Conduit plug

Claim 2

An axially insertable and removable conduit plug having a radially movable sealing member for forming a fluid-tight seal against axial flow in a conduit, comprising in combination: a first plug member having a perimeter similar in shape to the conduit, said plug member having a peripheral rim, a hub portion having a flange-like section for supporting a sealing member and a bearing surface with a decreasing diameter gradient from said rim; a second plug member having a perimeter similar in shape to said first plug member and having a peripheral rim and a bearing surface with a decreasing diameter gradient from said rim; connecting means for coaxially coupling said first and second plug members for relative axial motion to increase and decrease the axial separation therebetween; and an annular sealing member, elongated in the axial direction, to fit between said rims to said fully separated first and second plug members, said sealing member having an exterior sealing surface and an interior seating surface supportably mounted on said flange-like section of said hub portion; said sealing member being displaced radially outwardly as a result of said plug members decreasing their axial separation.

Claim 3

The conduit plug of claim 1 wherein said first and second plug members are circular in shape and said sealing member is made of an elastomeric material capable of deforming under compressive forces.

Claim 4

The conduit plug of claim 1 further including safety latch means including radially extensible leg members adapted to be deployed into engagement with the conduit, coupled to said connecting means and operable in response to decreasing axial separation of said plug members to deploy into engagement with the conduit.

Claim 5

The conduit of claim 1 wherein said bearing surfaces are curved to provide said diameter gradient.

Claim 6

The conduit plug of claim 1 wherein said bearing surfaces are conical to provide said diameter gradient.

Claim 7

The conduit plug of claim 1 wherein said annular sealing member has at least one annular concavity on said sealing surface.

Claim 8

The conduit plug of claim 1, or claim 4, wherein said annular sealing member has at least one annular convexity on said seating surface.

Claim 9

The conduit plug of claim 5 wherein said annular sealing member has three annular convexities on said sealing surface in the form of annular ribs to provide a fluid tight seal under deformation and radial displacement of said sealing member.

Claim 10

A conduit plug having a radially movable sealing member for forming a fluid-tight seal against axial flow in a conduit including: a first plug member having a rim portion; a second plug member having a rim portion opposing said first plug member; said rim portions including a seating surface extending in the axial direction with a decreasing diameter gradient, at least one of said rim portions terminating in a flange-like cylindrical section, for applying both axial compressional and radial displacement forces to said sealing member with decreasing axial separation of said plug members; connecting means for coupling said plug members for relative axial motion; operating means in said connecting means for translating said plug members in the axial direction to increase and decrease the axial separation thereof; and an annular, elastomeric sealing member, axially elongated to fit between said first and second plug member rim portions supported by said flange-like section when said plug members are fully separated, said sealing member deforming outwardly in the radial direction upon compression by said plug member rim portions and radial displacement by said seating surfaces when the axial separation of said plug members is decreased.

Claim 11

A conduit plug having a radially movable sealing member for forming a fluid-tight seal against axial flow in a conduit including: a first plug member having a rim portion; a second plug member having a rim portion opposing said first plug member; said rim portions including a seating surface extending in the axial direction with a decreasing diameter gradient, at least one of said rim portions terminating in a flange-like cylindrical section, for applying both axial compressional and radial displacement forces to said sealing member with decreasing axial separation of said plug members; connecting means for coupling said plug members for relative axial motion; operating means in said connecting means for translating said plug members in the axial direction to increase and decrease the axial separation thereof; and an annular, elastomeric sealing member, axially elongated to fit between said first and second plug member rim portions supported by said flange-like section when said plug members are fully separated, said sealing member deforming outwardly in the radial direction upon compression by said plug member rim portions and radial displacement by said seating surfaces when the axial separation of said plug members is decreased.

Claim 12

The conduit plug of claim 9 wherein at least one of said plug members has a hub portion adjacent said rim portion for supporting said sealing member and for preventing deformation of said sealing member toward the center during decreasing axial separation of said plug members.

Claim 13

The conduit plug of claim 9 wherein said rim portion seating surfaces are curved to provide said diameter gradient.

Claim 14

The conduit plug of claim 9 wherein said rim portion seating surfaces are conical to provide said diameter gradient.

Claim 15

The conduit plug of claim 9 wherein said annular sealing member has at least one annular concavity on said sealing surface.

Claim 16

The conduit plug of claim 9, wherein said annular sealing member has at least one annular convexity on said seating surface.

Claim 17

The conduit plug of claim 9 wherein said annular sealing member has three annular convexities on said sealing surface in the form of annular ribs to provide a fluid tight seal under deformation and radial displacement of said sealing member.

Claim 18

The conduit plug of claim 9 further including safety latch means including radially extensible leg members adapted to be deployed into engagement with the conduit, coupled to said connecting means and operable in response to decreasing axial separation of said plug members to deploy into engagement with the conduit.

Claim 19

The conduit plug of claim 9 further including locking means in said operating means for retaining said plug members at decreased axial separation to maintain said sealing member in a deformed, sealing condition.