Clamp on seal for water leaks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11598472-B2
Application number	US-202117232033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2021
Priority date	Apr 15, 2021
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus and method for repairing broken, compromised, damaged or cracked conduits is provided. Conduits such as pipes and tubing may bear fluid flows therethrough. Often these conduits are damaged or compromised and begin leaking fluid. A clamp is provided that holds expandable metal securely about the outer circumference of the conduit. The expandable metal may react with any leaking fluid, such as water, thereby expanding and sealing the crack or otherwise seals the compromised conduit in a permanent manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for creating a seal on conduits, comprising:
a plurality of sleeve portions each having a radius and each comprising expandable metal that expands in response to hydrolysis; and
a plurality of clamping sections each having a radius to mate with a respective one of the plurality of sleeve portions,
wherein the plurality of sleeve portions are preformed to mate with an outer circumference of a conduit and the plurality of clamping sections are configured to secure the plurality of sleeve portions against the outer circumference of the conduit for sealing an opening in the conduit,
wherein the plurality of sleeve portions comprise a plurality of preformed hollow containment devices each configured to contain the expandable metal in granular form that expands to form a solid metal in response to hydrolysis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preformed hollow containment devices are at least one of: degradable and configured with openings.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of preformed hollow containment devices each have at least one surface having an adhesive thereon for attaching the hollow containment device to a surface of a respective one of the plurality of clamping sections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of clamping sections are configured with a fastening mechanism to secure the plurality of sleeve portions against the outer circumference of the conduit for sealing the opening in the conduit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sleeve portions each comprise preformed solid expandable metal prior to hydrolysis and configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a thickness of the plurality of sleeve portions prior to hydrolysis range in thickness from about 0 . 25 inches to about 0 . 5 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal comprises any metal that is configured to create a metal hydroxide in response to hydrolysis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal is configured to respond to hydrolysis provided by fluid flowing through an opening in the conduit thereby expanding and sealing the opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the expandable metal is configured to respond to hydrolysis provided by fluid provided external to the conduit.

10. An apparatus for creating a seal on conduits, comprising:
an assembly comprising:
a plurality of sleeve portions each comprising expandable metal that expands in response to hydrolysis; and
a plurality of clamping sections with a hinge positioned between the plurality of clamping sections, and the plurality of clamping sections configured to align with a respective one of the plurality of sleeve portions,
wherein the plurality of sleeve portions are preformed to align with an outer circumference of a conduit and the plurality of clamping sections are configured to secure the plurality of sleeve portions against the outer surface of the conduit for sealing an opening in the conduit
wherein the plurality of sleeve portions comprise a plurality of preformed hollow containment devices each configured to contain the expandable metal in granular form that expands to form a solid metal in response to hydrolysis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of clamping sections further comprise a fastening mechanism to secure the plurality of clamping sections to one another and for holding the plurality of sleeve portions against the conduit.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of preformed hollow containment devices are at least one of: degradable and configured with openings.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of preformed hollow containment devices each have at least one surface having an adhesive thereon for attaching the hollow containment device to a surface of a respective one of the plurality of clamping sections.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sleeve portions each comprise preformed solid expandable metal prior to hydrolysis and configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

15. The apparatus of claims 10 , wherein the expandable metal comprises any metal that is configured to create a metal hydroxide in response to hydrolysis.

16. A method for creating a seal on a conduit, comprising:
providing a plurality of sleeve portions each comprising expandable metal that expands in response to hydrolysis; and
providing a plurality of clamping sections mating with a respective one of the plurality of sleeve portions,
wherein the plurality of sleeve portions are mating with an outer circumference of a conduit and the plurality of clamping sections secure the plurality of sleeve portions against the outer circumference of the conduit for sealing an opening in the conduit
wherein in the step of providing the plurality of sleeve portions, the plurality of sleeve portions comprise a plurality of preformed hollow containment devices each containing the expandable metal in granular form.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein in the step of providing the plurality of sleeve portions, the plurality of sleeve portions each comprise preformed solid expandable metal prior to hydrolysis and expands in response to hydrolysis.

Assignees

• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Eldho Shanu Thottungal
• Pelto Christopher M

Classifications

• F16L5/10

  by using sealing rings or sleeves only · CPC title

• F16L55/175

  by using materials which fill a space around the pipe before hardening · CPC title

• F16L3/08

  substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing · CPC title

• F16L55/172 Primary

  the ring, band or sleeve being tightened by a tangentially arranged threaded pin and a nut · CPC title

• F16J15/068

  the packing swelling under working conditions · CPC title