Abstract:
A method for testing the integrity of a plumbing system. A first step involves affixing a seal with a releasable adhesive over a component of the plumbing system having a bore to occlude the bore. A second step involves charging the plumbing system with a fluid.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The technology relates to a seal and method for assessing integrity of a plumbing system. More specifically, the technology is a low cost resilient, releasable sealing seal. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    During the final stages of plumbing, a test must be conducted to ensure the integrity of the plumbing system. This requires charging the system such that it becomes pressurized, during which time the plumber looks for leaks. The system must be closed in order to make the assessment. Once the integrity is assured, the means for plugging the system is removed. 
         [0003]    What is required is a simple, inexpensive seal that can withstand the pressures needed to test plumbing installations, while being readily removable after the testing is completed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to one aspect there is provided a method for testing the integrity of a plumbing system. A first step involves affixing a seal with a releasable adhesive to a component of the plumbing system having a bore to occlude the bore. A second step involves charging the plumbing system with a fluid. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect there is provided a releasable seal that can be affixed to a component of a plumbing system, whether to a plumbing fitting, at the end of a pipe, along the length of the pipe, etc. to permit testing for leakages in the plumbing system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a seal for testing the integrity of a plumbing installation. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear plan view of the seal of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view in section of the seal of  FIG. 1  installed on a pipe. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in section of the seal of  FIG. 1  installed in a plumbing installation. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view in section of the seal partially removed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view in section of an alternative embodiment of the seal. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view in section of a further alternative embodiment of the seal. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view in section of a further alternative embodiment of the seal. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    A seal, generally referred to as  10 , is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The seal  10  has a body  18  with having a front face  20 , a back face  22 , a perimeter  24 , and a tab  26  extending from the body  18  on the front face  20 . The tab  26  may be integral or may be a separate component that is attached to the body  18 . The tab  26  is preferably connected to the perimeter  24  of body  18 . The body  18  is at least resistant, if not impermeable, to the fluid to be used for testing purposes, such as water, air, gas, etc. An adhesive  28  is disposed on body  18  to secure it to a component of a plumbing system. For convenience, a plumbing pipe  12  is used in the description below and in the drawings. However, it will be understood that body  18  may also be secured to other suitable components with a bore, such as plumbing fittings (not shown), and that in other embodiments, plumbing pipe  12  may be replaced by these other components. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the adhesive  28  is applied to a periphery  30  of the back face  22  which is intended to contact a plumbing pipe  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . For clarity, the term periphery is used to include any outer portion of body  18  intended to contact plumbing pipe  12 , and includes at least one of the peripheral region on the back face  22 , the peripheral region of a peripheral annulus portion  34  of the back face  22  and the perimeter of the peripheral annulus  34 . For storage and transportation prior to use, adhesive  28  may be covered by a tear-away or peel-away strip (not shown). Alternatively, adhesive  28  and body  18  may be stored separately, with adhesive  28  being applied to body  18  immediately prior to use, or adhesive may be activated by applying, for example, water or other substances. 
         [0016]    In use, referring to  FIG. 3  the body  18  of seal  10  is placed over a plumbing pipe  12  that has an inner wall  14 , an end  15  and a bore  16 . The seal  10  is positioned such that the adhesive  28  contacts the end  15  of the plumbing pipe  12 , to cover the bore  16 . Pressure or heat is applied to cause the adhesive  28  to adhere to the end of the plumbing pipe  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , plumbing pipe  12  is then installed in a plumbing system, generally indicated by reference numeral  17 . Once secured, the system  17  is charged with fluid such as a gas, such as air, a liquid, such as water, or a mixture of fluids until the desired pressure is reached. The integrity of the plumbing can then be assessed. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the seal  10  may be removed once testing has been completed by pulling on the tab  26 . The adhesive  28  may be designed to withstand pressures of between about 5 psi to about 15 psi for some plumbing systems, and to release when a force is applied to the tab  26  by a user. This may be done by having a breakaway pressure that is greater than the maximum test pressure, or by providing an adhesive with a lower shear strength, such that pulling at an angle causes the adhesive to pull away from end  15  of pipe  12 . In one embodiment, the tab  26  is preferably adjacent to the adhesive  28  on an opposite face to more efficiently transfer the force necessary to release the adhesive  28 . Other designs for a tab  26  that allows the adhesive  28  to be released will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    If the end  15  of the plumbing pipe  12  is not accessible, the seal  10  may also be placed as shown in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, the seal  10  is pre-creased, or otherwise provided with a lip  38  extending at about right angle to the front face  20  to assist in positioning the adhesive  28 , such that it contacts the inner wall  14  of the plumbing pipe  12 , covering the bore  16 . Once in place, pressure or heat is applied to cause the adhesive to adhere to the inner wall  14  of the plumbing pipe  12 . Once secured, the system is charged with fluid, for example a gas, such as air, a liquid, such as water, or a mixture of fluids until the desired pressure is reached. The integrity of the plumbing can then be assessed. At any time after the integrity of the system has been assessed, the seal  10  is removed by pulling on the tab  26  as discussed previously. 
         [0018]    Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 7 , if the end  15  of the plumbing pipe  12  is not accessible, such as if pipe  12  is integrally formed with system  17  such that there is not an end  15 , a flange  40  may be employed. Body  12  is secured to flange  40  by applying pressure or heat to cause the adhesive  28  to adhere to flange  40 . The flange  40  is then positioned on the inner wall  14  of the plumbing pipe  12 . A pipe  12  (not shown) is then welded into system  17 , and the pipe is secured to flange  40 , such as by using the same solvent that secures pipe  12  into system  17 . Once secured, the system is charged with a gas, a mixture of gases or a fluid, most commonly water until the desired pressure is reached. The integrity of the plumbing can then be assessed. At any time after the integrity of the system has been assessed, the seal  10  is removed by pulling on the tab  26  as discussed previously. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 8 , a seal  10  similar to that depicted in  FIG. 6  may be used, where adhesive  28  is positioned on periphery  24  of body  12 , which is bent to form a sidewall-type structure. 
         [0020]    The foregoing is a description of embodiments of the technology. As would be known to one skilled in the art, variations that do not change the scope of the invention are contemplated. For example, the seal body may be made of any suitable material that is able to withstand the pressure, as well as to be impervious to water and air, or at least impervious enough to permit testing of the plumbing system, for example, but not limited to, various plastic polymers, laminates, plasticized or waxed paper products, metal. The adhesive must be able to withstand the pressure exerted on the inner wall of the body, while at the same time, be selected to permit a user to pull the body away from the pipe. The adhesive is preferably water insoluble, however, sparingly soluble adhesives could be employed. The tab can be any sort of pull tab, as would be known to one skilled in the art and may range in shape from a defined tab to an extension of the perimeter, for example in the general shape of a triangle. The adhesive may become adhesive by exposing it to heat or chemicals, for example. In these instances, a tear-away would not be needed.