The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for sealing and/or curing a leakage at a remote site in a pipe, the system including a multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs of a deformable material including pores, at least one sealant composition disposed in the pores; and a carrier liquid composition adapted to transport the multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs to a site of the leakage, wherein at least some of the multiplicity of polymeric carrier plugs polymeric carrier plugs are adapted to transport the at least one sealant composition from a first site in the carrier liquid composition to a remote site and to seal the leakage at the remote site.

The disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus for use in connecting to a pipe wherein the pipe defines an inside radius, having: a body of the gripping apparatus; a wedge cone mounted on the body; at least one discrete gripping device slidably engaged with the wedge cone; and an actuation-retraction mechanism configured to actuate the at least one discrete gripping device. The actuation-retraction mechanism of the gripping apparatus may be a collective actuation-retraction mechanism in an exemplary embodiment. In further disclosed alternative exemplary embodiments, the actuation-retraction mechanism of the gripping apparatus may be a plurality of individual actuation-retraction mechanisms.

A mechanical lock unit with a shaft lock assembly and method of achieving a self-lock mode for, e.g., hydraulically activated isolation plug module. The shaft lock assembly includes a teeth-form ring that surrounds a shaft. The teeth-form ring defines a plurality of teeth. A teeth-form split gripper assembly is positioned to surround the teeth-form ring. The teeth-form split gripper assembly has at least a first teeth-form split gripper and a second teeth-form split gripper with a spring therebetween for biasing the first teeth-form split gripper away from said second teeth-form split gripper. The first teeth-form split gripper and the second teeth form split gripper having an inner surface that defines a plurality of teeth for cooperative engagement with the plurality of teeth of the teeth-form ring.

A gripper assembly for a pipeline plug includes an actuator plate that includes at least two actuator wedges, a bowl that includes at least two bowl wedges, circumferential wedge sets, and gripper units. Each circumferential wedge set and gripper unit is positioned between the actuator plate and the bowl. Each circumferential wedge set includes a first circumferential wedge and a second circumferential wedge. Each circumferential wedge set is positioned such that an actuator wedge and a bowl wedge engage between the first and second circumferential wedges. Each gripper unit includes a gripper body positioned between and abutting a first circumferential wedge of a first circumferential wedge set and a second circumferential wedge of a second circumferential wedge set. Linear compression between the actuator plate and bowl causes circumferential movement of the circumferential wedges, which in turn causes radial expansion of the gripper units.

The disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus, for use in connecting to a pipe wherein the pipe defines an inside radius, the apparatus having at least one discrete gripping device mounted on a body, wherein the body is a wedge cone; an outer surface on each of the at least one discrete gripping device, wherein the outer surface has a transition surface defined by a means for reducing any sharp transition point; a coating on the outer surface; a collective actuation-retraction mechanism connected to the wedge cone and to each of the at least one discrete gripping device; and a collective extension-retractable mechanism connected to each of at least one discrete gripping device. The disclosure further relates to an alternative exemplary embodiment wherein the gripping apparatus further includes a spring, wherein the spring pre-biases each of the at least one discrete gripping device beyond the inside radius of the pipe to instantly grip the inside radius.

A foreign material exclusion device that is adapted to seal an area of a construction, such as a tube or pipe or other cavity, from foreign material or debris temporarily, wherein the device includes a cylindrical plug that has a plurality of resilient bodies for holding the device within a particular construction. The bodies are substantially planar, and semicylindrical in shape wherein two bodies are utilized. A flexible cover includes a first pouch which contains a first body therein and desirably a second pouch of the cover contains a second body therein, with the cover having a hinge between said first and second pouches. When the device is not in use, the bodies can be folded against one another in a closed position until they are inserted into a tube or pipe whereupon they can be opened to an open position and generally form a disk having a snug, fitted connection with a wall of the tube or pipe.

An pneumatic plug for sealing a pipeline. The pneumatic plug includes a tubular member that extends in an axial direction from a first end to a second end. The tubular member includes a rubber layer and an elastomeric band. The rubber layer extends from the first end to the second end of the tubular member. The elastomeric band is disposed on a top of the rubber layer. The elastomeric band is positioned between the first end and the second end of the tubular member.

A bi-directional pipeline tool has a body or location in a pipe. A seal element is mounted on the body, the seal element having oppositely directed seal portions with a first seal portion directed towards a first side of the body and a second seal portion directed towards a second side of the body. A valve is provided in the body, the valve having a first port for communicating with fluid on the first side, a second port for communicating with fluid on the second side, and a third port for providing access to a chamber between the seal element and the body. In use, a pressure differential is developed across the tool between fluid upstream of the tool and fluid downstream of the tool. The valve permitting activation of the downstream seal portion, whichever of the portions is the downstream seal portion, by the upstream fluid pressure.

A mechanical lock unit with a shaft lock assembly and method of achieving a self-lock mode for, e.g., hydraulically activated isolation plug module. The shaft lock assembly includes a teeth-form ring that surrounds a shaft. The teeth-form ring defines a plurality of teeth. A teeth-form split gripper assembly is positioned to surround the teeth-form ring. The teeth-form split gripper assembly has at least a first teeth-form split gripper and a second teeth-form split gripper with a spring therebetween for biasing the first teeth-form split gripper away from said second teeth-form split gripper. The first teeth-form split gripper and the second teeth form split gripper having an inner surface that defines a plurality of teeth for cooperative engagement with the plurality of teeth of the teeth-form ring.

The disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus, for use in connecting to a pipe wherein the pipe defines an inside radius, the apparatus having at least one discrete gripping device mounted on a body, wherein the body is a wedge cone; an outer surface on each of the at least one discrete gripping device, wherein the outer surface has a transition surface defined by a means for reducing any sharp transition point; a collective actuation-retraction mechanism connected to the wedge cone and to each of the at least one discrete gripping device; and a collective extension-retractable mechanism connected to each of at least one discrete gripping device. The disclosure further relates to an alternative exemplary embodiment wherein the gripping apparatus further includes a spring, wherein the spring pre-biases each of the at least one discrete gripping device beyond the inside radius of the pipe to instantly grip the inside radius.