Pipe pressure testing method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10656042-B2
Application number	US-201615234958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 15, 2008
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A pipeline pressure testing assembly has a fitting defining a flow path and having a port on a wall of the fitting into which a pressure testing device is removably inserted along a central axis of the port for pressure testing. The port is circular, larger than the interior diameter of the pipeline and located at or above the tube forming the flow path through the fitting. The fitting has a recess encircling at least part of the flow path and opening to the port to receive the testing and sealing devices. The recess is formed by two opposing walls inclined relative to the central axis of the recess. The recess walls at the top of the flow path by the port are spaced apart a distance as large as the pipe diameter for cleanout and inspection. A tubular valve stem screws into the testing device and has a rotary valve blocking flow through the tubular valve stem. Flow through the fitting is blocked with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in a first position. Flow through the testing device is allowed with the rotary valve closed and the tubular valve stem in an open position. With the rotary valve open, flow through the tubular valve stem is permitted when the tubular valve stem is in either the first or second position to provide multiple drain and fill options.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A removable pressure testing device for use in testing the pressure in a pipe line having an interior diameter and having a fitting with a flow path through the fitting along a longitudinal axis of the flow path, the fitting having a port and a recess encircling a portion of the flow path opposite the port and into which the testing device is inserted to block fluid flow through the fitting for testing, the pressure testing device sized to removably fit through the port during use, the pressure testing device comprising:
a circular top sized to mate with the port, a continuous sidewall extending between two opposing sides of the circular top and depending from the top a distance sufficient to block the flow path when the device is inserted into the fitting through the port;
two opposing faces joined to the sidewall and to the top to form an enclosed structure, one face being an upstream face and the other a downstream face, an axial distance between the faces being greater adjacent the top than at a distal end of the faces to form a wedge shape with the faces inclined at an angle of 14 to 40 degrees relative to each other, at least one of the faces forming a fluid tight seal with the recess in the fitting during use;
a first opening in the upstream face, the first opening being located to be placed within the fluid flow path through the fitting when the testing device blocks flow through the fitting;
a second opening in the downstream face, the second opening being located to be placed within the fluid flow path through the fitting when the testing device blocks flow through the fitting;
a first fluid passage placing the first and second openings in fluid communication;
a first valve extending through a valve passage in the pressure testing device, the first valve having a first closed position that blocks flow through the first fluid passage and having a second open position that allows flow through the first fluid passage.

2. The pressure testing device of claim 1 , wherein the top has a flat exterior surface with a circular periphery.

3. The pressure testing device of claim 1 , wherein when the first valve translates along the valve passage when moving between the first and second positions.

4. The pressure testing device of claim 3 , wherein the first valve further comprises a stem valve.

5. The pressure testing device of claim 4 , wherein the first valve includes a first valve surface on a distal end of the tubular valve stem cooperating with a mating valve surface on the first opening to form the first and second positions of the tubular valve stem.

6. The pressure testing device of claim fluid 4 , further comprising a member extending from the tubular valve stem configured to be manually gripped.

7. The pressure testing device of claim 4 , further comprising an insert that is configured to fit between the device and the fitting during use and abut the opposing faces and sidewall.

8. The pressure testing device of claim 4 , wherein the tubular valve stem and tube have mating threads with the valve stem being rotated to translate between the open and closed positions of the first valve.

9. The pressure testing device of claim 4 , wherein the pressure testing device further comprises a tube located between the faces and in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second openings in the faces, a portion of the valve stem extending through the tube.

10. The pressure testing device of claim 9 wherein the valve stem translates within the tube between the first and second positions.

11. The pressure testing device of claim 9 , wherein the first stem valve comprises a tubular stem valve and further comprising a second valve manually actuatable independent of the first valve, the second valve being in fluid communication through a second fluid passage in the pressure testing device and the first fluid passage, the second valve having a second valve outlet that is accessible externally of the testing device and having a first closed position blocking flow through the second valve outlet and further having a second open position allowing fluid flow through the first valve and the second valve outlet to the first fluid passage.

12. The pressure testing device of claim 11 , wherein the second valve comprises a rotary valve located in the first tubular stem valve.

13. The pressure testing device of claim 12 , wherein the second valve outlet comprises an external end of the tubular valve stem.

14. The pressure testing device of claim 13 , wherein the external end is threaded.

15. The removable pressure testing device of claim 1 , wherein the port has a longitudinal port axis and the sidewall is curved about that longitudinal port axis.

16. A pressure testing assembly for use in testing the pressure in a pipe line having an interior diameter and having walls defining a flow path through the fitting along a longitudinal axis, the pressure testing assembly comprising:
a fitting comprising:
a port having interior walls defining an opening that is accessible from outside the fitting, the opening being centered on a central axis intersecting with and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the port having threads thereon encircling the central axis;
two oppositely inclined, flat recess walls on opposing sides of the centerline, each flat wall defining an opening through which the flow path and longitudinal axis pass, the walls spaced apart a distance sufficient so that a ball about 5 inches smaller than the nominal diameter of the pipeline, can pass through the port and the flow path in the fitting, the flat walls opposite the port being closer together, the fitting walls defining a recess that at least partially encircles the flow path and opens to the circular port;

a pressure testing device inserted into the recess to pressure test the pipe line, the pressure testing device, comprising:
a circular top having two opposing surfaces, the top having a diameter larger than the interior diameter of the pipeline and sized to mate with the circular port;
a continuous sidewall located between the opposing surfaces, the sidewall extending between opposing sides of the top and depending from the top a distance sufficient to fit into the recess in the fitting and block the flow path when the device is inserted into the fitting; two, opposing faces joined to the sidewall and to the top to form an enclosed structure, each face joined to one of the surfaces on the top, one face being an upstream face and the other a downstream face, at least one of the faces forming a fluid tight seal with one of the recess walls in the fitting;
a first opening in the upstream face, the first opening located within the fluid flow path through the fitting;
a second opening in the downstream face, the second opening being located within the fluid flow path through the fitting;
a fluid passage placing the first and second openings in fluid communication;
a stem valve having a first position that blocks flow from the first opening to the second opening and a second position that allows flow through the first and second openings,

a retaining ring removably fastened to the fitting to hold the pressure testing device within the fitting; and
a sealing ring encircling the port to provide a fluid tight seal.

17. The pressure testing assembly of claim 16 , wherein the recess in the fitting has a curved recess wall extending between opposing faces at one side of the port and encircling at least part of the flow path and ending at an opposing side of the port.

18. The

Assignees

• Reliance Worldwide Corp

Inventors

• Hart Dennis L
• Gonzalez Cristobal
• O'Neil Virgil E
• Jaramillo Jeffrey A
• Brown Larry D

Classifications

• G01M3/2815

  using pressure measurements · CPC title

• G01M3/022 Primary

  Test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe · CPC title

• G01M3/04

  by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point · CPC title

• G01M3/2853

  for pipe joints or seals (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L15/04

  with additional sealings · CPC title