| 摘要 |
<p>A body having a longitudinal opening therethrough is provided with longitudinally spaced, Annular seal means. The body is provided with passage means for conducting fluid to move the seal means radially of the body opening to seal against tubular members in the body opening. The tubular members are connected together by suitable means such as a coupling, weld, or other arrangement prior to positioning the connection between the seal means and after the seal means has sealed off the connection therebetween, the body includes additional passage means for conducting fluid pressure to increase the fluid pressure externally of the connection to a pressure significantly greater than the internal pressure to externally test the connection by instrumentally or visually detecting any resultant inflow of the pressurized external fluid. Where the method of the present invention is employed for leak testing a thread-connected, multiple seal pipe joint having at least one internal and at least one external sealing arrangement, the connection between the tubular members may be only partially made up to a predetermined condition at which a primary or initial internal seal is established in the connection without engaging the external seal. After the joint has been externally tested in this condition, the test seals may be withdrawn from the tubular member and the connection completed to full make-up torque, and the joint again externally sealed and fluid pressure applied to externally test the connection. In one embodiment the body of the present invention is provided with additional annular seal means intermediate said first and second spaced seal means and additional passage means is provided for communicating fluid to move said additional annular seal means radially into engagement with the connection to isolate each end thereof. The body includes still additional passage means for communicating with the connection and isolated connection end on each side of the additional annular seal means whereby each end of the connection may be separately externally tested by fluid pressure for leaks by detecting any resultant inflow of the pressurized external fluid at either connection end. In another embodiment the arrangement may be employed to test tubular members at a mill for quality control, or tested on location prior to use. The annular seal means preferably includes an elastomer body and back up means carried thereby to aid in inhibiting extrusion of the elastomer when fluid pressure is applied to the chamber between the seals to externally test the connection.</p> |
