Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature

Abstract

An Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature providing sealing in the annulus between a Ball inside a Pipe, with minimal pressure applied to inflate the inflatable seal, by using a retractable load bearing construct to hold the ball in place against the high-pressure forces in the pipe.

Claims

1. An Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature for sealing against high pressures flows requiring seal inflation pressures lower than pressure of the high-pressure flow, and comprising: a) A hollow seal section D. b) A mass E projecting from the surface of the inflatable seal for the purpose of load bearing. c) A port to allow compressed fluid to enter and exhaust from the inflatable seal. d) A retaining profile A to hold the inflatable seal in place and provide a seat F for the projecting mass E when the seal is inflated.

2. The Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature of claim 1 that works in the annulus created between a ball C and A.

3. The Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature of claim 1 in which C can vary in profile, and be hollow or solid.

4. The Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature of claim 1 that allows unobstructed passage of C and the fluid in A when the seal is uninflated.

5. The Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature of claim 1 that holds C in place and seals to prevent fluid flow in the annulus between C and A when the inflatable seal is inflated.

6. The Inflatable Seal System with Retractable Load Bearing Feature of claim 1 in which the projecting mass E of the inflatable seal takes most of the load to hold C in place against the fluid pressure in A.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 gives a cut-away 3-D view of the working components of the invention utilizing a spherical ball in a pipe.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a sectional detail of the Inflatable Seal System in the uninflated position for the spherical ball in a pipe.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows a sectional detail of the Inflatable Seal System in the inflated position for the spherical ball in a pipe.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a sectional detail of the Inflatable Seal System in the inflated position using a cylindrical ball in a pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This invention enables an inflatable seal to maintain a seal in the annulus between a ball inside a pipe, utilizing a retractable load bearing element, called a Load Support, to bear most of the load due to the fluid pressure inside the pipe. The fluid used to expand he inflatable seal consequently does not need a high pressure to hold the ball in place, offering benefits of energy saving, reliability and simplicity.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an overview of the components of the invention. A is the Pipe with a profile to firmly retain the Inflatable Seal D. C is the Ball that forms an annulus with the A. Illustrated in this configuration, C is spherical in shape. B shows the direction of the fluid flowing in the Pipe.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the cross section of the system shown in FIG. 1 with the Seal in the uninflated state D1. The Seal has a hollow cavity into which fluid under pressure is introduced to expand the Seal. Not shown is the port though which pressurize fluid is introduced to inflate the seal. When D is in the uninflated state, the Inflatable Seal offers no obstruction to the Ball moving in the Pipe, or fluid flowing in the Pipe. The detail shows a large block of material E, called the Load Support that projects from the surface of the seal. In the uninflated state, E is retracted and does not project into the inner diameter of the Pipe, or obstruct movement of the Ball.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cross section of the system shown in FIG. 1 with the Seal in the inflated state D2. Here E is pushed out into the cavity of the Pipe and sits on the relief F. E is shown here as circular, but its profile can be varied together with the profile of F to permit better seating. If required also, partial cuts into the cross-section of E can be made around the periphery, to permit flexibility when transitioning from the uninflated to the inflated state and vice versa. In the inflated state, E blocks movement of the Ball and withstands the forces trying to push the Ball through A due to pressure of the fluid flowing in direction B. The inflated Seal thus seals off the annulus with the bulk of the load on the seal taken by E being squeezed between C and F. The pressure of the fluid required to inflate the Seal need only be sufficient to inflate the Seal and does not contribute significantly to retaining the Ball in position.