CPC F16L 55/132 (2013.01) [F16K 7/20 (2013.01); F16L 55/13 (2013.01)] | 24 Claims |
1. A pipeline isolation tool [10] comprising:
at least one plugging head [20] including a seal [30] expandable between an unset and a set position;
a plurality of metal support segments [40] located on a side of the seal and moveable in a transverse direction radially outward and inward as the seal moves between the unset and set positions;
each metal support segment of the plurality including a seal-facing surface [41] including at least two inclined thrust surfaces [43A, 43B, 43C] and a concave-portion [45] containing one of the at least two inclined thrust surfaces, a portion [35] of the side of the seal residing within the concave portion when in the unset and set positions;
wherein in the unset position a portion [33] of the seal is covered by adjacent metal support segments of the plurality; and
wherein in the set position the portion of the seal is exposed between the adjacent metal support segments.
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