High pressure live service pipe renewal apparatus and method

• Main Authors: PRICE DENNIS D, KONWINSKI GREGORY M, BARRETT ROBERT E, GOBIN THOMAS V
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.08.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

An apparatus and method for inserting a new service pipe into an existing high pressure service pipe that contains a leak, without the necessity of excavation or separately shutting off the supply of the high pressure gas upstream of the effected pipe section. A nosecone coupled with a unique stopper assembly allows a temporary sealing of the high pressure pipe between the main and the leak point, and insertion flow of a sealer through the nosecone, such that the sealer fills the annular space between the new pipe and the old pipe, providing a gas tight permanent seal. The end of the stopper assembly has temporary stop plug that must be drilled open to reestablish the communication of high pressure gas into the new pipe without the chance of flow entering the old pipe.