Patent ID: 6745795
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
An expandable plug for sealing a pipe, comprisinga pair of plates configured for insertion into the pipe, a sealing member disposed between the plates, means for squeezing the plates together to compress the sealing member, and stabilizing means for stabilizing the plug within the pipe as the plates are squeezed together, whereby as the plates are squeezed together the sealing member expands in a radial direction such that a periphery of the sealing member engages an interior wall of the pipe, and a passage through the plates and sealing member provided with a check relief valve that opens when the pipe is pressurized to a predetermined threshold pressure, so that gas flows through the plug to equalize the pressure on both sides of the plug when the pipe is pressurized to a predetermined threshold pressure.