The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1994
John H Cohen, Houston, TX (US);
Curtis E Leitko, Houston, TX (US);
Gerard T Pittard, Houston, TX (US);
Terry P Clifton, Houston, TX (US);
Gerald Rockower, Brooklyn, NY (US);
Brooklyn Union Gas Co., Brooklyn, NY (US);
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for shutting off fluid flow in a pipe main while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchor system installed in or above the excavation which supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the main to extend radially therefrom. A jack mechanism compresses the lower end of the seal tube containing a seal member against the exterior surface of the main. A tubular cutting tool installed inside the seal tube is rotated by an air motor to cut a hole in the side wall of the main. A tubular sealant application tool installed inside the seal tube has a nozzle at its bottom end that sprays liquid sealant material onto the interior surface of the main and is then removed. A tubular bladder deployment tool installed inside the seal tube carries a pair of deflated bladders. The bladders are deployed from the deployment tool in opposed direction into the interior of the main along the longitudinal axis of the main and are then inflated to expand and form a seal to shut off fluid flow in the main. After repairs have been made, the bladders are deflated and retracted and the bladder deployment tool is removed. A tubular thread tapping and plugging tool is installed inside the seal tube and rotated to form threads in the cut hole and then removed and then installed again to secure a threaded plug into the hole. After the hole has been plugged, the seal tube is removed.