Knock-out pressure test cap with breakaway nipple plug

Abstract

A pressure test cap includes a mounting collar with an outer rib to limit depth of insertion of the cap into a pipe. A closure disc which seals the mounting collar is connected to the collar through an inner rim by a weakened ring. An outer rim section registers with the inner rim so that impacts to the outer rim are transferred to the weakened ring to separate the disc from the collar. The closure disc includes a centrally positioned nipple for connection of a conduit of a pressurized test fluid source. The nipple is closed by a break-away nipple plug. The nipple plug has a centrally located indentation for piercing to bleed trapped air from the system and resealing by a screw.

1. A pressure test cap assembly for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a cylindrical mounting wall sized for insertion into and sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting wall defining a cap axis extending axially therethrough; 
 (b) a closure disc removably connected to said mounting wall and cooperating therewith to seal a pipe when said mounting wall is positioned in sealing engagement with the pipe with said closure disc connected thereto to prevent flow therethrough, said disc having an inner disc surface and an opposite outer disc surface; 
 (c) said closure disc having a peripheral rim which is cylindrical about said cap axis and includes an inner rim portion projecting axially inward from said inner disc surface and an outer rim portion projecting axially outward from said outer disc surface; and 
 (d) said closure disc being connected to said mounting wall by said inner rim portion in such a manner that impacts of a selected strength to said outer rim portion, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture a connection of said closure disc to said mounting wall to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting wall. 
 
     
     
       2. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  and including:
 (a) a tubular nipple extending from said outer disc surface and having an open nipple end opening through said closure disc; 
 (b) said nipple having an opposite connection end which is sized and shaped to enable connection of a source of pressurized fluid thereto; and 
 (c) a breakaway nipple plug removably connected to said nipple connection end by a weakened ring so as to be separable from said nipple by a shearing force to enable flow therethrough. 
 
     
     
       3. An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  and including:
 (a) said breakaway nipple plug having an indentation configured for piercing to create an opening through said closure member disc. 
 
     
     
       4. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said mounting wall is sized for insertion into a piping and includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential shoulder wall positioned to limit depth of insertion of said assembly into a the pipe. 
 
     
     
       5. An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) said shoulder wall has a radial thickness which is less than an outer diameter of a first pipe into which said assembly is installed to avoid interference with a fitting which is telescoped over such a the first pipe. 
 
     
     
       6. An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) said shoulder wall has a shoulder outer end surface; and 
 (b) said inner rim portion has such an axial length as to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said shoulder outer end surface. 
 
     
     
       7. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said inner rim portion is connected to said mounting wall along a weakened circumferential break line; and 
 (b) said inner rim portion has such an axial length as to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said break line. 
 
     
     
       8. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said cylindrical mounting wall has a mounting wall inner diameter; 
 (b) said peripheral rim has a peripheral rim diameter; and 
 (c) said peripheral rim diameter is greater than said mounting wall inner diameter. 
 
     
     
       9. A pressure test cap assembly for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a mounting structure sized and shaped to enable connection to a pipe piping installation; 
 (b) a separable closure member connected to said mounting structure to prevent flow therethrough, said closure member being separable from said mounting structure to enable flow therethrough; 
 (c) said closure member including a tubular nipple having an open nipple end opening through said closure member and an opposite nipple connection end, said nipple being sized and shaped to enable connection of a source of pressurized fluid thereto; and 
 (d) a breakaway nipple plug connected to said nipple by a weakened ring, said nipple plug normally closing said nipple connection end to prevent flow therethrough, said closure member nipple plug being separable from said nipple by applying a shear force to said weakened ring to enable flow therethrough. 
 
     
     
       10. An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) said mounting structure includes a cylindrical mounting wall having an inner end sized for insertion into and sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting wall defining a cap axis; 
 (b) said closure member includes a closure disc connected to said mounting wall and cooperating therewith to pressure seal a pipe when said mounting wall sealingly engages such a pipe with said closure disc intact to prevent flow therethrough, said disc having an inner disc surface and an opposite outer disc surface; 
 (c) said closure disc has a peripheral rim which is cylindrical about said cap axis and includes an inner rim portion projecting inwardly from said inner disc surface and an outer rim portion projecting outwardly from said outer disc surface; and 
 (d) said closure disc is connected to said mounting wall by said inner rim portion in such a manner that impacts of a selected strength to said outer rim portion, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture a connection of said closure disc to said mounting wall to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting wall. 
 
     
     
       11. An assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 (a) said mounting wall is sized for insertion into a pipe and includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential shoulder wall positioned to limit depth of insertion of said assembly into a the pipe; 
 (b) said shoulder wall has a shoulder outer end surface; and 
 (c) said inner rim portion has such an axial length as to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said shoulder outer end surface. 
 
     
     
       12. An assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 (a) said inner rim is connected to said mounting wall along a weakened circumferential break line; and 
 (b) said inner rim has such an axial length as to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said break line. 
 
     
     
       13. An assembly as set forth in claim  9  10 wherein:
 (a) said cylindrical mounting wall has a mounting wall inner diameter; 
 (b) said closure disc has an outer disc diameter; and 
 (c) said outer disc diameter is greater than said mounting wall inner diameter. 
 
     
     
       14. An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  and including:
 (a) said closure member nipple plug having a test indentation configured for piercing. 
 
     
     
       15. An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) said mounting wall structure includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential shoulder wall positioned to limit depth of insertion of said assembly into a pipe. 
 
     
     
       16. An assembly as set forth in  claim 15  wherein:
 (a) said shoulder wall has a radial thickness which is less than an outer diameter of a first pipe into which said assembly is installed to avoid interference with a fitting which is telescoped over such a the first pipe. 
 
     
     
       17. A pressure test cap assembly for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a cylindrical mounting collar having an inner end sized for insertion into and sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting collar defining a cap axis and a mounting collar inner diameter relative to said cap axis; 
 (b) a closure disc connected to said mounting collar and cooperating therewith to pressure seal a pipe when said mounting collar sealingly engages such a pipe with said closure disc intact to prevent flow therethrough, said disc having an inner disc surface and an opposite outer disc surface; (c) said closure disc having a peripheral rim which is cylindrical about said cap axis and includes an inner rim portion projecting axially inward from said inner disc surface and having a rim diameter and an outer rim portion projecting axially outward from said outer disc surface; 
 (d) said closure disc being connected to said mounting collar by said inner rim portion in such a manner that impacts of a selected strength to said outer rim portion, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture a connection of said closure disc to said mounting collar to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting collar; 
 (e) said closure disc including a tubular nipple having an open nipple end opening through said closure disc and an opposite nipple connection end, said nipple being sized and shaped to enable connection of a source of pressurized fluid thereto; 
 (f) a breakaway nipple plug connected to said nipple by a weakened ring, said nipple plug normally closing said nipple connection end to prevent flow therethrough, said closure nipple plug being separable from said nipple by applying a shear force to said weakened ring to enable flow therethrough; and 
 (g) said rim diameter being greater than said mounting collar inner diameter. 
 
     
     
       18. An assembly as set forth in  claim 17  and including:
 (a) said closure nipple plug having a test indentation configured for piercing. 
 
     
     
       19. An assembly as set forth in  claim 17  wherein:
 (a) said mounting collar is sized for insertion into a pipe and includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential shoulder wall positioned to limit depth of insertion of said assembly into a the pipe; 
 (b) said shoulder wall has a radial thickness which is less than an outer diameter of a first pipe into which said assembly is installed to avoid interference with a fitting which is telescoped over such a the first pipe; 
 (c) said shoulder wall has a shoulder outer end surface; 
 (d) said inner rim portion has such an axial length as to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said shoulder outer end surface; 
 (e) said inner rim portion is connected to said mounting collar along a weakened circumferential break line; and 
 (f) said axial length of said inner rim portion is sufficient to space said inner disc surface axially outward of said break line. 
 
     
     
       20. A pressure test cap for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a mounting collar having a mounting wall sized for insertion into and sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting collar defining a cap axis extending axially therethrough; 
 (b) a closure disc connected to and extending across an outer end of said mounting collar to close said mounting collar outer end of said mounting collar; 
 (c) said closure disc having an inner rim projecting axially inward from an inner surface thereof; and 
 (d) said inner rim of said closure disc being connected to said mounting collar along a break line which is spaced inwardly from said outer end of said mounting collar; said break line being more susceptible to shear than said inner rim and said mounting collar, at least when said mounting wall collar is secured within a pipe to a piping installation. 
 
     
     
       21. A pressure test cap for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a mounting collar having a mounting wall sized for insertion into and sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting collar defining a cap axis extending axially therethrough; 
 (b) a closure disc connected to and extending across an outer end of said mounting collar to close said mounting collar outer end of said mounting collar; 
 (c) said closure disc having an inner rim projecting axially inward from an inner surface thereof; and 
 (d) said inner rim of said closure disc being connected to said mounting collar by a region of reduced thickness positioned in an inwardly spaced relationship from said outer end of said mounting collar; said region of reduced thickness being thinner than said inner rim of said closure disc and thinner than a portion of said mounting collar to which said region of reduced thickness is connected. 
 
     
     
       22. A pressure test cap assembly for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a mounting collar sized for insertion into sealing engagement with a pipe, said mounting collar defining a cap axis extending axially therethrough and having an outer end; 
 (b) a closure disc having inner and outer disc surfaces, and an inner rim projecting axially inward from said inner disc surface and spacing said inner disc surface axially outward from said mounting collar outer end; wherein: 
 (c) said inner rim is connected to said outer end of said mounting collar at a weakened circumferential break line such that impacts of a selected strength applied to said closure disc, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture said weakened circumferential break line to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting collar. 
 
     
     
       23. An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said mounting collar has a uniform inside diameter and said closure disc has an outside diameter greater than said uniform inside diameter of said mounting collar. 
     
     
       24. An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said weakened circumferential break line is an area of reduced thickness formed at the a base of an annular groove formed in said outer end of said mounting collar adjacent said inner rim of said closure disc. 
     
     
       25. An assembly as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said mounting collar is sized for insertion into a pipe and further including includes a radially outwardly extending circumferential shoulder wall positioned to limit depth of insertion of said assembly into a the pipe. 
     
     
       26. An assembly set forth in  claim 22  wherein said closure disc further includes an outer rim projecting axially outward from said outer disc surface. 
     
     
       27. A pressure test cap assembly for use in pressure testing a piping installation including a pipe and comprising:
 (a) a mounting collar;   (b) a closure member connected to said mounting collar to prevent flow therethrough and including a tubular nipple having an open nipple end opening through said closure member and an opposite nipple connection end, said nipple being sized and shaped to enable connection of a source of pressurized fluid thereto; and   (c) a breakaway nipple plug connected to said nipple by a weakened ring, said nipple plug normally closing said nipple connection end to prevent flow therethrough, said nipple plug being separable from said nipple by applying a shear force to said weakened ring to enable flow therethrough.    
     
     
       28. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said closure member is separable from said mounting collar to enable flow therethrough.  
     
     
       29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein:
 (a) said mounting collar defines a cap axis;   (b) said closure member includes a closure disc connected to said mounting collar, said disc having an inner disc surface, an opposite outer disc surface, and a peripheral rim which is cylindrical about said cap axis and includes an inner rim portion projecting inwardly from said inner disc surface and an outer rim portion projecting outwardly from said outer disc surface; and   (c) said closure disc is connected to said mounting collar by said inner rim portion in such a manner that impacts of a selected strength to said outer rim portion, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture a connection of said closure disc to said mounting collar to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting collar.    
     
     
       30. An assembly as set forth in claim 28, wherein:
 (a) said mounting collar defines a cap axis and has an outer end;   (b) said closure member includes a closure disc having inner and outer disc surfaces, and an inner rim projecting axially inward from said inner disc surface and spacing said inner disc surface axially outward from said mounting collar outer end; wherein:   (c) said inner rim is connected to said outer end of said mounting collar at a weakened circumferential break line such that impacts of a selected strength applied to said closure disc, in a direction substantially parallel to said cap axis, are operative to rupture said weakened circumferential break line to thereby enable removal of said disc from said mounting collar.