This invention relates to a plugging machine and a rigid tube provided with a stationary disc integral with the bottom of the tube and oriented almost orthogonal to the tube, with a movable disc paired with the stationary disc. A sealing ring of a resilient material is located between the discs and compressed when the movable disc is pressed against the stationary disc to adhere to an inner surface of the pipeline. The sealing ring is coaxial with respect to the pipeline. The movement of the movable disc is determined by raising or lowering a control rod within the tube by means of sloping sliders made in the lower portion of the rod which engage in respective grooves, likewise sloping, made in an axial shank associated with the movable disc and sliding inside an axial opening of the stationary disc. A component of a force is generated which is parallel to the axis of the discs. The axis is raised or lowered by rotation of a threaded ring engaging in a threading mate at the top of the rod.

This invention relates to a plugging machine and a rigid tube provided with a stationary disc integral with the bottom of the tube and oriented almost orthogonal to the tube, with a movable disc paired with the stationary disc. A sealing ring of a resilient material is located between the discs and compressed when the movable disc is pressed against the stationary disc to adhere to an inner surface of the pipeline. The sealing ring is coaxial with respect to the pipeline. The movement of the movable disc is determined by raising or lowering a control rod within the tube by means of sloping sliders made in the lower portion of the rod which engage in respective grooves, likewise sloping, made in an axial shank associated with the movable disc and sliding inside an axial opening of the stationary disc. A component of a force is generated which is parallel to the axis of the discs. The axis is raised or lowered by rotation of a threaded ring engaging in a threading mate at the top of the rod.

The invention relates to a non-crosslinked natural rubber latex composition for an inflatable stopper comprising a homogeneous mixture of: a) natural rubber latex; b) a surfactant; c) an amine based chemical antiozonant; d) possibly ammonia and preferably e) single or double wall electrically conductive nanotubes. The invention furthermore relates to an ozone resistant inflatable stopper comprising non-crosslinked natural rubber latex and fiber reinforcement, the rubber having an ozone resistance according to ISO 1431/1 at 50 pphm concentration ozone at 232 C., for the time frame of 48 hours, atmospheric humidity of 55% and strain static exposure of 20% and preferably a surface resistivity lower than 100 G according to DIN EN 60079-32-2 and DVGW G 5621-3 (VP) measured at 1000 V and a maximum relative humidity of 30%.

An Adjustable Drainpipe Test Plug Device (hereinafter Device) includes a lever arm and a plug seal assembly coupled that lever arm. The plug seal assembly fully or partially mechanically seals the drainpipe when the Device is locked into one of a plurality of plugging positions through a drainpipe side opening. A positioning arm assembly is rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the lever arm to releasably engage the lever arm while a foot of the positioning arm releasably engages a bottom rim of the side opening, thereby locking the Device into plugging position. An adjustable extensible rod of the positioning arm assembly enables the foot to engage the side opening of pipes having different nominal wall thicknesses. The Device may include a through-hole passing from a front side of the plug seal assembly to a rear side, and may include a fluid fill hose sealably coupled to the through-hole.

An Adjustable Drainpipe Test Plug Device (hereinafter Device) includes a lever arm and a plug seal assembly coupled that lever arm. The plug seal assembly fully or partially mechanically seals the drainpipe when the Device is locked into one of a plurality of plugging positions through a drainpipe side opening. A positioning arm assembly is rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the lever arm to releasably engage the lever arm while a foot of the positioning arm releasably engages a bottom rim of the side opening, thereby locking the Device into plugging position. An adjustable extensible rod of the positioning arm assembly enables the foot to engage the side opening of pipes having different nominal wall thicknesses. The Device may include a through-hole passing from a front side of the plug seal assembly to a rear side, and may include a fluid fill hose sealably coupled to the through-hole.

The invention relates to a non-crosslinked natural rubber latex composition for an inflatable stopper comprising a homogeneous mixture of: a) natural rubber latex; b) a surfactant; c) an amine based chemical antiozonant; d) possibly ammonia and preferably e) single or double wall electrically conductive nanotubes. The invention furthermore relates to an ozone resistant inflatable stopper comprising non-crosslinked natural rubber latex and fiber reinforcement, the rubber having an ozone resistance according to ISO 1431/1 at 50 pphm concentration ozone at 232 C., for the time frame of 48 hours, atmospheric humidity of 55% and strain static exposure of 20% and preferably a surface resistivity lower than 100 G according to DIN EN 60079-32-2 and DVGW G 5621-3 (VP) measured at 1000 V and a maximum relative humidity of 30%.

A gate valve for a pressurized pipe includes a paddle member with a lower proximal portion and a pair of spaced-apart and leg portions that form an outer edge and an inner edge. A cartridge includes a valve stem channel extending through a distal portion and through a conduit and terminating at a proximal opening in a proximal portion of the cartridge. The proximal portion of the cartridge includes a slot for accommodating the inner edge of the paddle member. In a pre-compression configuration, the inner edge of the paddle member is spaced-apart from the proximal opening of the conduit and in a post-compression configuration, the inner edge of the paddle member engages and seals the proximal opening resulting in a built-in check-valve that is open when the paddle member is in the pre-compression configuration and closed when the paddle member is in the post-compression configuration.

A gate valve for a pressurized pipe includes a paddle member with a lower proximal portion and a pair of spaced-apart and leg portions that form an outer edge and an inner edge. A cartridge includes a valve stem channel extending through a distal portion and through a conduit and terminating at a proximal opening in a proximal portion of the cartridge. The proximal portion of the cartridge includes a slot for accommodating the inner edge of the paddle member. In a pre-compression configuration, the inner edge of the paddle member is spaced-apart from the proximal opening of the conduit and in a post-compression configuration, the inner edge of the paddle member engages and seals the proximal opening resulting in a built-in check-valve that is open when the paddle member is in the pre-compression configuration and closed when the paddle member is in the post-compression configuration.

An apparatus includes a telescopic double tubular member accommodated in an outer case that is mounted so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of a water pipe, and placed between a pair of cut faces. The double tubular member includes an anti-corrosion member that faces the pair of cut faces and a core member, and is configured such that the anti-corrosion member is radially expanded by the core member, so as to be pressed against the pair of cut faces. The anti-corrosion member has a through hole that communicates with the water pipe, and a flange positioned above the through hole and extending radially outward. The flange has an abutment surface that abuts an outer circumferential surface of the water pipe, and this abutment surface is curved along the outer circumferential surface of the water pipe.

An in situ launch system for an underground gas main stop-off station includes: an outer launch tube having a distal lower end and a proximal upper end; a transition fitting having a proximal end fitted to the distal end of the outer launch tube with a gas tight seal, and a distal end; the distal end of the transition fitting having external threads having a first nominal dimension, and internal threads having a second nominal dimension; and a completion plug threaded into the internal threads of the transition fitting.