US 12,228,155 B2
Sealing plug
Carl Hersant, Letchworth Garden City (GB)
Assigned to Avdel UK Limited, Sheffield (GB)
Filed by AVDEL UK LIMITED, Sheffield (GB)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/655,639.
Application 17/655,639 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/072908, filed on Aug. 14, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1916187 (GB), filed on Nov. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0213916 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 55/132 (2006.01); F16B 19/10 (2006.01); F16J 15/06 (2006.01); F16L 55/11 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 19/1054 (2013.01) [F16J 15/062 (2013.01); F16L 55/1108 (2013.01); F16L 55/132 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sealing plug for blind installation within a hole in a workpiece, thereby to plug and seal the hole, the sealing plug that includes a stem having a distal stem head where the stem head is disposed within the hole in order to seal against passage of fluid through the hole from one side of the plug to the other, the sealing plug comprising:
a generally cylindrical hollow sleeve defining a first axis (A-A) and having a given outer diameter;
the stem including a proximal cylindrical projection, the stem central portion located between the proximal cylindrical projection and the distal head, the stem head having an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the central portion, and wherein the outer diameter of the central portion is greater than the outer diameter of the stem proximal cylindrical projection, and wherein the stem defines a second axis (B-B);
the stem head having an annular shoulder adjacent the stem central portion, which annular shoulder is inclined at an acute angle (a) relative to a radius to the second axis (B-B);
the stem head being formed of a material which is harder than the material of the sleeve;
an inner shoulder disposed between the stem and the stem head;
the stem central portion, when within the sleeve, is arranged to be held therewithin by frictional engagement between an outer part of the stem central portion and an inner part of the sleeve such that the first and second axes are co-axial;
wherein the outer diameter of the stem central portion tapers in the direction from the stem proximal cylindrical projection to the stem head, with respect to the axis of the stem, to a minimum central portion diameter at the point where the stem central portion meets the shoulder.