Pipeline isolation tool with large-gap sealing element having mini pressure heads and iris-like structural sealing elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359762-B2
Application number	US-202217579323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2022
Priority date	Jan 20, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A pipeline isolation tool ( 10 ) with a circumferential seal ( 30 ) having a T-shaped cross section. The seal has a radially oriented lower seal profile ( 36 ) and an axially oriented upper seal profile ( 38 ). Pressure heads ( 40, 50 ) are located on either side ( 32, 34 ) of the lower profile. Overlapping structural elements ( 60, 80 ) are located on either side ( 32, 34 ) of the upper profile and include a concave area ( 70, 90 ) for receiving a portion of the upper seal profile. The inner face ( 64, 84 ) of the structural elements contact the outer surfaces ( 42, 52 ) of the pressure heads. Angle plates ( 100, 110 ) define an inner face ( 102, 112 ) that contacts an outer face ( 66, 86 ) of each of the structural elements. The tool may be configured as an intrusive tool or as a non-intrusive tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipeline isolation tool adapted for insertion through a hot tap, the pipeline isolation tool including at least one plugging head comprising:
a circumferential seal having a first diameter in an unset position and a second diameter larger than the first diameter in a set position; the circumferential seal having in cross section, an upper and a lower seal profile;
a pair of circumferential pressure heads, one circumferential pressure head on each side of at least the lower seal profile;
a pair of circumferential angle plates, each circumferential angle plate arranged outward of a corresponding one of the circumferential pressure heads, each circumferential angle plate defining an inner angled surface;
wherein, one of the circumferential pressure heads includes an axially oriented surface arranged opposite, and adjacent to, a lowermost end of the lower seal profile.

2. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , wherein, the circumferential seal has a symmetrical T-shaped cross section, the lower seal profile being radially oriented and the upper seal profile being axially oriented.

3. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
each circumferential pressure head defining an outer surface; and
a plurality of structural elements on each side of the upper seal profile, each of the plurality structural elements defining an overlap with at least a portion of an adjacent structural element of the plurality and including:
a concave area for receiving a corresponding portion of the upper seal profile,
an inner face in contact with the outer surface of a corresponding one of the pair of circumferential pressure heads; and
an outer face;

wherein the plurality of structural elements on each side define a first outer diameter when the circumferential seal is in the unset position and define a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter when the circumferential seal is in the set position.

4. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 3 , wherein, an amount of the overlap of adjacent ones of the plurality of structural elements decreases as the circumferential seal moves from the unset position to the set position and increases as the circumferential seal moves from the set position to the unset position.

5. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 3 , further comprising:
the inner angled surface in contact with a corresponding one of the outer face of each of the plurality of the structural elements.

6. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 3 , wherein, the pair of circumferential angle plates and pair of circumferential pressure heads are arranged such that, as the circumferential seal moves from the unset position to the set position, the pair of circumferential angle plates apply pressure to the plurality of structural segments prior to the pair of circumferential pressure heads applying pressure to the radially oriented lower profile of the circumferential seal.

7. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , wherein, the axially oriented surface arranged opposite the lowermost end of the lower seal profile is spaced:
a first radial distance from the axially oriented surface when the circumferential seal is in the unset position; and
a second radial distance greater than that of the first when the circumferential seal is in the set position, the first and second radial distances being greater than zero.

8. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder formed at least in part by the pair of circumferential angle plates; and
a hydraulically actuated piston arranged to move the circumferential seal between the unset and set positions, the hydraulically actuated piston encased within the hydraulic cylinder.

9. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising, a second plugging head pivotally connected to the at least one plugging head.

10. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control bar head;
the at least one plugging head including a circumferential seal;
a yoke pivotally connected to the control bar head and the at least one plugging head; and
an arcuate-shaped bumper in communication with the yoke and moveable between a first position and a second position;
wherein, when in the first position, the arcuate-shaped bumper is arranged inward of a sealing diameter of the circumferential seal; and
wherein, in the second position, the arcuate-shaped bumper is arranged to a sealing diameter of the circumferential seal.

11. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 10 , further comprising; the arcuate-shaped bumper including an arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the arcuate-shaped bumper connected to the distal end of the arm.

12. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 11 , wherein, the arm further comprises:
a cam surface at a proximal end; and
a linkage including a cam in contact with the cam surface;
wherein, as the cam moves along the cam surface, the arm moves between the first and second positions.

13. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one plugging head including a hydraulically actuated piston, the hydraulically actuated piston including at least one end having trapezoidal threads.

14. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one plugging head including a hydraulically activated piston; and;
a yoke connected to the at least one plugging head, the yoke including a hydraulic fluid passageway; and
at least one hydraulic fluid transfer pin including at least one O-ring groove at one end and a threaded length at another end, the at least one hydraulic fluid transfer pin extending between the at least one plugging head and the yoke, wherein the at least one hydraulic fluid transfer pin connects the hydraulic fluid passageway of the yoke to the hydraulically actuated piston.

15. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 14 , wherein, the hydraulically actuated piston includes at least one end having trapezoidal threads.

16. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control bar connectable to the at least one plugging head, the control bar including a hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve containing a manifold, the manifold including a plurality of ports arranged for connection to hydraulic fluid lines located external to the control bar.

17. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one plugging head including a nose;
a hydraulically actuated piston; and
a spring-loaded anti-rotation pin arranged to prevent relative rotation between the nose and the hydraulically actuated piston.

18. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 17 , wherein, the spring-loaded anti-rotation pin includes a wave spring.

19. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 17 , wherein, the at least one plugging head includes a chip sweep downstream of the circumferential seal.

20. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 17 , further comprising:
gripping means located about the pipeline isolation tool.

21. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 17 , wherein the hydraulically actuated piston includes at least one end having trapezoidal threads.

22. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bumper arranged to distribute forces experienced by the pipeline isolation tool to the pipe as the at least one plugging head moves into a sealing position within the pipe.

23. The pipeline isolation tool of claim 22 , the bumper in

Assignees

• Tdw Delaware Inc

Inventors

• Parsley Cody A
• Sickles Jared
• Ritchie Aaron M
• Mccall Jack

Classifications

• F16J15/06

  with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces · CPC title

• F16J15/104

  characterised by structure · CPC title

• F16L55/132 Primary

  the closure device being a plug fixed by radially deforming the packing · CPC title

• F16L55/105 Primary

  Closing devices introduced radially into the pipe or hose · CPC title