Method and apparatus for sealing a pipeline leak

Claim 1

An assembly for repair of leaks in flanged connections wherein a gap exists between flange pieces forming the connections, comprising: (a) a plurality of bolts at least one of which has a slot in one end thereof, said bolts being spaced about the periphery of the connection to connect the flange pieces to each other and extending in the gap of the flanged connections; (b) each of said bolts having a slot being positioned such that each of the slots extends from outside one of the flange pieces, through the flange piece, into the gap; (c) nut means for securing said bolts to said flanged connections; (d) at least one of said nut means secured to one of each of said bolts having a slot including an injection passage therethrough wherein securing each of said at least one nut means on an associated bolt enables communication of the passage with the slot in said bolt; (e) injection valve means for mounting in communication with the passage of said at least one of the nut means; (f) wrapping means for wrapping an elongated flexible member around the bolts in said gap a plurality of times to enclose the gap between the flange pieces in continuous layers for enabling sealant injected through the injection valve to be placed under the wrapped flexible member for repairing the flanged connection.