DESC:“A method for closing branch section of pipes for hydro

testing without dummy welding using unique flap disc

fitted with studs and nuts”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of closing branch section of

pipes while carrying out hydro test.

This invention is in particular directed to a method for closing

branch section of pipes for hydro testing without dummy welding using unique flap disc fitted with studs and nuts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

The piping products contain pipe with welded branches which need hydro testing for conforming to approved Quality plan. The hydro testing is carried out by subjecting the piping attachments/ branches to test pressure. Conventional method is to weld a plate to close the branch section which is later
removed by cutting operation. This requires extra length of

branch pipe which has to be cut off after hydro test. Also, the welding and cutting operations consume significant time and resources. This leads to less productivity and more resource requirement for doing hydro test on branch pipes.

In order to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks, a novel method

to close branch section has been developed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore an object of present invention to propose a method for closing branch section of pipes for hydro testing without dummy welding using unique flap disc fitted with studs and
nuts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for closing branch section of pipes for hydro testing without dummy welding, which overcomes drawbacks of the prior arts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for closing branch section of pipes for hydro testing without dummy welding, which serves the purpose efficiently.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus/composition and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.

According to the invention, there is provided an arrangement for closing branch sections of pipe for hydro testing without welding dummy plates at end of branch pipe, comprising:

a grooved dummy plate (101) with bolts/ studs arrangement,
a curved plate (104) with welded nuts, wherein
groove in the dummy plate is sized that the branch section of pipe gets inserted in the dummy plate (101) and the dummy plate has an air vent (102) to remove air while filing water and is closed while performing hydro test.

Studs (103) are fixed with the grooved plate (101) in a leak proof manner by using rubber seal and the studs (103) on the other end are fixed to a flap disc which is a curved plate (104) whose radius matches with main pipe Internal Diameter.

The size of curved plate is bigger than the branch pipe Internal Diameter that the flap disc is held at branch section and is used to tighten the dummy grooved plate (101).

The flap disc contains holes (105) to allow water inside branch portion while carrying out hydro test.

The PTFE gland is placed inside the groove which provides a water tight seal.

The dummy grooved plate (101) has holes through which studs/ bolts (103) are inserted inside the branch pipe, in which the studs/ bolts enter the nuts which are welded to the curved plate (104).

The Rubber seal/ gasket is placed between the bolt heads and grooved dummy plate (101) which arrests water leakage from bolt head area during hydro test.

The curved plate (104) is fabricated that its surface profile matches with main pipe Internal Diameter curved surface.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:-

Figure 1 shows: complete arrangement of grooved dummy plate along with curved plate according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows: assembly of grooved dummy plate and branch pipe in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 shows: Test Result of the present invention.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WITH REFRENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The present invention makes a disclosure regarding a technology pertaining to a method for closing branch section of pipes for hydro testing without dummy welding using unique flap disc fitted with studs and nuts.

Accordingly, a dummy grooved plate (101) has been developed for closing branch section of pipe. The groove in dummy plate is sized such that the branch section of pipe gets inserted in the dummy plate. The size of the groove varies with respect to branch pipe thickness. The dummy plate has an air vent (102) which is used to remove air while filing water and is later closed while performing hydro test. The studs (103) are fixed with grooved plate in a leak proof manner by using rubber seal. The studs (103) on the other end are fixed to a flap disc which is a curved plate (104) whose radius matches with main pipe ID. The size of curved plate is bigger than the branch pipe ID so that the flap disc is held at branch section and is used to tighten the dummy grooved plate (101). The flap disc contains holes (105) to allow water inside branch portion while carrying out hydro test.

Thus, this method employs a dummy grooved plate (101) which is fixed on branch section. The sealing is achieved by using fasteners (studs and nuts) and a curved plate whose curvature matches the main pipe ID. Length of the studs (103) will vary based on length of branch. PTFE gland is placed inside groove which provides a water tight seal. The sealing is achieved by using fasteners and a curved plate (104) whose curvature matches the main pipe.

The invention comprises of dummy grooved plate (1) fitted with PTFE gland rope inside groove. The size (Nominal Diameter & Thickness) of the groove is such that the branch pipe gets freely inserted inside dummy grooved plate (101). The dummy grooved plate has holes through which studs/ bolts (103) are inserted inside the branch pipe. The studs/ bolts enter the nuts which are welded to a curved plate. The studs/ bolts are suitably long enough to pass through the dummy grooved plate, branch pipe length and curved plate with welded nuts. Fastening of studs/ bolts thus presses the dummy grooved plate on to the branch pipe. PTFE gland rope inside grooves provides water tight sealing. Rubber seal/ gasket is placed between bolt heads and grooved dummy plate which arrests water leakage from bolt head area during hydro test. The curved plate has holes which allows flow of water inside the branch pipe during hydro test. The curved plate is fabricated such that its surface profile matches with main pipe ID curved surface. This ensures higher contact area between curved plate and main pipe. This also ensures better tightening of bolts and thereby better holding of grooved dummy plate while hydro testing.

ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION
-Ensures higher contact area between
- curved plate and main pipe;
- Ensures better tightening of bolts and thereby better holding of grooved dummy plate while hydro testing.
- Ensures completion of hydro test without dummy flange welding

WORKING OF INVENTION

The branch pipe is closed as mentioned using this invention. The hydro test is carried out after closing the main pipe and filling with water. The water is then pressurized to required hydro test pressure and held till required duration of hydro test. After completing hydro test, the grooved dummy plate is removed by loosening the bolts. The arrangement can be quickly utilized to conduct hydro test in next pipe with branch as there is no weld joint.

TEST RESULT

The hydro test was successfully completed in the following pipes with branch:
S.no Main Pipe Size
(ODxThickness) Branch Pipe Size (ODxThickness) Hydro test pressure Holding time
01 OD630x12mm OD219 x 12mm 15 kg/cm^2 10min
02 OD630x12mm OD406.4x 12mm 15 kg/cm^2 10min

Now, reference may be made to the Figure 3, from which it can be observed that in old method, the Average time taken for completing one hydro test is 765 min. whereas, in the new method of invention, the average time taken is 46min. This results in saving of more than 90% time for each Hydro test cycle.

Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particulars claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogues to “at least one of A, B and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.

The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. An arrangement for closing branch sections of pipe for hydro testing without welding dummy plates at end of branch pipe, comprising:

a grooved dummy plate (101) with bolts/ studs arrangement,
a curved plate (104) with welded nuts, wherein
groove in the dummy plate is sized that the branch section of pipe gets inserted in the dummy plate (101) and
the dummy plate has an air vent (102) to remove air while filing water and is closed while performing hydro test.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein studs (103) are fixed with the grooved plate (101) in a leak proof manner by using rubber seal and the studs (103) on the other end are fixed to a flap disc which is a curved plate (104) whose radius matches with main pipe Internal Diameter.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the size of curved plate is bigger than the branch pipe Internal Diameter that the flap disc is held at branch section and is used to tighten the dummy grooved plate (101).

4. The arrangement as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the flap disc contains holes (105) to allow water inside branch portion while carrying out hydro test.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the PTFE gland is placed inside the groove which provides a water tight seal.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claims 1-5, wherein the dummy grooved plate (101) has holes through which studs/ bolts (103) are inserted inside the branch pipe, in which the studs/ bolts enter the nuts which are welded to the curved plate (104).

7. The arrangement as claimed in claims 1-6, wherein the Rubber seal/ gasket is placed between the bolt heads and grooved dummy plate (101) which arrests water leakage from bolt head area during hydro test.

8. The arrangement as claimed in claims 1-7, wherein the curved plate (104) is fabricated that its surface profile matches with main pipe Internal Diameter curved surface.