US 11,781,934 B2
Pipe pressure testing method and apparatus
Dennis L. Hart, Incline Village, NV (US); Cristobal Gonzalez, Chula, CA (US); Virgil E. O'Neil, San Diego, CA (US); Jeffrey A. Jaramillo, Poway, CA (US); and Larry D. Brown, Poway, CA (US)
Assigned to RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/937,506.
Application 14/517,520 is a division of application No. 13/482,557, filed on May 29, 2012, granted, now 8,887,768, issued on Nov. 18, 2014.
Application 13/482,557 is a division of application No. 12/542,371, filed on Aug. 17, 2009, granted, now 8,210,029, issued on Jul. 3, 2012.
Application 17/937,506 is a continuation of application No. 16/863,570, filed on Apr. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,493,399.
Application 16/863,570 is a continuation of application No. 15/234,958, filed on Aug. 11, 2016, granted, now 10,656,042, issued on May 19, 2020.
Application 15/234,958 is a continuation of application No. 14/517,520, filed on Oct. 17, 2014, granted, now 9,964,461, issued on May 8, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/089,360, filed on Aug. 15, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2023/0021939 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16L 55/10 (2006.01); G01M 3/02 (2006.01); G01M 3/28 (2006.01); F16L 15/04 (2006.01); G01M 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/022 (2013.01) [F16L 15/04 (2013.01); G01M 3/04 (2013.01); G01M 3/2815 (2013.01); G01M 3/2853 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A removable pressure testing device for use in testing the pressure in a pipe line having an interior diameter and having a fitting with a flow path through the fitting along a longitudinal axis of the flow path, the fitting having a port and a recess encircling a portion of the flow path opposite the port and into which the testing device is inserted to block fluid flow through the fitting for testing, the pressure testing device sized to removably fit through the port during use, the pressure testing device comprising:
two oppositely inclined first and second fitting walls each having faces, one face being an upstream face and the other a downstream face, the faces configured to form a fluid tight seal with the recess in the fitting during use;
a first opening defined in the first fitting wall, the first fitting wall having the upstream face, the first opening being located to be placed within the flow path through the fitting when the pressure testing device blocks flow through the fitting;
a second opening defined in the second fitting wall, the second fitting wall having the downstream face, the second opening being located to be placed within the flow path through the fitting when the pressure testing device blocks flow through the fitting;
a first fluid passage placing the first and second openings in fluid communication; and
a valve assembly having a manually actuatable valve in fluid communication through a second fluid passage in the pressure testing device, the valve having a fluid outlet that is accessible externally of the pressure testing device and having a first closed position blocking flow through the fluid outlet and further having a second open position allowing fluid flow through the first opening.