Packer with Ribs

Abstract

Arrangement for use with a plug ( 1 ) for sealing against an inner wall of a pipeline ( 30 ), comprising a main body, sealing means and actuation means for moving the sealing means from a retracted to an extended state in contact with the inner wall of the pipeline, which sealing means comprises an annular packer element ( 7 ), arranged between two relative movable body elements ( 5, 6 ) of the main body actuated by the actuation means, The packer element ( 7 ) comprises means ( 720, 722, 724, 730 ) in an outer peripheral surface formed by a first side ( 701 ) of the packer element ( 7 ), which means comprises at least one peripheral rib ( 724 ) radially protruding from the first side ( 701 ) of the packer element ( 7 ).

1 . An arrangement for use with a plug for sealing against an inner wall of a pipeline, said arrangement comprising:
 a main body;   gripping means for contacting the inner wall of the pipeline;   sealing means and actuation means for moving the gripping means and the sealing means from a retracted to an extended state in contact with the inner wall of the pipeline;   said sealing means includes an annular packer element, arranged between two relative movable body elements of the main body actuated by the actuation means;   said packer element includes a first section and at least a second section and a third section, said second and third sections having a material with a larger rigidity than that of the first section; and   at least one peripheral rib and at least one groove located in an outer peripheral surface formed by a first side of the packer element, wherein at least one peripheral rib being connected to the first side of the first section of the packer element.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib is arranged to come in initial contact with a wall of a pipeline before a main outer surface of said packer element comes in contact with the wall of the pipeline. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib is arranged to come in contact with a wall of a pipeline after at least a section of a main outer surface of said packer element is in contact with the wall of the pipeline. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib is positioned in at least one groove forming a section of a first side forming an outer peripheral surface of said packer element. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib includes an outer surface, which in an non-expanded state of said packer element is positioned mainly in line with or radially within an outer section of said first side of said packer element. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib is within each groove. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one peripheral rib mainly fills at least one groove in said first side. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said peripheral rib forms an edge to said at least one groove. 
     
     
         9 . The Arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one groove is formed substantially in a central part of said first side of said packer element. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said packer element in a cross section transverse to a circumferential direction forms a mainly triangular shape in a retracted position, where three apexes form rounded corners of the triangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said packer element in a cross section transverse to a circumferential direction forms a mainly four sided shape in a retracted position. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein said packer element includes two sections with larger rigidity than rest of said packer element.