PIPE REPAIR KIT

摘要

A pipe repair kit (10), eg, for repairing leaks in fuel oil pipelines, especially welded flange joints (4) therein, comprises: (i) a segmented housing (12) for receiving the pipe or pipe joint (4) to be repaired, the housing (12) comprising a plurality of, especially three, articulated segments (12a, 12b, 12c) for placement around the pipe or pipe joint (4); (ii) securement means (40, 42, 44), eg. In the form of a flexible coupling such as a linking plate (40), for flexibly securing the articulated segments (12a, 12b, 12c) of the housing (12) together around the pipe or pipe joint (4) once they have been draped or placed therearound; and (iii) tensioning means (30) for surrounding the secured segmented housing (12) and clamping the segments (12a, 12b, 12c) thereof into clamping and sealing relationship with the pipe or pipe Joint (4). The tensioning means preferably comprise one or more tensioning elements (30), eg. single- or multi-strand metal wires, each of which is shortenable in situ and thus tightenable around the housing segments (12a, 12b, 12c), by means of a respective turn buckle (60, 62, 64) or similar-acting tightening device. Thus, as the segmented housing (12) is clamped into place around the pipe or pipe joint (4) by the tensioning (by operation of the turn buckles (60)) of the tensioning wires (30), each of the segments (12a, 12b, 12c) exerts its clamping force principally, or predominantly, generally substantially radially inwardly of the pipe or pipe joint (4), in the manner of a wedge.