Patent US3712115A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3712115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe testing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-10-09
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-10-09
Abstract
Abstract Upper and lower axially spaced, radially expansible seals are secured to each other by an elongate spacer bar to form a pipe testing assembly. The assembly is positioned within the pipe to be tested and fluid pressure is employed to expand the upper and lower seals radially into sealing engagement with the surrounding pipe. Pressurized test fluid is introduced into the pipe within the enclosed area between the spaced seals to test the pipe for leaks. The lower seal includes a mandrel over which a preshaped cup seal is slidably disposed above a plurality of annular compression seals. The test fluid moves the cup seal downwardly which compresses the compression seals and causes them to move radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the surrounding pipe. Fluid containing chambers are formed between the expanded cup seal and compression seals to provide a back pressure which prevents high pressure collapse of the cup seal. If desired, a second seal having the same construction as the lower seal may be inverted and employed as the upper seal in the testing assembly. In a modified form, the preshaped cup seal is replaced by a normally retracted, annular working seal mounted on the mandrel which in turn is threadedly coupled with the lower end of the spacer bar. A friction drag holds the mandrel stationary and rotation of the spacer bar causes the upper end of the working seal to be moved outwardly by a cone spreader carried on the spacer bar whereupon the working seal functions in the same manner as the preformed cup seal of the preferred form. In its retracted position, the lower seal assembly has relatively small radial dimensions permitting it to be freely moved past constrictions within the pipe being tested and thereafter expanded into an operative cup shape by rotation of the spacer bar.
Inventors
- 👤 D Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:53
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/10; E21B33/12; E21B33/124; E21B47/00; E21B47/10; E21B47/117; G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/26; G01M3/28; G01M3/2853
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
A test tool adapted to be positioned in a tubular well pipe comprising: a. an axially extending mandrel means having upper and lower axially spaced ends; b. lower seal means including resilient cup seal means having base section means slidably and sealingly carried on said mandrel means and mouth section means adapted to open upwardly to slidably engage the internal walls of said tubular well pipe for forming a seal between said mandrel means and said well pipe; c. radially expansible, resilient compression seal means carried on said mandrel means and adapted to expand radially into sealing engagement with said well pipe when foreshortened axially for forming a seal between said mandrel means and said well pipe; d. retaining means connected with said lower end of said mandrel means for forming a lower retaining base for said compression seal means; E. non-resilient force transmitting means slidingly and sealingly carried on said mandrel means between said cup seal means and said compression seal means for transmitting downward axial movement of said cup seal means to said compression seal means whereby said compression seal means is foreshortened axially between said force transmitting means and said retaining means; f. axially extending spacer bar means having upper and lower axially spaced ends with said lower bar means end secured to said upper mandrel end; g. upper seal means connected with said upper bar means end and adapted to sealingly engage the pipe wall to form a seal between said bar means and said pipe wall; h. fluid injection means for injecting a pressurized liquid or gas fluid into the annular area between said bar means and said well pipe in the area between said upper and lower seal means; and i. means to force said mouth section means into sealing engagement with the internal walls of said tubular pipe, said pressurized fluid within said annular area forcing said cup seal means against said non-resilient force transmitting means to foreshorten axially said compression seal means and thereby cause it to expand radially into its sealing engagement with said well pipe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
A test tool adapted to be positioned in a tubular well pipe comprising: a. an axially extending mandrel means having upper and lower axially spaced ends; b. lower seal means including resilient cup seal means having base section means slidably and sealingly carried on said mandrel means and mouth section means adapted to open upwardly to slidably engage the internal walls of said tubular well pipe for forming a seal between said mandrel means and said well pipe; c. radially expansible, resilient compression seal means carried on said mandrel means and adapted to expand radially into sealing engagement with said well pipe when foreshortened axially for forming a seal between said mandrel means and said well pipe; d. retaining means connected with said lower end of said mandrel means for forming a lower retaining base for said compression seal means; E. non-resilient force transmitting means slidingly and sealingly carried on said mandrel means between said cup seal means and said compression seal means for transmitting downward axial movement of said cup seal means to said compression seal means whereby said compression seal means is foreshortened axially between said force transmitting means and said retaining means; f. axially extending spacer bar means having upper and lower axially spaced ends with said lower bar means end secured to said upper mandrel end; g. upper seal means connected with said upper bar means end and adapted to sealingly engage the pipe wall to form a seal between said bar means and said pipe wall; h. fluid injection means for injecting a pressurized liquid or gas fluid into the annular area between said bar means and said well pipe in the area between said upper and lower seal means; and i. means to force said mouth section means into sealing engagement with the internal walls of said tubular pipe, said pressurized fluid within said annular area forcing said cup seal means against said non-resilient force transmitting means to foreshorten axially said compression seal means and thereby cause it to expand radially into its sealing engagement with said well pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A test tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower seal means further includes fluid chamber forming means for producing a plurality of annular, fluid filled chambers between said lower seal means and said well pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A test tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said fluid chamber forming means includes a plurality of annular, expansible elastomeric rings separated axially from each other by non-expansible spacer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A test tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said cup seal means includes expander means for expanding said mouth section means radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the internal pipe walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A test tool as defined in claim 4 wherein said expander means includes spreader means having a conical surface adapted to move downwardly with respect to said mandrel means and said cup seal means whereby said conical surface advances between said mandrel means and said cup seal means causing said cup seal means to be forced radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the internal pipe walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
A test tool as defined in claim 5 wherein: a. said conical spreading surface is fixed with respect to said spacer bar means; b. said mandrel means is threadedly engaged with said spacer bar means; and c. said mandrel means includes friction producing drag means slidably engaging the internal pipe walls for holding said mandrel means stationary with respect to said pipe whereby rotation of said spacer bar means moves said conical spreading surface toward or away from said cup seal means causing said cup seal to radially expand or retract depending upon the direction of rotation of said spacer bar means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A test tool as defined in claim 3 wherein said cup seal means includes expander means for expanding said mouth section means radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the internal pipe walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A test tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said expander means includes spreader means having a conical surface adapted to move downwardly with respect to said mandrel means and said cup seal means whereby said conical surface advances between said mandrel means and said cup seal means causing said cup seal means to be forced radially outwardly into sealing engagement with the internal pipe walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A test tool as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. said conical spreading surface is fixed with respect to said spacer bar means; b. said mandrel means is threadedly engaged with said spacer bar means; and c. said mandrel means includes friction producing drag means slidably engaging the internal pipe walls for holding said mandrel means stationary with respect to said pipe whereby rotation of said spacer bar means moves said conical spreading surface toward or aWay from said cup seal means causing said cup seal to expand or retract depending upon the direction of rotation of said spacer bar means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A test tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said means to force said mouth section means into sealing engagement with the internal walls of said tubular pipe comprises said pressurized fluid in said annular area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |