Conduit plug

Claim 2

A plug assembly for sealing a conduit; said plug comprising: compressible plug means capable of being transformed from a relaxed condition to a compressed condition by the application of pressure from opposite sides thereof, said plug means having a peripheral configuration corresponding to the interior configuration of the conduit said plug assembly is intended to seal, said peripheral configuration being smaller than said interior configuration when said plug means is in its relaxed condition, said peripheral configuration swelling to engage said interior configuration when said plug means is in its compressed condition; pressure application means for transforming said plug means from its relaxed condition to its compressed condition; said pressure application means including; pressure distribution means cooperating with said plug means for establishing area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means, said pressure application means including first and second plate members positioned on opposite sides of said plug means and further including operable draw means for drawing said first and second plate members toward one another, said plug means including at least one side surface area on a first side thereof angularly oriented with respect to a crosssectional plane longitudinally disposed through the center of said plug means, said pressure distributing means comprising at least one similarly angularly oriented portion of said first plate means which is urged into engagement with said one side surface when said draw means is operated to draw first and second plate members towards one another, said plug means further including a second side surface area on the opposite side of said plug means which is angularly oriented with respect to said plane, said pressure distributing means further including a portion of said second plate member which is urged into engagement with said second side surface area when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plates towards one another, said first and second side surfaces being similarly angled with respect to said plane but in opposite directions with respect thereto, said first and second side surface areas being angularly disposed toward the outer extremity of said plug means and defining annular rings around said plug means, said plug means further including a central portion having the exterior surfaces thereof convexly bowed with respect to said plane, said pressure distribution means further comprising flat portions on each of said first and second plate members which are urged into engagement with said convexly bowed exterior surfaces when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plate member toward one another, whereby the components of the pressure developed by said pressure application means will be laterally distributed across the thickness of said plug means to establish area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means.

Claim 3

The plug assembly of claim 1 wherein said angularly oriented side surface area extends around said plug means on said first side thereof to define an annular ring within which is located said convexly bowed central portion.

Claim 4

The plug assembly of claim 1 wherein said flat portion of said first plate includes rib means for adding strength thereto.

Claim 5

The plug assembly of claim 1 wherein said plug means includes cylindrical sleeve means located therein for preventing said operable draw means from overdrawing said first and second plates toward one another.

Claim 6

The plug assembly of claim 1 wherein said plug means is provided with projection means adjacent the edge of its outer periphery to aid in establishing an effective seal between said plug means and said conduit when said plug means is compressed.

Claim 7

A plug assembly for sealing a conduit; said plug comprising: compressible plug means capable of being transformed from a relaxed condition to a compressed condition by the application of pressure from opposite sides thereof, said plug means having a peripheral configuration corresponding to the interior configuration of the conduit said plug assembly is intended to seal said peripheral configuration being smaller than said interior configuration when said plug means is in its relaxed condition, said peripheral configuration swelling to engage said interior configuration when said plug means is in its compressed condition; pressure application means for transforming said plug means from its relaxed condition to its compressed condition; said pressure application means including: pressure distribution means cooperating with said plug means for establishing area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means, said pressure application means including first and second plate members positioned on opposite sides of said plug means and further including operable draw means for drawing said first and second plate members toward one another, said plug means including at least one side surface area on a first side thereof angularly oriented with respect to a cross-sectional plane longitudinally disposed through the center of said plug means, said pressure distributing means comprising at least one similarly angularly oriented Portion of said first plate means which is urged into engagement with said one side surface when said draw means is operated to draw first and second plate members towards one another, said plug means further including a second side surface area on the opposite side of said plug means which is angularly oriented with respect to said plane, said pressure distributing means further including a portion of said second plate member which is urged into engagement with said second side surface area when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plates towards one another, said first and second side surfaces being similarly angled with respect to said plane but in opposite directions with respect thereto, said first and second side surface areas being angularly disposed toward the outer extremity of said plug means and defining annular rings around said plug means, said plug means further including a central portion having first and second exterior surfaces, at least one of said exterior surfaces including a portion raised further from said plane than remaining portions of said one exterior surface., said pressure distribution means further comprising flat portions on each of said first and second plate members which are urged into engagement with said first and second exterior surfaces when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plate member toward one another, whereby the components of the pressure developed by said pressure application means will be laterally distributed across the thickness of said plug means to establish area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means.

Claim 8

A plug assembly for sealing a conduit; said plug comprising: compressible plug means capable of being transformed from a relaxed condition to a compressed condition by the application of pressure from opposite sides thereof, said plug means having a peripheral configuration corresponding to the interior configuration of the conduit said plug assembly is intended to seal said peripheral configuration being smaller than said interior configuration when said plug means is in its relaxed condition, said peripheral configuration swelling to engage said interior configuration when said plug means is in its compressed condition; pressure application means for transforming said plug means from its relaxed condition to its compressed condition; said pressure application means including: pressure distribution means cooperating with said plug means for establishing area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means, said pressure application means including first and second plate members positioned on opposite sides of said plug means and further including operable draw means for drawing said first and second plate members toward one another, said plug means including at least one side surface area on a first side thereof angularly oriented with respect to a cross-sectional plane longitudinally disposed through the center of said plug means, said pressure distributing means comprising at least one similarly angularly oriented Portion of said first plate means which is urged into engagement with said one side surface when said draw means is operated to draw first and second plate members towards one another, said plug means further including a second side surface area on the opposite side of said plug means which is angularly oriented with respect to said plane, said pressure distributing means further including a portion of said second plate member which is urged into engagement with said second side surface area when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plates towards one another, said first and second side surfaces being similarly angled with respect to said plane but in opposite directions with respect thereto, said first and second side surface areas being angularly disposed toward the outer extremity of said plug means and defining annular rings around said plug means, said plug means further including a central portion having first and second exterior surfaces, at least one of said exterior surfaces including a portion raised further from said plane than remaining portions of said one exterior surface., said pressure distribution means further comprising flat portions on each of said first and second plate members which are urged into engagement with said first and second exterior surfaces when said draw means is operated to draw said first and second plate member toward one another, whereby the components of the pressure developed by said pressure application means will be laterally distributed across the thickness of said plug means to establish area contact between the interior of said conduit and said plug means around the entire perimeter of said plug means.