US 11,703,131 B2
Pipe stopper assembly
James Webber, Decatur, IL (US); and Mohammad Unnus Qasim, Decatur, IL (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/986,584.
Application 17/986,584 is a division of application No. 17/404,310, filed on Aug. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,525,518.
Prior Publication US 2023/0073873 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 3/24 (2006.01); F16K 31/52 (2006.01); F16K 3/314 (2006.01); F16L 55/105 (2006.01); F16L 55/124 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 3/246 (2013.01) [F16K 3/314 (2013.01); F16K 31/523 (2013.01); F16L 55/105 (2013.01); F16L 55/124 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pipe stopper assembly comprising:
a stopper fitting defining a fitting channel, the stopper fitting configured to be mounted to a pipeline; and
a pipe stopper positioned in the fitting channel and comprising an expandable stopper body and a pressure assembly, the expandable stopper body configurable in an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration, the pressure assembly configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;
wherein, in the open configuration, the expandable stopper body is biased to the expanded configuration, and in the closed configuration, the expandable stopper body is biased to the contracted configuration; and
wherein, in the expanded configuration, fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fitting channel, and in the contracted configuration, fluid is permitted to flow through the fitting channel; and
the pressure assembly comprises a pressure housing defining a housing cavity;
the housing cavity defines an upper portion and a lower portion sealed off from the upper portion; in the open configuration, the upper portion is in fluid communication with an atmosphere external to the pipe stopper assembly;
in the closed configuration, the upper portion is sealed off from the atmosphere; and
the lower portion is in fluid communication with the fitting channel.