Methods and apparatuses for remotely and releasably sealing a pipe line

Claim 2

In a pipe of moving fluid, a method for sealing off a section of pipe having an upstream terminus and a downstream terminus comprising the steps of, a. positioning an ultrasonic generator at one of the termini of the pipe section, b. positioning an ultrasonic receiver on each of an upstream pipe internal sealing means and a downstream pipe internal sealing means for actuation by the ultrasonic generator means, c. transporting both the upstream and downstream pipe internal sealing means in the moving fluid of the pipe toward the upstream and downstream termini, and d. sealing the pipe at each of the upstream terminus and the downstream terminus simultaneously as each of the ultrasonic receivers arrives at its respective terminus simultaneously.

Claim 3

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sealing step comprises further, a. sealing the pipe at the downstream terminus of the section of pipe as the downstream ultrasonic receiver arrives at the ultrasonic generator by actuating the downstream internal sealing means, and b. simultaneously sealing the pipe at the upstream terminus of the section of pipe as the upstream ultrasonic receiver arrives at the upstream terminus by actuating the upstream internal sealing simultaneously with actuation of the downstream internal sealing means.

Claim 4

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a further step comprises, a. unsealing the pipe at each of the termini simultaneously responsive to the ultrasonic generator.

Claim 5

In a pipe of moving fluid, a method for sealing off a section of pipe having an upstream terminus and a downstream terminus comprising the steps of, a. positioning an ultrasonic generator at one of the termini of the pipe section, b. positioning an ultrasonic receiver on each of an upstream pipe internal sealing means and a downstream pipe internal sealing means for actuation by the ultrasonic generator means, c. interconnecting the two sealing means at a spaced apart distance slightly greater than equal to the length of the section of pipe to be sealed off, d. transporting both interconnected sealing means in the moving fluid of the pipe toward the upstream and downstream termini, and e. sealing the pipe at each of the upstream terminus and the downstream terminus as each of the ultrasonic receivers arrives at its respective terminus.

Claim 6

In a pipe of moving fluid, a method for sealing off a section of pipe having an upstream terminus and a downstream terminus comprising the steps of, a. positioning an ultrasonic generator at one of the termini of the pipe section, b. positioning an ultrasonic receiver on each of an upstream pipe internal sealing means and a downstream pipe internal sealing means for actuation by the ultrasonic generator means, c. interconnecting the two sealing means at a spaced apart distance slightly greater than equal to the length of the section of pipe to be sealed off, d. transporting both interconnected sealing means in the moving fluid of the pipe toward the upstream and downstream termini, and e. sealing the pipe at each of the upstream terminus and the downstream terminus as each of the ultrasonic receivers arrives at its respective terminus.

Claim 13

A pipe repair mechanism for sealing off a section of pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pigs for being placed in the pipe of moving fluid at a predetermined distance apart, b. expanding means on each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe for sealing off the pipe section between said pigs, c. ultrasonic generator means at said section of pipe to be sealed off, d. ultrasonic receiver means in each of said pigs for controlling said expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, and e. said ultrasonic receiving means being responsive to said ultrasonic generating means for sealing both of said pigs simultaneously at said pipe section for work thereon.

Claim 14

A pipe repair mechanism for sealing off a section of pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pigs for being placed in the pipe of moving fluid at a predetermined distance apart, b. expanding means on each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe for sealing off the pipe section between said pigs, c. ultrasonic generator means at said section of pipe to be sealed off, d. ultrasonic receiver means in each of said pigs for controlling said expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, and e. said ultrasonic receiving means being responsive to said ultrasonic generating means for sealing both of said pigs simultaneously at said pipe section for work thereon.

Claim 15

A pipe repair mechanism for sealing off a section of pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pigs for being placed in the pipe of moving fluid at a predetermined distance apart, b. expanding means on each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe for sealing off the pipe section between said pigs, c. ultrasonic generator means at said section of pipe to be sealed off, d. ultrasonic receiver means in each of said pigs for controlling and expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, e. an elongated flexible means having a precise length interconnects said two pigs, f. said length of said elongated flexible means is greater than the length of the section of pipe to be isolated, and g. said ultrasonic receiving means being responsive to said ultrasonic generating means for sealing said pigs at said pipe section for work thereon.

Claim 16

A pipe repair mechanism for sealing off a section of pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pigs for being placed in the pipe of moving fluid at a predetermined distance apart, b. expanding means on each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe for sealing off the pipe section between said pigs, c. ultrasonic generator means at said section of pipe to be sealed off, d. ultrasonic receiver means in each of said pigs for controlling and expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, e. an elongated flexible means having a precise length interconnects said two pigs, f. said length of said elongated flexible means is greater than the length of the section of pipe to be isolated, and g. said ultrasonic receiving means being responsive to said ultrasonic generating means for sealing said pigs at said pipe section for work thereon.

Claim 17

A releasable plugging apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two pigs for moving with fluid in the pipe, b. expanding means for each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, c. ultrasonic generator means for being positioned at a precise location on the pipe, d. ultrasonic receiver means for each of said pigs for actuating said expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, and e. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably sealing both of said pigs simultaneously at said precise location on the pipe.

Claim 18

A releasable plugging apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two pigs for moving with fluid in the pipe, b. expanding means for each of said pigs for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, c. ultrasonic generator means for being positioned at a precise location on the pipe, d. ultrasonic receiver means for each of said pigs for actuating said expanding means for releasably sealing said pigs in the pipe, and e. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably sealing both of said pigs simultaneously at said precise location on the pipe.

Claim 19

An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said ultrasonic generator means comprises, a. two similar frequency ultrasonic generators mounted on the pipe at the precise location on the pipe where the seal is desired therein by the pigs, and b. each of said two pigs having a similar ultrasonic receiver means responsive to said two similar corresponding ultrasonic generators for releasably sealing said pigs at the precise location.

Claim 20

A releasable plugging apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two interconnected pigs having expanding means on each pig for releasably sealing the pigs in the pipe and ultrasonic receiver means thereon for controlling said expanding means, b. ultrasonic generator means at a precise location on the pipe, and c. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably sealing both of said interconnected pigs simultaneously in the pipe.

Claim 21

A releasable plugging apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two interconnected pigs having expanding means on each pig for releasably sealing the pigs in the pipe and ultrasonic receiver means thereon for controlling said expanding means, b. ultrasonic generator means at a precise location on the pipe, and c. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably sealing both of said interconnected pigs simultaneously in the pipe.

Claim 22

A releasable seal for a pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pipe internal sealing means having expanding means on each for expanding a portion of said internal sealing means in the pipe for sealing thereof, b. ultrasonic receiver means for controlling said expanding means of each of said internal sealing means, c. ultrasonic generator means at a precise location on the pipe, d. said ultrasonic Receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably and simultaneously sealing both of said internal sealing means in said pipe at said precise location, and e. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for simultaneously releasing both of said internal sealing means in said pipe.

Claim 23

A releasable seal for a pipe of moving fluid comprising, a. two pipe internal sealing means having expanding means on each for expanding a portion of said internal sealing means in the pipe for sealing thereof, b. ultrasonic receiver means for controlling said expanding means of each of said internal sealing means, c. ultrasonic generator means at a precise location on the pipe, d. said ultrasonic Receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for releasably and simultaneously sealing both of said internal sealing means in said pipe at said precise location, and e. said ultrasonic receiver means being responsive to said ultrasonic generator means for simultaneously releasing both of said internal sealing means in said pipe.

Claim 24

A releasable sealing apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two interconnected pipe internal sealing means having expanding means on each for releasably sealing the internal sealing means simultaneously in the pipe and remote command signal receiver means on each sealing means for controlling said expanding means, b. remote command signal generator means at a precise location on the pipe, and c. said remote command signal receiver means being responsive to said remote command signal generator means for simultaneously sealing or unsealing both of said interconnected internal sealing means in the pipe.

Claim 25

A releasable sealing apparatus for a pipe comprising, a. two interconnected pipe internal sealing means having expanding means on each for releasably sealing the internal sealing means simultaneously in the pipe and remote command signal receiver means on each sealing means for controlling said expanding means, b. remote command signal generator means at a precise location on the pipe, and c. said remote command signal receiver means being responsive to said remote command signal generator means for simultaneously sealing or unsealing both of said interconnected internal sealing means in the pipe.

Claim 26

A releasable sealing apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein, a. said command signal generator means transmits a sonic signal, and b. said command signal receiver means is responsive to said sonic signal for releasably sealing both of said interconnected internal sealing means in the pipe.

Claim 27

A releasable sealing apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein, a. said command signal receiver means is responsive to a second sonic signal from said command signal generator means for unsealing both of said interconnected internal sealing means in the pipe.