Device for blocking-off part of the interior of a pipe

Abstract

A device for establishing an environment of a required fluid inside a length of pipe, comprising two pipe-engaging members adapted to engage the interior surface of the pipe at respective positions spaced therealong, and means for introducing said fluid into the interior of the pipe between said engaging members, each pipe-engaging member comprising a casing for contacting the pipe interior surface and containing an inflatable element; wherein the casing of each engaging member includes at least a portion of stretchable material for enabling expansion and contraction of the casing in a direction radially of the pipe, for engaging a range of internal pipe sizes.

1 . A device for blocking-off part of the interior of a pipe, comprising two pipe-engaging members adapted to engage respective interior surface portions of the pipe at respective positions spaced therealong, for defining a volume in the interior of the pipe between said engaging members, each pipe-engaging member comprising a casing for contacting the pipe interior surface and containing an inflatable element; wherein the casing of each pipe-engaging member includes at least a portion of stretchable material for enabling expansion and contraction of the casing in a direction radially of the pipe, for engaging a range of internal pipe sizes. 
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the stretchable material comprises substantially the entire casing. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the stretchable material comprises a radially outwardly-facing, circumferentially extending, portion of the casing. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the stretchable material comprises an elastomeric sheet material. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4  wherein the material comprises a stretchable fabric surface layer. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the pipe-engaging members each comprise a casing of annular configuration containing a ring-like inflatable element, and further comprising a sleeve portion of flexible material extending between the casings. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1  wherein the pipe-engaging members each substantially completely fill the interior of the pipe at the positions where they are disposed, and further comprising pipework connected to the inflatable elements of the pipe-engaging members for supplying inflating fluid thereto. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1  comprising pipage for introducing a fluid to the inflatable elements for inflating same, and a relief valve for releasing the fluid, into a space defined, in use, between the pipe-engaging members. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8  wherein the pipage includes a flexible pipe portion for maintaining a spacing between the pipe-engaging members during insertion of the device into a pipe. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1  provided with one or more guide members. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10  wherein the or each guide member has a smooth profile and an external surface dimensioned for ready movement lengthwise within a pipe and tapering in both directions lengthwise of the pipe. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein the or each guide member is spherical. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 10  comprising at least one guide member on each side of each pipe-engaging member. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 10  comprising pipage for supplying fluid for inflating the inflatable elements of the device, and wherein the guide member or members is/are received on respective pipe portions. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 1  provided with a visible indicator of an approximate mid-way position between the pipe-engaging members. 
     
     
         16 . A pipe-engaging member adapted to engage the interior surface of a pipe; comprising a casing for contacting the pipe interior surface and containing an inflatable element; wherein the casing of the engaging member includes at least a portion of stretchable material for enabling expansion and contraction of the casing in a direction radially of the pipe, for engaging a range of internal pipe sizes. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16  wherein the stretchable material comprises substantially the entire casing. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 16  wherein the stretchable material comprises a radially outwardly-facing, circumferentially extending, portion of the casing. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 16  wherein the stretchable material comprises an elastomeric sheet material. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 19  wherein the elastomeric sheet material comprises a closed-cell foamed polychloroprene material. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 20  wherein the material comprises a stretchable fabric surface layer. 
     
     
         22 . A device for use in establishing an environment of a required fluid inside a length of pipe, comprising two pipe-engaging members adapted to engage the interior surface of the pipe at respective positions spaced therealong, for defining a volume in the interior of the pipe between said engaging members into which the fluid can be introduced, each pipe-engaging member comprising an inflatable element for causing engagement of the pipe-engaging member with the pipe interior surface, the pipe engaging members being carried by at least one support element whereby the members can be moved along within a pipe while being held spaced from one another, wherein there is provided at least one guide member for guiding the device during movement thereof within the pipe. 
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 22  wherein the at least one guide member is carried by the at least one support element. 
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 23  wherein the support element(s) comprises pipage for supplying fluid to at least the pipe-engaging members.