WO2011092488A1

WO2011092488A1 - Pipe bypass device

Info

Publication number: WO2011092488A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050110
Authority: WO
Inventors: David James Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-26
Filing date: 2011-01-24
Publication date: 2011-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-26
Also published as: GB2477162B; GB2477162A; GB201001227D0

Abstract

A pipe bypass device (10) for retro-fitting to an installed pipe (36), comprises a bypass body (12) having a pipe through-bore (14) for receiving an installed pipe (36), an upstream chamber (16) in communication with the pipe through-bore (14), a downstream chamber (18) in communication with the pipe through-bore (14), a bypass channel (20) which interconnects the upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18), a pipe closure element (28) which is between the upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18) for closing the installed pipe (36), an upstream opener (24) at the upstream chamber (16) which extends or is extendable into the pipe-through-bore upstream of the pipe-closure element for opening the installed pipe (36), a downstream opener (26) at the downstream chamber (18) which extends or is extendable into the pipe through-bore (14) downstream of the pipe-closure element for opening the installed pipe (36), and a sealing element (30) for preventing or limiting leakage from the bypass body (12). Preferably, a user-operable valve (22) for controlling fluid flow along the bypass channel (20) is also included.

Description

Pipe Bypass Device

The present invention relates to a pipe bypass device for retrofitting to an installed pipe, and more particularly but not necessarily exclusively for retro-fitting in situ to an installed water pipe to enable selectable isolation. Retro-fittable water-pipe valve devices are known from US6041806A and US5269340. US6041806A can be fitted in line to an existing water pipe, and the ball valve includes cutting edges which completely sever the pipe at two places when the ball valve is turned. In practice, this arrangement will not work since the force required to turn the ball valve so that cutting takes place is enormous, and the pipe is crushed before cutting actually takes p lace .

US5269340 is a more basic design which utilises a gate valve having a sharpened leading edge. As the gate valve is closed, it is intended that the leading edge cuts and severs the pipe. However, as above, the pipe is crushed by the force of the gate valve before cutting and severing takes place. Furthermore, once severed, leakage or seeping occurs from valve housing via the severed ends of the pipe within the valve housing.

Additionally, once severed, the ends of the pipes can be pulled out of the valve housing, leading to catastrophic leakage.

The present invention seeks to address and overcome all of these problems. According to the present invention, there is provided a pipe bypass device for retrofitting to an installed pipe, the pipe bypass device comprising a bypass body having a pipe through-bore for receiving an installed pipe, an upstream chamber in communication with the pipe through-bore, a downstream chamber in communication with the pipe through-bore, a bypass channel which interconnects the upstream and downstream chambers, a pipe closure element which is between the upstream and downstream chambers for closing the installed pipe, an upstream opener at the upstream chamber which extends or is extendable into the pipe-through-bore upstream of the pipe-closure element for opening the installed pipe, a downstream opener at the downstream chamber which extends or is extendable into the pipe through-bore downstream of the pipe-closure element for opening the installed pipe, and a sealing element for preventing or limiting leakage from the bypass body.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 19, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings :

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a pipe bypass device, in use and in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, showing the pipe bypass device in partial longitudinal cross-section; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevational view in partial cross-section showing the pipe bypass device.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a pipe bypass device 10 which comprises a bypass body 12, a pipe through-bore 14 extending along the longitudinal extent of the bypass body 12, upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 within the bypass body 12, a bypass channel 20, a valve 22, upstream and downstream openers 24, 26, a pipe closure element 28, and a sealing element 30.

The bypass body 12, in this embodiment, is metal, preferably being cast, but may be plastics. The bypass body 12 has three body parts, the first body part 32 being a thinner base plate 34 which is thin enough to be slidable behind an installed pipe 36 whilst in situ. The second and third body parts 38, 40 together form an upper housing 42 which has a greater thickness than the base plate 34 and houses the aforementioned upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18, the bypass channel 20, the valve 22, upstream and downstream openers 24, 26 and the sealing element 30.

The upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 are formed in the upper housing 42 substantially symmetrically about the valve 22. The bypass channel 20 extends from the upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 at an incline away from the pipe through- bore 14. The valve 22 is provided partway, and in this case, midway along the bypass channel 20 and intermediate the upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18.

The upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 are in communication with the pipe bore, and the sealing element 30 is a rubber sealing gasket 44 which is provided over an edge between the upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 and the pipe through-bore 14. In this case, an upstream sealing gasket 46 and a downstream sealing gasket 48 are provided in spaced apart relationship. Each sealing gasket 44 has a saddle portion 50 with an arcuate lateral extent for receipt on a portion of the installed pipe 36, and two spaced apart upstanding gasket rings 52 integrally formed with the saddle portion 50. The gasket rings 52 project slightly into their respective upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18.

The upstream and downstream openers 24, 26 each include a movable rigid mounting plate 54, a user-operable controller 56 which is connected to the plate 54 and which extends to the outside of the upper housing 42, and two spaced opening elements 58 which are fixed to the movable plate 54 to project towards the pipe through-bore 14. The user-operable controller 56, in this case, comprises a screw-threaded shaft 60 and a head 62 on the outside of the upper housing 42, the head 62 being engagable with a turning tool, such as a ring spanner or hex-head spanner. Two opening elements 58 are suggested per mounting plate 54, since this is shown to provide optimum flow characteristics. However, one or more than two opening elements can be considered and used when deemed suitable.

Each opening element 58, in this embodiment, is a stud 64 having a distal cone-shaped end terminating in a sharp point 66. Although solid, one or each stud may include a through-bore from its distal pointed end to the plate mounting end, thereby providing a liquid flow passage between the two ends, and thus in use liquid communication between the installed pipe 36 and the respective upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18 via the passage in the stud. The valve 22, in this case, is a ball valve 22 having a flow passage 68 therethrough. The ball valve 22 is rotatably mounted in a ball valve chamber 70 and is angularly fixed relative to a user-operable valve controller 72 at the exterior of the upper housing 42 via a valve stem 74. In this case, the valve controller 72 is a handle, but it may be a slotted head for accepting a flat-blade screw-driver or a lever.

The pipe closure element 28 comprises a crimper 75 for crushing and crimping a pipe. The crimper 75 includes a movable crimping bar element 76 which extends laterally beneath the ball valve 22 and initially above the pipe through-bore 14, an anvil element 78 which extends to the sides of a portion of the pipe through-bore 14 provided on the base plate 34, and two urging elements 80 either side of the ball valve 22. The anvil element 78 is aligned to be able to meet the bar element 76. The urging elements 80 are held by the upper housing 42 and include a head 82 which is also engagable with a turning tool, such as a ring spanner or hex-head spanner. Preferably, the urging elements 80 will be engagable with the base plate 34 to prevent or limit a chance of separation of the upper housing 42 and the base plate 34 when in use.

In use, the second and third body parts 38, 40 are fastened together to form the upper housing 42. The base plate 34 and upper housing 42 are assembled around an installed pipe 36 in situ at a position where an isolation valve would normally be required and installed. The installed pipe 36 thus extends through and projects from the pipe through- bore 14. The pipe through-bore 14 typically has a diameter which closely matches that of the installed pipe 36.

The crimping bar element 76 is urged towards the installed pipe 36 via a user operating the urging elements 80. The bar element 76 thus crushes and crimps the installed pipe 36 against the anvil element 78, and once liquid flow through the installed pipe 36 stops, the user stops turning the urging elements 80.

The user then operates the user-operable controllers 56 of the upstream and downstream openers 24, 26. The pointed studs 64 of the upstream opener 24 puncture, in this case in two places, holes in an upstream portion 84 of the crimped installed pipe 36, thereby allowing flow into the upstream chamber 16 of the upper housing 42, the bypass channel 20 and into the downstream chamber 18. The pointed studs 64 of the downstream opener 26 puncture, again in this case in two places, holes in a downstream portion 86 of the crimped installed pipe 36. This allows flow from the downstream chamber 18 into the crimped installed pipe 36 at a position which is downstream of the pipe closure element 28. Upstream and downstream leakage from the bypass body 12 is prevented or limited by the upstream and downstream rubber sealing gaskets 44 of the sealing element 30 which interface between the outer surface of the installed pipe 36, the pipe through-bore 14 and openings to the upstream and downstream chambers 16, 18. Operation of the ball valve 22 via the valve controller 72 thereby controls flow along the bypass channel 20, enabling a complete halt, fully open, or a flow condition partway therebetween. Due to the installed pipe 36 being effectively blocked by the pipe closure element 28, by fully closing the ball valve 22 and halting flow along the bypass channel 20, flow in the downstream portion of the installed pipe 36 is also fully halted. Although a ball valve 22 is suggested above, other types of valve 22 can be considered, such as a gate valve.

In a modification, the valve 22 may be dispensed with. This arrangement would be useful for simply bypassing, for example, a leak partway along a leaking pipe. As such, isolation of a portion of length of pipe extending from the pipe bypass device would not be possible, but circumvention around a hole in a pipe would be possible. This would be advantageous, since the entire section of pipe would not have to be replaced.

When using the valve, although the valve is on the bypass channel, the valve may be in, at or adjacent to the upstream chamber or the downstream chamber, whereby flow along the bypass channel can be controlled. Furthermore, the valve may be formed as part of the upstream and downstream openers. For example, the movable plate could be shaped and/or include a gasket which enables sealing onto the exterior surface of the installed pipe to stop flow. The pipe closure element, although preferably a bar element, may be a plate or block, for example, for closing the pipe by crushing and/or crimping or other means.

The pipe closure element may also optionally be formed as part of at least one of the upstream and downstream chambers, instead of being spaced from the upstream and downstream chambers as in the above-described embodiment.

The term 'chamber' used herein and throughout is intended to mean a cavity which is located for communication with the pipe through-bore. To this end, the chamber may simply be a continuation of and thus a portion of the bypass channel.

The installed pipe is crushed and crimped, but it is not severed. As such, the flow path along the installed pipe is blocked, but there is no leakage and the upstream and downstream ends of the pipe cannot be unintentionally pulled out of the bypass body.

Although intended for controlling water flow along an installed pipe, the pipe bypass device with the valve could be used for controlling the flow of other liquids and gases.

It is thus possible to provide a pipe bypass device which can be retro-fitted to an installed, typically live, pipe whilst the pipe remains in situ. A cutter is dispensed with, and holes are punctured into the pipe to allow flow to a bypass channel. Flow along the bypass channel can be controlled by a valve. Dispensing with a cutter which is integral with the valve overcomes all of the difficulties associated with the prior art.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A pipe bypass device (10) for retro-fitting to an installed pipe (36), the pipe bypass device (10) comprising a bypass body (12) having a pipe through-bore (14) for receiving an installed pipe (36), an upstream chamber (16) in communication with the pipe through-bore (14), a downstream chamber (18) in communication with the pipe through-bore (14), a bypass channel (20) which interconnects the upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18), a pipe closure element (28) for closing the installed pipe (36), an upstream opener (24) at the upstream chamber (16) which extends or is extendable into the pipe through- bore (14) upstream of the pipe-closure element (28) for opening the installed pipe (36), a downstream opener (26) at the downstream chamber (18) which extends or is extendable into the pipe through-bore (14) downstream of the pipe- closure element (28) for opening the installed pipe (36), and a sealing element (30) for preventing or limiting leakage from the bypass body (12).

A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user- operable valve (22) for controlling fluid flow along the bypass channel (20). A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve (22) is a ball valve.

A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the valve (22) includes a user-operable valve controller (72) on an exterior of the bypass body (12).

A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least one said the user-operable valve (22) is at at least one of the upstream chamber (16) and the downstream chamber (18).

A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the user-operable valve (22) is incorporated as part of the upstream opener (24) or the downstream opener (26).

A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe closure element (28) is between the upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18).

8. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe closure element (28) permanently closes the installed pipe (36).

9. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe closure element (28) includes a bar element (76) for crimping the installed pipe (36).

10. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upstream and downstream openers (24, 26) are movable within the respective upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18).

11. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 10, further comprising upstream and downstream user-operable controllers (56) for operating the respective openers (24, 26).

12. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the upstream and downstream openers (24, 26) are fixed relative to the respective upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18).

13. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upstream and downstream openers (24, 26) each include two spaced opening elements (64) for opening the installed pipe (36) at spaced apart locations.

14. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein each opening element includes a spike portion at its distal free end for opening the installed pipe (36).

15. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 14, wherein each opening element (64) includes a through-bore for fluidly connecting the pipe through-bore (14) with the respective upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18).

16. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bypass body (12) includes two body parts, the first body part being a base plate (34) for location behind an installed pipe (36), and the second body part (38, 40) housing the upstream and downstream chambers (16, 18), the bypass channel (20), and the upstream and downstream openers (24, 26).

17. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (30) includes an upstream sealing gasket (46) which extends between the upstream chamber (16) and the pipe through-bore (14) and through which the upstream opener (24) can extend, and a downstream sealing gasket (48) which extends between the downstream chamber (18) and the pipe through-bore (14) and through which the downstream opener (26) can extend. 18. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe closure element (28) includes a crimper (75) for crushing and crimping the installed pipe (36).

19. A pipe bypass device (10) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the crimper (75) includes a movable bar element (76) which is movable across the pipe through- bore (14).

20. A pipe bypass device (10) substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.