US2299116A - Expansible plugs for conduits - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1942. B, svlRsKY EXPANSIBLE PLUGS FOR CONDUITS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l .SEWER M15 INVENTOR. v

#frog/@Ex Oct. 2o, 1942. B. svlRsKY 2,299,116

` EXPANSIBLE PLUGS FOR CONDUITS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNi'iED STAT ES EPAT EN T 0 FF ICE EXPANSIBLE vPLUGS FOR.v CONDUITS Bennett 'Svirsky, Glendale, Calif.

ApplicationMay' 5, 1941, SerialNo. 391,893 Claims. (Cl. 13S-i90) 4The .present invention relates-to improvements in -expansible -closuremeans forconduits, asset forth in vmy -eopendingA application Serial No. 378,381, iiled Feb. 11, 1941.

Inorder to comply uwith city requirements for testi-ng plumbing, a pneumatically expansible plug may be inserted into thesoil pipe'lineand utilized -toforma closure therein, whereuponA the pipe line above theplug lmayV be-lled to detect any leaks that maybe present. Onefof the objects of the present vinvention is to YprovideV cooperating, dual expansible -plugs for this purpose of a character that will iixedly remain in their installed position duringuse, meansbeing provided to safeguard theplugsfagainstbeing accidentally Washed down'into'the sewer, or being prematurelyfmoved out ofeplace in any other manner.

In twin Stoppers as previously used no `provision is made for deflating the inner plug'of -an installed device independently-'of and'previously to the outer plug. Hence part of the Water'beingused for test purposes is apt to flow back past the more or less deated outer'plug, much to the annoyance of the workman. It isan-v important object of the present invention to avoid this objectionable feature by providing vmeans for the independent inflation Aand deflation of the plurality of plugs used.

Afurther object ofthe invention is to provide improved rigidmeans for supporting the lelastic part of the device, thereby rendering the device as a whole more sturdy and dependable, and rendering its expansible portion more effective Vin its operation.

It is a specic object of the invention to provide, in combination w-ith a pneumatically expandible plug for conduits; an annular member, of an improved kind, to encircle said plug for the purpose of forming an anti-slip contact with the inner surface of the section of pipe within which the plug is inserted toform a stopper. This feature is particularly valuable by reason of the fact that some sewer pipes are quite smooth inside and also often have slimy, greasy interior surfaces. f

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete device in one of its operative positions, showing the same with two expansible bodies inside of a sectioned Y-shaped sewer pipe member. In this view the applicator portion of the air pressure supply means fis-shown positioned in readiness for use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal mid-section, on a larger scale than Fig. 1, of the expansible member shown lin the lower right hand portion of the latter View.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa side elevation of .one of the antislip spiral rings 'with which both of the plugforming bodies of Fig. 1 areprovided.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal mid-section, on the same scale as Fig. 2, of the eXpansi'ble body shown in the .upper left hand portionv of Fig. l, some conduit portions being shown in side elevation.

Fig. 6'is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 turned through an angle of ninety degrees.

f `Referring in .detailtothe drawings, the principalparts of the device are, as Seen in Fig. l, the upper expansible manner i0 at the liquid air intake end'of the device, the lower expansible member Il at the opposite endY of the device, and

.g the flexible conduit l2 whereby said members ii and Il are vconnected in a communicating manner, the device being shown in a Y-shaped sewer section having a lbody portion B and an upper limb v9.

Said members mand Il, by preference and as shown, are of `a generally cylindrical shape, the axis of each member alinin'g with the axis of theconduit I2'Which connects them. Said members are of nearly identical construction, but are Yshown furnished ywith somewhat different fiuid supply connections and stopper means. Hence similar lettering is used for these two members, and a description of the member il (along with a .reference to itsslight difference from the member 1.9) will suffice for both.

Said member -II has its metallic core I3 furnished at one end with a pronounced central rise 14a surrounded by a peripheral, radially extending .flange I4, the opposite end of said core I3 .being shown nearly at and being surroundedby a peripheral, radial flange I5 equal in diametertogthe flange lI4. From end to end of the core extends an axial passage I5, along one side -of which is a passage il and along the opposite side of which is a passage I8. These three passages alllead from end to end of the core and, by preference and as shown, are the same in diameter, space being provided for them by. broadening the core :member and. shaping it as shown in cross section in Fig. 3.

A rubber or rubber-like body 20 is molded around each of the core members I3, said body having a slightly greater diameter than the flanges I4 and I5, and having within it a chamber 2| which is circular in cross section as to its outer side and has its inner side formed by the rubber layer or sheet 20a which encases the three-part tubular structure that extends axially of the core member.

Said rubber body 28 has a peripheral channel or groove 22 within which is seated a split, spirally shaped, anti-slip ring 23. Said ring is desirably made of steel of a length at least equal to or greater than the girth of the plug. It is furnished with a milled or otherwise roughened exterior surface 24 for anti-slip interior contact with the conduits within which the device is to be used, and the ring as a whole possesses considerable resiliency, causing it, when permitted to do so, to expand as to its diameter into a firm pressure contact with the surrounding conduit, assuming that the device is inserted into a conduit having an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the body 20.

Near each end, each body 2U has a peripheral rib or fiat faced annular shoulder 25 which continues around the body in an unbroken manner so as to form an effective fluid tight seal with the interior of a section of sewer pipe, or other conduit, when said body is inserted therewithin and then inflated.

As to their internal construction, the cores of the plug members I and II differ from each other only in that the axial passage I6 of the core of the member I0 extends from end to end of said member in a non-communicating manner, with reference to the surrounding air chamber 2|, whereas in the member II said passage I6 (see Fig. 3) communicates with said chamber by means of a small tube IIa that leads through the rubber layer 20a; and the passage I8 of the member II extends from end to end of the core of said member in a non-communicating manner; whereas in the member I0 said passage I8 (see Fig. 6) communicates with the chamber 2| by means of a small tube I8a that leads through the rubber layer 20a.

At its left end (outer end in its assembled, installed relation) the plug member IIJ has the mouth portion of its axial passage I6 internally screw threaded to have screwed into it an air valve structure 21 utilizable both for pneumatically inating and deflating the plug member II through the flexible conduit I2. Connection with said conduit I2 is made by internally screw threading the opposite end of the passage I6 under consideration to screw in a coupler 3|. A like coupler 21a screws into the left end of the axial passage I6 of the plug member I I to conneet the adjacent end of the conduit I2 therewith.

The passage I8 of the plug member I0 has its adjacent mouth portion deflected away from the axis of said member and internally screw threaded to have screwed into it a conventional valve 38, desirably of the same type as the valve 21, hence after a plug I8b has been screwed into the opposite end of the passage I8, air delivered under pressure through said valve 38 may be used to inflate the surrounding elastic body 20, being fed through the small tube |8a into the air chamber 2| of said body.

In some situations it may be found necessary to supply water from a specially provided source to the section of the sewer pipe or other coii= duit located at the side of the body I0 which is directed toward the body II. For' this purpose the left end portion of the passage I1 is outwardly deflected and is internally screw threaded to have screwed into it a pipe section #i2 which cooperates with a coupling member 43 to connect with a water supply tube 44.

When the plug member II is in the installed position shown in Fig. 1, the left ends of its channels |1 and I8 are respectively closed by plugs I1b and I8b which are screwed into their deflected mouth portions; and the axial passsage of this member is closed at its right hand end by screwing into it a plug I6c.

The applicator portion 45 of the air pressure supply means is shown in Fig. 1 positioned in readiness for use.

In the operation of the device the same is installed as illustrated in Fig. 1 for testing purposes, for example, to test the joints of a portion lof a building line located at a higher level than the Y fitting shown and forming a conduit structure which is continuous with the left end of the body portion of said Y fitting. After the device has beenput into place in the position shown, air under pressure will be supplied through the connections 38 and 21 to inflate the rubber parts of the first expansible member I0 and second expansible member II. The peripheries of said members will thus be brought into fluid tight and anti-slip relations to the surrounding'interior surfaces of the pipe, the flat faced rises or annular shoulders 25 near the ends of the members I0 and II affording liquid tight seals, and the spiral rings 23 providing the antislip feature, the latter feature being particularly valuable when the pipe is made of cast steel, the interior surface of which is smoother` than cast iron. In either case, however, sewered liquids of a greasy character may add to the importance of using the anti-slip rings.

After the device has been installed and inflated in the manner stated, a sufficient quantity of water from the hose or other conduit 44 will be fed through the first or outer member I0 to the pipe section leftward of the member II to fill all the'` superjacent conduit structures which it is desired to test. It may be necessary to supply a considerable quantity of water to make the test and to use a high pressure before the column of water in the building line above the device has reached the required height.

After the water used for making the test has remained in the building line for the required length of time and it is desired to allow it to flow into the sewer system that is in communication with the right hand end of the Y fitting the valve 21 is opened, thus releasing air from the interior of the rubber portion of the member II, allowing the diameter of this member-.to contract, which produces around it an annular passage through which the water flows into the sewer. After all the water used for making the test has thus been allowed to escape, the valve 38 may be opened to deflate the member I0 preparatory to withdrawing the device from its operative position.

An important advantage is attained by Aproviding for deating the inner body II While the outer body `II| is allowed to remain in its .fully inflated, rmly xed position; for if the two members wereV deflated simultaneously the suction created when the column of water started to flow into the sewer might drag the whole device v.downV the pipe line; and also, a considerable portion of :the water could escape `back past the member l llzgreatly to .the annoyance of .the workman making the test.

When .itis `desired to supply'water under pres- 'sure to the .open end of a .pipe line not having ('like the `Y .tting) any lateral opening, it is only 4necessary to use one .of the two expansible members. In such a case lthe member l .may be prepared for use by detaching the member II therefrom. Then said member may be inserted within the tpipe line with its left end directed 'toward the mouth Vthereof and Vafter having been' inflated inthe manner already stated and afplug (like 11b `of Fig. 2) vscrewed into rits conduit portion ill', water Asupply connection may be made with its axial intake portion '33. Likewise it will be obvious that the member ll may be made use of singly for the same purpose.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the kind described, two similarly shaped, generally cylindrical plug members each having an elastic peripheral portion and a metal core portion, each of said elastic portions having within it an annular, concentric air chamber encircled by .a peripheral diaphragm, each of said core portions having flanges against which the peripheral radial end portions of the elastic parts of said members abut, there being a conduit leading axially through one of said cores in a non-communicating relation to the surrounding elastic portion and then leading into the other core and communicating with the interior of the elastic material around the latter core, there being two additional conduits leading through each of said cores, each in -an adjacent substantially parallel relation to their axial conduits, one of the two conduits which parallels the axial conduit of one plug member being in communication with its elastic portion and means whereby the elastic portion of one of the plug members is inflatible by air fed thereinto through said axial conduit and the elastic portion of the other plug member is inflatible by air delivered thereinto through one of said adjacent conduits which is in an eccentric relaion to its axis.

2. In a device of the kind described, two plug members each having a metal core portion and an elastic portion surrounding said core portion, said elastic portion of each member having within it an annular air chamber encircled by a diaphragm, there being a spiral channel extending around said elastic portion of each member, the bottom of said channel being formed by said diaphragm, there being in each member along each side of the space occupied by said spiral channel an annular shoulder extending around the member and capable of being diametrically expanded, an anti-slip spiral ring in each of said spiral channels, conduit means leading through one of said plug members in a non-communicating manner in relation thereto and thence into the other member to conduct an expanding fluid into the latter member whereby both its diaphragm and its aforesaid annular shoulders may be simultaneously diametrically expanded, and conduit means leading into the rst recited plug member simultaneously to expand both its annular shoulders and diaphragm independently of the corresponding parts of the :second .recited plug member.

`3. .In .a :device of the kind described, an elastic 'pneumatically expansible body lof ya circular character having fa spiral peripheral channel exendin'g around it, .and a spiral resilient ring seated in said channel, 4said ring being diametrically expan'sible 4.under the urge of the expan- .sion of said body and having a roughened exterior `surfaceto engage 'the :interior surface yof a sewer pipe .inga :non-'slip manner, said expansible bodyalso having around its expansible portion two Vcontinuous -ribsxengageable with the interior .of a sewer pipe in .a 'iluid tight manner, one of said ribs Ibeing :located at each side of the vspace occupied by 'saidspiralring 4. .In a 'device `of'lthe kind described, 'two elon- -gated multi-.tubular :metal core vmembers including `spaced .apart 1ra-dial l.peripheral 'flanges fadjacent the ends thereof, a body of elastic material molded around each of said core members between said flanges, each of said bodies having within it an annular concentric air chamber encircled by an expansible diaphragm, each of said bodies having an annular shoulder extending around each of its ends, the inner sides of the shoulders of each body together with the outer face of said diaphragm forming around the body a space including a spiral channel, conduit means connecting one of the tubes of one core member in series with a like tube of the other core member, means to supply air under pressure through one tube of one core member thence through said conduit means and through the other tube joined thereto to the air chamber of the elastic body of the core member farthest from the source of air supply, and means to supply air under pressure through another tube in the core member nearest the air supply to the air chamber of its elastic body, there being a passage through which the air is conducted from each of said tubes to the concentric chamber to which the air is delivered.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 and, a manually detachable spiral resilient split ring occupying said channel and expansible under the urge of pressure from said diaphragm.

6. In a device of the kind described, a pair of pneumatically expansible bodies, conduit means extending through one of said bodies in a noncommunicating relation thereto and leading to the other of them to convey fluid under pressure to expand the latter body independently of the former, independent conduit means to convey fluid pressure to the former body to expand it independently of the latter body, each of said expansible bodies being of a circular character having a spiral peripheral channel extending around it, and a spiral ring seated in each said channel, each of said rings being diametrically expansible under the urge of the expansion of the body to which it is ailixed, each of said expansible bodies also having around its expansible portion two continuous ribs engageable with the interior of a sewer pipe in a fluid tight manner, one of said ribs being located at each side of the space occupied by its said spiral ring.

7. In a device of the kind described, an elastic pneumatically expansible body of a circular character having a spiral peripheralchannel extending around it, said expansible body also having around its expansible portion two continuous ribs engageable with the interior of a sewer pipe in a Iiuid tight manner, one of said ribs being located at each side of the space occupied by said spiral channel.

8. The subject matter of claim 7 and, a manually detachable spiral resilient ring seated in said channel and being expansible underl the urge of the expansion of said body to engage the interior surface of said sewer pipe.

9. In a device of the kind described, two plug members each having a metal core portion and an elastic portion surrounding said core portion, said elastic portion of each member having Within it an annular air chamber encircled by a diaphragm, there being a spiral channel extending around said elastic portion of each member, the bottom of said channel being formed by said diaphragm, there being in each member along each side of the space occupied by said spiral channel an annular shoulder extending around the member and capable of being diametrically expanded,

an anti-slip spiral ring in each of said spiral chanels, and axial conduit means leading through one of said plug members in a non-communicating manner in relation thereto and thence into the other member to conduct an expanding fluid into the latter member whereby both its diaphragm and its aforesaid annular shoulders may be simultaneously diametrically expanded and then contracted independently of the corresponding parts of the other plug membei".

10. The subject matter of claim 9 and, conduit means leading into the irst recited plug member simultaneous to expand and contract both its annular shoulders and diaphragm independently of the corresponding parts of the second recited plug member.

BENNETT SVIRSKY.

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