Assembly for Engaging the Interior of a Pipe

Abstract

An assembly is provided that includes first and second end plates adapted to be coaxially aligned when in use. One or more members extend from the end plates or an annular ring, the annular ring provided between the end plates, the other of the end plates or annular ring comprising one or more first slots at one end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members of the first end plate, and one or more second slots at the other end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members. Resilient sealing members are provided around the one or more members between the end plates and annular ring, and an urging mechanism urges the first and second end plates towards the annular ring to deform the first and second resilient sealing members to engage the inner wall of the pipe.

1 . An assembly for engaging an inner wall of a pipe, the assembly comprising:
 first and second end plates adapted to be coaxially aligned when in use, the first and second end plates each comprising one or more members extending from a first surface thereof;   an annular ring provided between the end plates, the annular ring comprising one or more first slots at one end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members of the first end plate, and one or more second slots at the other end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members of the second end plate;   a first resilient sealing member provided around the one or more members of the first end plate, between the first end plate and the annular ring;   a second resilient sealing member provided around the one or more members of the second end plate, between the annular ring and the second end plate; and   an urging mechanism adapted to urge the first and second end plates towards the annular ring to deform the first and second resilient sealing members to engage the inner wall of the pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular ring comprises a beveled edge on at least one of the ends thereof for directing the deformation of a corresponding one of the first and second resilient sealing members. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the annular ring comprises a first beveled edge on the one end for directing the deformation of the first resilient sealing member, and a second beveled edge on the other end for directing the deformation of the second resilient sealing member. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the end plates comprises a beveled edge for directing the deformation of a corresponding one of the first and second resilient sealing members. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the urging mechanism comprises a series of circumferentially and equidistantly spaced tie rods engaged with a series of corresponding circumferentially and equidistantly spaced holes in one of the end plates, the tie rods extending through the annular ring and the other of the end plates for tightening the end plates to the annular ring using a series of nuts. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the holes in one of the end plates are blind holes. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular ring comprises at least one coupler for directing a fluid to a port extending to a surface thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient sealing members are O-rings. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more members of the first and second end plates are provided as a circumferential flange extending from each of the first and second end plates. 
     
     
         10 . An isolation or testing tool comprising the assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An assembly for engaging an inner wall of a pipe, the assembly comprising:
 first and second end plates adapted to be coaxially aligned when in use;   an annular ring provided between the end plates;
 each end of the annular ring comprising one or more members extending from a surface thereof; 
 each of the first and second end plates comprising one or more slots at one end thereof to be aligned with and for receiving the one or more members of the corresponding end of the annular ring; 
   a first resilient sealing member provided around the one or more members of the first end of the annular ring, between the first end plate and the annular ring;   a second resilient sealing member provided around the one or more members of the second end of the annular ring, between the annular ring and the second end plate; and   an urging mechanism adapted to urge the first and second end plates towards the annular ring to deform the first and second resilient sealing members to engage the inner wall of the pipe.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the annular ring comprises a beveled edge on at least one of the ends thereof for directing the deformation of a corresponding one of the first and second resilient sealing members. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the annular ring comprises a first beveled edge on the one end for directing the deformation of the first resilient sealing member, and a second beveled edge on the other end for directing the deformation of the second resilient sealing member. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the end plates comprises a beveled edge for directing the deformation of a corresponding one of the first and second resilient sealing members. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the urging mechanism comprises a series of circumferentially and equidistantly spaced tie rods engaged with a series of corresponding circumferentially and equidistantly spaced holes in one of the end plates, the tie rods extending through the annular ring and the other of the end plates for tightening the end plates to the annular ring using a series of nuts. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the holes in one of the end plates are blind holes. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the annular ring comprises at least one coupler for directing a fluid to a port extending to a surface thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second resilient sealing members are O-rings. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more members of the ends of the annular ring are provided as a circumferential flange extending from each end of the annular ring. 
     
     
         20 . An isolation or testing tool comprising the assembly of  claim 11 .