Apparatus for temporarily closing a pipeline

Claim 2

A temporary pipe closure, comprising a body having an outer rubber-like surface of a diameter for fitting closely within a pipe, and a flange about the body adapted to be tightly engaged in a groove within the pipe so as to temporarily retain said body in position to close the pipe until it is sheared from said flange in response to fluid pressure differential across said body, said body being of sufficient extent in a diRection transverse to the flange to maintain its outer surface in close fitting relation within the pipe, so that upon shearing from said flange, said body will be moved through the pipe by the fluid pressure differential across it for removal at a suitable place remote from said groove.

Claim 3

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said flange is made of rubber-like material and has a rigid insert therein whose inner diameter lies substantially adjacent the intersection of the flange with the body.

Claim 4

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the body is substantially spherical.

Claim 5

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the body is substantially cylindrical.

Claim 6

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the body is of rubber-like material.

Claim 7

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said outer rubber-like surface is a sealing element about the body.

Claim 8

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 6, wherein the sealing element is a cup-shaped packer.

Claim 9

A temporary pipe closure of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the flange is integral with the body.

Claim 10

Apparatus for installation in a pipeline for temporarily closing same, comprising a pipe for connection to said pipeline and having a circumferential groove therein, the inside diameter of said pipe being substantially equal to that of the pipeline, and a temporary closure for the pipe including a body having an outer rubber-like surface of a diameter for fitting closely within the pipe, and a flange about the body tightly received in the groove so as to retain said body in a position to close the pipe until it is sheared from said flange in response to fluid pressure differential thereacross, said body being of sufficient extent in a direction longitudinally of the pipeline to maintain its outer surface in close fitting relation within the pipe and pipeline, so that upon shearing of said body from said flange, the fluid pressure differential across the body is effective to move it in sealing engagement through the pipe and pipeline for removal at a suitable place remote from the pipe.

Claim 11

Apparatus for installation in a pipeline for temporarily closing same, comprising a pipe for connection to said pipeline and having a circumferential groove therein, the inside diameter of said pipe being substantially equal to that of the pipeline, and a temporary closure for the pipe including a body having an outer rubber-like surface of a diameter for fitting closely within the pipe, and a flange about the body tightly received in the groove so as to retain said body in a position to close the pipe until it is sheared from said flange in response to fluid pressure differential thereacross, said body being of sufficient extent in a direction longitudinally of the pipeline to maintain its outer surface in close fitting relation within the pipe and pipeline, so that upon shearing of said body from said flange, the fluid pressure differential across the body is effective to move it in sealing engagement through the pipe and pipeline for removal at a suitable place remote from the pipe.

Claim 12

Apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein the pipe includes a first pipe section having an end wall defining one side of the groove, a second pipe section having an end wall defining the opposite side of the groove, and means for connecting the pipe sections so as to tightly engage said flange between said walls.