Sealing device for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe

Abstract: A pipe block for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe comprises a body 2 having a shaft 3,4, a plurality, in this case three, spaced apart annular flanges 5 extending from the shaft to form a close fit with the internal wall 31 of the pipe 30 and means in the form of a funnel 8 attached to the shaft for guiding the threaded end 23 of a rod 20 into an internally threaded bore 6 of the shaft.

Description: The present invention relates to a pipe block for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe for example a pipe through which fluid flows and particularly, though not exclusively, a service pipe carrying natural gas, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a pipe block is known from US-A-2 107 259. UK published Patent Application No. 2207728A described a pipe block of the above type comprising a resilient ball which is used to block the bore of a natural gas-carrying service pipe. To block the pipe bore, the ball is forced along the pipe from the gas meter tap end by gas pressure to a position where it is outside the gas consumer's premises. The ball forms a force fit sufficient to resist any attempt to dislodge it by the pressure of the gas in the pipe. Before it is forced up the bore of the pipe, the ball is attached to a releasable cable by means of a threaded bush held captive by the ball. In use the cable follows the ball up to the pipe to its rest position. Once in position in the pipe bore the cable is released from the ball and is withdrawn from the pipe. The cable is provided with a stop to control the length of cable following the ball up the pipe and thereby to fix the position of the ball within the pipe bore. To force the ball up the pipe a suitable pressure source is required such as a gas cylinder. If it is desired to remove the ball to unblock the pipe bore, a vacuum pump is attached to the end of the pipe to suck the ball out of the pipe. It is inconvenient to provide a gas cylinder and vacuum pump if necessary since these items are relatively expensive and cumbersome. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pipe block for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe whereby the block can be easily introduced and removed by means of a rod or the like, and able to negotiate bends or elbows. One aspect of the present invention consists in a pipe block for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe as disclosed in claim 1. Another aspect of the present invention consists in a method for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe as disclosed in claim 3 An embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the drawings in which : Figure 1 is a side view of a pipe block about to be inserted by means of a suitable rod into the bore of a fluid-carrying pipe for instance a gas service pipe providing gas for consumers, Figure 2 shows the block inserted in the pipe, and Figure 3 shows the block in the pipe with the rod now withdrawn. Referring to the drawings, the block 1 comprises a body 2 in the form of a cylindrical shaft of any suitable flexible tough material compatible with a gas atmosphere e.g. rubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, soft PTFE or leather, the shaft having a forward portion 3 of smaller diameter than a rearward portion 4. Located on the forward portion 3 of the body 2 are a plurality, in this case three, spaced apart annular sealing flanges 5 of a material similar to the shaft. The rearward portion 4 of the body 2 has an internally threaded blind bore 6 extending inwardly from an outwardly tapering entry aperture 7 located adjacent to the rear of the portion 4. Affixed to the rear end of the body portion 4 is a truncated conical funnel 8, its narrow end being located adjacent to the rear end of the portion 4. The funnel 8 which may be of any suitable material e.g. a polymeric material such as nylon or polypropylene provides a means for guiding the threaded end of an insertion rod into the threaded bore in the block whereby the block may be engaged by the rod and inserted into the pipe to be blocked. A suitable version of such a rod is also shown in the drawings. The rod 20 may be of any suitable material e.g. steel when the block is to be used in straight pipes or nylon, polypropylene or a tightly coiled steel spring when the block is to be used in pipework having bends. The rod 20 has a circular section which tapers at one end 21 to form a neck 22 leading to a short threaded section 23 to engage with the internally threaded blind bore 6 in the manner shown in the drawings with the neck 22 engaging the surface of the entry aperture 7. Located a short distance rearwardly of the end 21 of the rod 20 is a guide disc 24 of for example rubber which as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in use engages with the internal surface of the funnel 8. In the use of the block 1, as an initial step, the rod 20 is screwed into the bore 6 of the block 1 as shown in Figure 1. A gland (not shown) of suitable type may be fitted to the downstream end of the gas service pipe 30. The block 1 is then pushed into the service pipe 30 by way of the gland a sufficient distance to block the bore of the pipe 30 or as far upstream of the pipe 30 as is required as shown in Figure 2. The diameter of the flanges 5 is chosen so that they form a close fit with the internal wall 31 of the pipe 30 and form a seal blocking the flow of gas to the downstream end of the pipe 30. Finally, as shown in Figure 3, the rod 20 is unscrewed from the block 1 and removed from the pipe 30 leaving the block 1 in place. The gland may then be removed. To remove the block 1 the gland is re-connected to the downstream end of the pipe 30 and the rod 20 is pushed into the pipe 30 through the gland until its threaded section 23 is guided by the funnel 8 into the threaded bore 6 of the block 1 so that the section 23 can be screwed into the bore 6. The rod 20 is then withdrawn from the pipe 30 by way of the gland thereby withdrawing the block 1 from the pipe and the gland. The diameter of the wider end of the funnel 8 is preferably as close as possible to the diameter of the pipe bore to ensure that the threaded end of the rod is guided into the threaded bore of the block. While not described, alternative means of permitting engagement of the rod with the block could be used e.g. a releasable hook and eye assembly, a bayonet type fitting or even an electromagnet assembly. Unlike the prior block described in the introduction the introduction of and removal of the block described above is achieved by means of a simple rod rather than by a gas cylinder and vacuum pump.

Claims: A pipe block for reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe comprising a body (2) having a shaft, means for sealing the pipe bore comprising at least one resilient annular flange (5) extending from the shaft to form a close fit with the internal wall of the pipe and means (6) for releasably engaging a separate rod, characterised in that means comprising a funnel (8) having a wider end for receiving the rod and a narrower end leading to the rod engaging means are provided, for guiding the rod into the rod engaging means, and in that the shaft is of flexible, tough material whereby the pipe block can negotiate bends or elbows in the pipe. A pipe block as claimed in claim 1, in which the means (6) for releasably engaging the rod comprises a portion having an internally threaded bore for engaging a complementary threaded end of a rod. A method of reversibly blocking the bore of a pipe, which method comprises introducing into the pipe (30) a pipe block (1), as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, releasably engaging a separate rod (20) with the rod engaging means (6) of the pipe block, utilising the rod to move the attached block to a desired position along the pipe, disengaging the rod from the block, and withdrawing the rod from the pipe, thereby leaving the block in the pipe, the block being capable of being re-engaged by a rod. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising re-introducing the rod (20) into the pipe (30) and releasably re-engaging the rod with the rod engaging means (6) of the pipe block, and utilising the rod to withdraw the attached block from the pipe. A method as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the rod (20) employed is sufficiently flexible to move the pipe block (1) through one or more bends in the pipe (30).

Inventors: ASHCROFT IAN, ASHCROFT, IAN
Applicants: BRITISH GAS PLC
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F16L55
IPC codes: F16L55