fixed to the perimeter of the end plate, the rim having a peripheral contact surface over which one of the end cuffs of the bladder is installed, and an outer compressible swaging ring installed over the end cuff and rim, the ring being formed of a ductile metal and uniformly compressed against the rim by swaging with the end cuff sandwiched between the rim and ring, wherein the end plates have a thickness and the rim and ring have a width wherein the width of the rim is at least one magnitude greater than the thickness of the plate and the width of the ring is substantially equal to the width of the rim, and wherein at least one end plate has an aperture adapted to connect to a pressurized air source wherein each ring has an inner contact surface engaging the end cuff of the bladder and one of the inner contact surface of the ring and the peripheral contact surface of the rim has a ridge and the other of the inner contact surface of the ring and the peripheral contact surface of the rim has a groove oppositely positioned from the ridge wherein the circular end plates are fixed to the rims substantially at the middle of the width of each rim.