US 12,222,059 B2
Isolation tool and methods of isolating a section of pipe or a vessel
David Naber, Red Deer (CA); Amanjeet Dhaliwal, Edmonton (CA); and Alexander Skiba, Edmonton (CA)
Assigned to ENREACH HOT TAP SERVICES INC., Red Deer (CA)
Filed by ENREACH HOT TAP SERVICES INC., Red Deer (CA)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/115,734.
Application 18/115,734 is a continuation of application No. 17/832,526, filed on Jun. 3, 2022, granted, now 11,619,335.
Application 17/832,526 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CA2021/051587, filed on Nov. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/111,262, filed on Nov. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0213133 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 55/124 (2006.01); F16L 55/105 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/124 (2013.01) [F16L 55/105 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An isolation tool for isolating a section of a pipe or a vessel, the isolation tool comprising:
a head unit configured for location in a section of a pipe or a vessel, the head unit comprising:
one or more grooves around a circumference of the head unit, each of the one or more grooves comprising a first end within the head unit, a second end open to the exterior of the head unit, and a curvature therebetween, the curvature being a bend formed by opposing and complementarily oriented walls of the groove, with one of the walls having a larger radius of curvature than the other to form the bend; and
a circumferential seal element disposed within each of the one or more grooves and spanning at least a portion of the curvature;
wherein the circumferential seal element is configured within the groove such that a force at or near the first end of the groove imparts radial expansion of the circumferential seal element at the second end of the groove via the curvature in the groove, and
wherein the circumferential seal element is slidably moved along or pushed through the curvature by the force to impart the radial expansion.