Abstract:
A device method for repairing leaks in pressurized lines, particularly refrigeration lines, without having to drain the fluid from the line, thereby reducing the possibility of refrigerant contamination and/or loss, and providing protection to the environment. The device of this invention is installed over a leak in the line and remains in service for the life of the line.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to means for repairing leaks in pressurized lines without having to drain the fluid from the line, and more particularly to repairing leaks in refrigeration system tubing joints and tubing tees. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The standard practice of repairing leaks in high pressure lines and refrigeration tubing, both consumer and industrial, typically requires that the fluid be drained from the line prior to repair. This is due to the high pressure in refrigeration systems and the nature of the chemicals and refrigerants involved. Careful draining of the line to be repaired is time-consuming and expensive. Also, the draining of refrigerant chemicals can result in contamination of the systems and the environment as well as the loss of expensive refrigerant chemicals. 
     The present invention proposes to solve these time consuming and expensive procedures which pose environmental hazards by providing a method by which high-pressure refrigeration lines and/or air conditioning tubing may be repaired while remaining under high pressure and without draining the lines or tubing. A chambered leak repairing device and method is taught in which a leak in any type of tubing, such as copper tubing and the like, is encased in a chamber that is sealed and left on the line for the life of the system. The chambered leak repairing device may be applied to straight tubing, or tubing having fittings such as 90 or 45 degree turns, tees, or reducing tees. The device may be sealed by compressing a gasket between housing-to-housing portions and housing-to-tubing portions around the tubing to be repaired. Alternately, a leak repairing device may be sealed by brazing/soldering housing-to-housing portions and housing-to-tubing portions. A mixed strategy of gasket/packing and brazing/soldering could be utilized. 
     A gasket used to seal the chambered leak repairing device should be of a material, such as Teflon®, that is able to withstand contact with refrigerant chemicals, high pressure, possibly high temperature and the outside elements without disintegrating over the life of the system. A variety of brazing and/or soldering methodologies may be employed. However, a low temperature soldering is preferred. 
     The chambered leak repairing device and method of this invention discloses a means for puncturing the tubing to be repaired subsequent to sealing a chamber around a leaking portion of such tubing. The tubing may be under high or low pressure. Means for puncturing the tubing to be repaired will reduce any pressure differentials that might arise between the chamber and a small leaking portion of the tubing. 
     The device and method of this invention may also provide for a bleed port to vent leaking pressurized fluid while the housing is being sealed around a leaking portion. A vent port structure can be incorporated with a puncturing device to advance and puncture the tubing subsequent to securing the chamber around the tubing. The device and method of this invention may be applied to tubing of between about ⅛ inch OD to about 3 inch OD that could be encountered in refrigeration lines and/or tubing and air conditioning. 
     When installed on a portion of leaking tubing, the device and method of the present invention becomes a permanent attachment to the tubing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A device for repairing leaks in tubing and the like at either high or low pressure, comprising a housing structured to define a chamber that encircles a leaking tubing portion. Means are provided for sealing the housing together and for sealing the tubing to said housing. Means attached to the housing are also provided for puncturing the tubing and/or for venting any excess pressure from the chamber from gases, vapors or liquids. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments are considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bottom housing of a chambered leak repairing device of this invention, having sealing means and means for engaging a fastening means. 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a top housing of the chambered leak repairing device of FIG. 1, having means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe, along with sealing means and means for engaging a fastening means. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembled bottom and top housing of the chambered leak repairing device of FIGS. 1 and 2, having sealing means engaged (not shown). 
     FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a means for sealing a chamber, such as a gasket. 
     FIGS. 4B and 4C show perspective views of another preferred embodiment of a means for sealing a chamber around a pipe having a leak, such as a split compression ring. 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a housing for a second embodiment of a chambered leak repairing device, having sealing means and a fastening means for bolts, screws, and the like. 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an assembled pair of housings of a chambered leak repairing device of FIG. 5, having the fastening means engaged with bolts. 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a bottom housing of a third embodiment of a chambered leak repairing device. 
     FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the top housing of an embodiment of FIG. 7, having means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the assembled bottom and top housings of FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively, having sealing means and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B, respectively, show front and back perspective views of a top housing of a fourth embodiment of a leak repairing device of this invention, having sealing means and means for engaging a fastening means. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B, respectively, show front and back perspective views of a bottom housing of a fourth embodiment, having sealing means and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the assembled bottom and top housings of FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively, having sealing means and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a bottom housing of a fifth embodiment of a leak repairing device structured to repair leaks in copper tubing and the like, having sealing means. 
     FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a top housing of a fifth embodiment of a leak repairing device, having sealing means and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively, show perspective views of an alternative design of the devices shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, for repairing copper tubing of various lengths. 
     FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of an assembled housings of FIGS. 14 thru  16 , inclusive, having means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIG. 18 shows another perspective view of the assembled housing of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 19 shows a cutaway of a sixth embodiment of a leak repairing device, having sealing means and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIG. 20 shows a cutaway of a seventh embodiment of a leak repairing device, having threaded ends, sealing means, and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
     FIGS. 21A and 21B show still another preferred embodiment of a sealing means for a leak repairing device of FIG.  20 . 
     FIG. 22A shows an assembly of a leak repairing device of FIG.  20 . 
     FIG. 22B shows a cutaway of a fastening means of a leak repairing device of FIG.  20 . 
     FIGS. 23 and 24 show a variety of housings and fastening means for a leak repairing device of this invention. 
     FIGS. 25 through 27 show a fastening means for slidingly locking together a pair of housings for a leak repairing device of this invention. 
     FIG. 28 shows an eighth embodiment of a leak repairing device of this invention for repairing a leak in a pipe elbow. 
     FIG. 29 shows a detail of a preferred embodiment of a vent port structure and means for puncturing the pipe being repaired and/or venting any excess pressure from gases, vapors or liquids from within a chamber surrounding such pipe. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A leak repairing device and method of this invention may be better understood by reference to the attached drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 through 3 show preferred embodiments of this invention. In FIG. 1, a bottom housing  10  for a leak repairing device forms a chamber  12  around a portion of a tubing or pipe having a leak. The tubing to be repaired is received by tubing receiving means  14  disposed about the distal ends of chamber  12 . Bottom housing  10  has seal receiving means  16  which is shown in FIG. 1 as a groove that encircles chamber  12  and tubing receiving means  14 . Seal receiving means  16  is structured to receive a sealing means for chamber  12 . 
     Sealing means  19  for sealing chamber  12 , shown in FIG. 4A as a gasket and a split compression ring in FIGS. 4B and 4C, may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as Teflon®, which is capable of sealing the housing at the temperature, pressure, and environmental conditions encountered in and around the tubing to be repaired. The sealing means  19  shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C as a split compression ring may be inserted around the pipe having a leak to form a seal around such pipe. The split compression ring may be comprised of an upper ring  19   a  having a dowel pin  10   c  for insertion into holes  19   d  formed in lower ring  19   b.  The dowel pin  19   c  may also receive a teflon seal (not shown) to seal insertion into holes  19   d.  The sealing means  19  may be used alone or in combination with any embodiment disclosed herein of the leak repairing device and method of this invention. 
     In FIG. 2, a top housing  20  is shown for a leak repairing device of this invention having puncturing and/or venting means  22 . Top housing  20  has seal engaging means  24  disposed about chamber  12  and pipe receiving means  14 . The seal engaging means  24  (FIG.  2 ), seal means  19  (FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  4 C), and seal engaging means  24  are structured in combination to seal the chamber  12  and pipe receiving means  14  around the pipe having a leak to be repaired. The tubing receiving means  14  may have a beveled edge to receive sealing means  19  for sealing the chamber  12  and the tubing to be repaired. 
     In FIG. 3, an assembly of a bottom housing  10  and a top housing  20  of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, is shown having fastening means  18 . These housings may be joined via fastening means  18  such as by clamps, screws, bolts or the like. Another perspective view of the puncturing and venting means  22  for top housing  20  is shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A second embodiment of a leak repairing device and method of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Housing  40  of FIG. 5 shows a chamber  42  having tubing receiving means  44  disposed at distal ends of the chamber. Seal engaging means  48  is shown disposed about chamber  42  and is structured to receive a sealing means which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as Teflon®, which is capable of sealing the housing at the temperature, pressure, and environmental conditions encountered in and around the tubing to be repaired. Fastening means  46 , such as for a screw, bolt, or the like, are shown disposed about the corners of the housing  50 . An assembly of a pair of housings, such as housing  40 , is shown in FIG. 6 as assembly  55 . Assembly  55  shows fastening means  46  engaged with bolts  57 . 
     A third embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 7 thru  9 . In FIG. 7, bottom housing  60  is shown having chamber  62  which is disposed at distal ends by tubing receiving means  64 . In FIG. 8, top housing  65  is shown having tube receiving means  66 , a puncturing and/or venting means  67 , and a chamber  68 . An assembly  70  of bottom housing  60  and top housing  65 , with puncturing and venting means  67  is shown in FIG.  9 . Both housings of assembly  70  may be sealed together via sealing means  72  which may include conventional soldering and/or brazing methods. Dowel pins (not shown) may also be used to hold the assembly together while being sealed. 
     A fourth embodiment of a leak repairing device of this invention is shown in FIGS. 10 thru  12 . In FIG. 10A, front view of a bottom housing  80  having a chamber  81  is disposed at distal ends by tubing receiving means  82 . Seal engaging means  84  is structured to receive a sealing means which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as Teflon®, which is capable of sealing the housing at the temperature, pressure, and environmental conditions encountered in and around the tubing to be repaired. In FIG. 10B, a back view of bottom housing  80  is shown having fastening means  83 . In FIG. 11A, a front view of a top housing  85  is shown, having pipe receiving means  88  disposed about distal ends of chamber  84  with puncturing and venting means  86 . Seal engaging means  87  is structured to receive a sealing means which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as Teflon®, which is capable of sealing the housing at the temperature, pressure, and environmental conditions encountered in and around the tubing to be repaired. In FIG. 11B, a back view of housing  85  is shown having fastening means  89  and puncturing and/or venting means  86 . Assembly  90  of bottom housing  80  and top housing  85  is shown in FIG. 12, having fastening means  89 , puncturing and/or venting means  86 , and an end on view of the pipe receiving means. 
     A fifth embodiment of a leak repairing device of this invention is shown in FIGS. 13 thru  18  for applications involving copper tubing and the like. In FIG. 13, a housing  92  is shown, having pipe receiving means  93  disposed about distal ends of chamber  94 . Seal engaging means  96  are structured to engage a sealing means to seal chamber  94 . Chamber joining means  95  is shown in housing  92  for joining to another housing, such as housing  98  shown in FIG.  14 . Housing  98  is shown in FIG. 14, having pipe receiving means  99  disposed about distal ends of chamber  100 . Puncturing and/or venting means  103  are shown for puncturing a pipe having a leak and/or venting any gases from the chamber around such pipe. Seal engaging means  101  are structured to engage a sealing means to seal a chamber about the pipe having a leak. Chamber joining means  102  is shown in housing  98  (FIG. 14) for joining with chamber joining means  95  in housing  92  (FIG.  13 ). 
     An alternate design for a leak repairing device is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 for tubing of varying lengths. Housing  104  is shown having tubing receiving means  105  disposed about distal ends of chamber  106 . Seal engaging means  107  are structured to engage a sealing means to seal chamber  106 . Chamber joining means  108  is shown, in housing  104  for joining to another housing, such as housing  110  of FIG.  16 . Housing  110  is shown having pipe receiving means  111  disposed about distal ends of chamber  112 . Puncturing and/or venting means  115  are shown for puncturing a pipe having a leak and/or venting any gases from the chamber around such pipe. Seal engaging means  113  are structured to engage a sealing means to seal a chamber about the pipe having a leak. Chamber joining means  114  is shown in housing  110  (FIG. 16) for joining with chamber joining means  108  in housing  104  (FIG.  15 ). 
     In FIG. 17, an assembly  116  of the housings  92  and  98  of FIGS. 13 and 14 or the housings  104  and  110  of FIGS. 15 and 16 are shown, wherein the chamber joining means  95  and  102  or chamber joining means  108  and  114  are sealed against each other using soldering, brazing, or the like. In FIG. 18, an alternative view of the assembly  116  is shown, having puncturing and/or venting means  117  shown. 
     A leak repairing device of this invention may be fabricated from structural materials such as carbon steel, copper, brass or aluminum, or the like. 
     A sixth embodiment of a leak repairing device is shown in FIG. 19 as a housing  130  having pipe receiving means  134  at distal ends of chamber  132 . The pipe receiving means  134  may have a beveled edge  145 . The seal receiving means  136  may receive a sealing means  119 , such as a Teflon® gasket similar to that shown in FIG. 4A, for sealing chamber  132 . The chamber  132  also has a puncturing and/or venting means  139  for venting any vapors and/or gases which are emitted from a leaking pipe or tubing to be repaired. Joining means  138 , such as Dowel pins, are provided to facilitate joining a pair of housings  130  which in turn may be sealed by any conventional methods such as soldering, brazing, or the like. 
     A seventh embodiment of a leak repairing device is shown as a cutaway in FIG. 20 as a housing  140  having threaded ends  143  and an alternative design for sealing chamber  142 . The sealing means is comprised of a male protrusion  146  and a female groove  147  having a continuous sealing means (not shown), such as a Teflon® gasket, disposed within the female groove  147 . Means for venting the chamber  142  and/or puncturing the tubing to be repaired is provided for via puncturing and/or venting means  149 . Pipe receiving means  144  is disposed about distal ends of the chamber  142 . 
     Sealing means  150  is shown as a helically cut Teflon® O-ring in FIGS. 21A (cutaway view) and  21 B (side view), and may also be used to seal the chamber disposed about the pipe having a leak to be repaired. 
     An assembly  152  of a pair of housings  140  is shown in FIG. 22A with a fastening means  158  shown as a split cap. A cutaway view of the fastening means  158  is shown in FIG. 22B as having mating threads  159 . 
     A variety of housings and fastening means are shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. In FIG. 23, a pair of octagonal housings  160  are shown with fastening means  162  comprising a screw, bolt, pins, or the like. In FIG. 24, a pair of circular housings  165  are shown with fastening means  166  comprising a screw, bolt, pins, or the like. 
     In FIG. 25, a pair of circular housings  170  are shown having fastening means  172  that may be slidingly locked together. A side view of circular housing  176  and  178  being slidingly locked together are shown in FIG.  26 . An assembly  180  of a pair of circular housings  182  and  184  are shown in FIG. 27, having an alternative fastening means. 
     A leak repairing device of this invention is shown in FIG. 28 for a pipe elbow. An elbow housing  190  is shown installed about a pipe elbow  194 . The elbow housing  190  has puncturing and/or venting means  196  for puncturing the pipe to be repaired and/or venting any gases or vapors. 
     Puncturing means  23  for puncturing the tubing or pipe to be repaired and/or venting any refrigerant vapors and/or gases to chamber  12  is shown in FIG.  29 . The tubing or pipe is punctured to prevent any pressure differentials from forming between chamber  12  and the portion of tubing being repaired. The puncturing and/or venting means  22  may be connected to a gas and/or vapor reclamation unit (not shown) to contain any vented gases, such as CFC or HCFC, and to prevent such gases and/or vapors from escaping to the atmosphere. 
     The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated device may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, the leak repairing device of this invention may be applied to any type of conduit having a leak such as plumbing or water pipes and the like. The invention is claimed using terminology that depends upon a historic presumption that recitation of a single element covers one or more, and recitation of two elements covers two or more, and the like. Also, the drawings and illustration herein have not been produced to scale.