Patent Number: 047643323
Section: abstract

A pipe end sealing element for use in hydrotesting of plain end pipes, such as instrument tubes of a nuclear reactor, and a method of hydrotesting of such plain end pipes. The pipe sealing element comprises a hollow tubular member with a bevelled flange at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, a hollow conical bushing of decreasable interior diameter having a bevelled surface complementary to the bevelled surface of the tubular member, a sealing plug and threaded bolt engageable with the threaded portion of the hollow tubular member. The hollow tubular member is placed about the open end of the pipe, with the threaded portion thereof adjacent and beyond the pipe end, and inserting the conical bushing into the hollow tubular member about the pipe wall. The sealing plug is placed on the pipe end and the threaded bolt engaged with the threads of the hollow tubular member. By advancing the threaded bolt towards the sealing plug, the conical bushing is decreased in interior diameter, by axial sliding of the bevelled surface of flange of the tubular member along the bevelled surface of the conical member. After a predetermined seal is effected, a fluid is introduced into the other end of the pipe to a predetermined pressure to test the pipe.