| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 138093000 | Inflatable | 18 |
| 20090050224 | INFLATABLE PLUG WITH FLANGE - A system for restricting fluid flow through a conduit comprises a tapping saddle configured to couple to the conduit adjacent to an opening in the conduit, a valve coupled to the tapping saddle to allow selective access through the tapping saddle and the opening to an interior of the conduit, a tube insertable into the conduit through the opening, and an inflatable plug coupled to the tube and insertable into the conduit with the tube. The inflatable plug is inflatable within the conduit to restrict fluid flow. The inflatable plug includes a first plate positioned on an exterior surface of the inflatable plug, a second plate positioned on an interior surface of the inflatable plug, and at least one fluid port extending through the first plate and the second plate to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable plug. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090126818 | Apparatus for instantaneously terminating movement of flow material through a conduit - An apparatus for rapidly terminating of the flow of any fluid or particulate material through a conduit responsive to predefined dangerous conditions. A particular application will terminate fuel flow through a large fuel supply conduit in a racing vehicle responsive to a fire or accident or other dangerous condition. The apparatus includes a gas supply source that is opened responsive to actuation of the apparatus such that gas passes into a cylinder which moves to force a liquid to hydraulically expand an inflatable member which is operative to expand within the flow conduit to instantaneously terminate material flow therethrough. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090199922 | Plugging Device and Method - A plugging device ( | 08-13-2009 |
| 20100089477 | Plug for Sealed Closing of a Pipe - A plug for the sealed closing of a pipe is provided. The plug comprises a sleeve and a cylindrical main body having a connection for a pressure line. The sleeve is coupled to the cylindrical main body so that the sleeve and the cylindrical main body form an outwardly sealed pressurized area, which communicates with the connection. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20110011481 | DEPLOYING A CHEMICALLY-INFLATABLE BAG WITH AN UNFURLING ACTION - Embodiments provide an apparatus and methods for providing a nonlabor-intensive process for preventing backfill entering, or environmental factors eroding, a cavity formed in the ground. Preventing cavity degradation involves constructing a chemically-inflatable bag that separates two or more chemical reactants by creases and cylindrical coils formed in the chemically-inflatable bag. The creases typically act as watertight releasable seals that separate the chemical reactants while the cylindrical coils resist unintentional compromise of the releasable seals. However, the cylindrical coils are designed to give way upon the user applying an unfurling action on the chemically-inflatable bag; thus, furnishing a passageway for the chemical reactants to intermix and initiate a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide as a by-product, which expands the chemically-inflatable bag from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, the chemically-inflatable bag fills and protects the integrity of the formed cavity. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110315258 | ACTIVE FLOW HIGH PRESSURE PIPE PLUG APPARATUS AND METHOD - The invention herein presented involves two (2) alternative equipment and methods which could be used independently or together, depending on the application and means available to have them implemented, for plugging or stopping active flow of fluid from a damaged or broken pipeline, said pipeline possibly being located at depths of thousands of feet in ocean water. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120192983 | INFLATABLE CLOSING PLUG FOR PIPES - An apparatus for forming an inflatable closing plug has a winding head rotatable around a path defining a winding plane. The winding head is arranged to dispense one or more continuous lines from a supply of line via a guide arrangement. A preform is rotationally supported on an axis at a shallow angle with respect to the winding plane such than the winding plane intersects the preform. By providing a spreading arrangement to locate the windings on the preform over a band having a width perpendicular to the winding plane, a smoother distribution of windings can be achieved. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20130048130 | DUAL INFLATABLE PLUG ASSEMBLY - An inflatable plug assembly includes a first inflatable plug, a second inflatable plug, and a first mount coupled to the first inflatable plug. The first mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the first inflatable plug. The inflatable plug assembly also includes a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug. The second mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug. The second mount is secured to the first mount. The first inflatable plug and the second inflatable plug are independently inflatable. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130139922 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REPAIRING PIPING - A device and method for repairing the junction of a main pipe line and a lateral pipe. The device uses a series of independently controlled bladders to adjust the timing and pressure exerted by the bladders on the pipes. The device also uses a liner assembly of resin absorbent material is formed, with a tubular lateral liner connected to a concentric circular main liner. The liner also includes an opening to facilitate loading of the liner in the device. Upon loading the bladders and resin-embedded liner into a train, the device is positioned and the bladders independently inflated, either concurrently or in sequence, installing the liner assembly onto the pipe. Once the resin is cured, the bladder assembly and launcher are removed from the sewer pipe. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130160884 | BLOCK VALVE ISOLATION TOOL - A leaking block valve isolation tool for insertion through a vent duct and blocking valve of a gas flow duct. The isolation tool includes an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, the outer tube having a diameter sized to extend through the vent duct and blocking valve. An inner tube having proximal and distal ends is arranged coaxially with and movable within the outer tube. An inflatable balloon is attached to the distal end of the inner tube, wherein the isolation tool outer tube is insertable through the vent duct to an opening in the gas flow duct. The inner tube is slidably insertable through the outer tube until the balloon is situated within a bore formed through the gas flow duct and is inflatable therein to block any gas leak through the gas flow duct. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160885 | INFLATABLE DEVICE FOR BLOCKING CHIMNEY FLUES OR OTHER DUCTS - An inflatable device for blocking a chimney flue or other duct is in the form of a plastics bag | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130199651 | PIPELINE ISOLATION TOOL AND METHOD - An isolation tool is adapted for location in a pipe and includes a first plug module and a second plug module. The first plug module is configurable to grip the pipe and permit fluid bypass, to prevent fluid bypass without gripping the pipe, and to isolate the pipeline with gripping and leak tight sealing allowing a section to be fully de-pressurised. In use, the first and second plug modules are inserted into opposite ends of the pipe. The first plug module is pigged to a location in the second mode with a seal against the pipe but no grip then is configured in the fluid bypass mode when the second plug module is travelling through the pipe so that fluid displaced by the second plug module bypasses the first plug module. The second plug module and first plug module are then sealingly secured to the pipe to isolate a section of the pipe wall having a restriction. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130284297 | Inflatable Purge Dam Apparatus - An inflatable purge dam apparatus for use with pipes of different nominal pipe size (NPS) includes first and second inflatable purge bladders, and an intermediate bridge conduit. In a first aspect, the purge bladders each comprise an expandable inner purge gas retaining liner and a heat-resistant stretchable outer protective cover. The protective covers comprise a heat-resistant stretchable material that is constructed to undergo variable stretching to increase the size of the purge bladders as they are inflated with purge gas to a desired sealing pressure, thereby allowing the purge bladders to form an effective weld zone seal in pipes of different NPS. In a second aspect, an air vent conduit extends between first and second ports located proximate to a longitudinal centerline of the first purge bladder. The air vent conduit provides a vent pathway for venting air from the weld zone through the first purge bladder. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140137971 | DUAL INFLATABLE PLUG ASSEMBLY - An inflatable plug assembly includes a first inflatable plug, a second inflatable plug, and a first mount coupled to the first inflatable plug. The first mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the first inflatable plug. The inflatable plug assembly also includes a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug. The second mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug. The second mount is secured to the first mount. The first inflatable plug and the second inflatable plug are independently inflatable. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140366976 | BLOCKED VALVE ISOLATION TOOL - A valve isolation tool for insertion through a vent duct and vent duct valve of a gas flow duct. The isolation tool includes an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, the outer tube having a diameter sized to extend through the vent duct and blocking valve. An inner tube having proximal and distal ends is arranged coaxially with and movable within the outer tube. An inflatable balloon is attached to the distal end of the inner tube, wherein the isolation tool outer tube is insertable through the vent duct to an opening in the gas flow duct. The inner tube is slidably insertable through the outer tube until the balloon is situated within a bore formed through the gas flow duct and is inflatable therein to block any gas leak through the gas flow duct. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150101695 | SEALING DEVICE, AIRCRAFT ENGINE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A SEALING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PLACING SUCH A SEALING DEVICE IN AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE - The present invention relates to a sealing device designed for sealing a fuel inlet opening of an aircraft engine and to an aircraft engine provided with such a sealing device. The invention further relates to a method for sealing a fuel inlet opening of an aircraft engine. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150316194 | SELECTIVELY PRESSURIZABLE FOREIGN MATERIAL EXCLUSION DEVICE - A foreign material exclusion device adapted for use in an opening or cavity of a system or construction, for example a tube, pipe or the like that can be utilized in one embodiment to prevent entry of debris into a particular area of the construction, the device having a body that is adapted to seal a first side of the cavity from a second side of the cavity, the device further including a body comprising a resilient material that can be compressed to fit into the desired opening or cavity and then can be re-expanded to provide a snug fit about the opening such that the device supports itself, the device further including an inflatable apparatus operatively connected to the body, wherein upon inflation, the apparatus contacts desired surfaces of the construction and aids in maintaining the device at a desired location within the system or construction and also aids in forming a desired seal. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20160033071 | SHUTTER WITH AUTOMATICALLY EXPANDING SEALING RING - A shutter ( | 02-04-2016 |
