Pipe repair system

Claim 2

A fixture for installing a fitting below the surface of a liquid on a pipe intermediate its ends, wherein said fitting includes two separable members adapted to encircle a pipe comprising a frame assembly including spaced guide means adapted to engage a pipe at spaced locations and locate said frame in a predetermined position with respect to a pipe, and oppositely disposed mounting means on said frame assembly operable to support each of said members in a retracted position in which said separable members are clear of a pipe, said mounting means being operable to move said separable members to an installation position encircling such pipe and hold said separable members in said installation position while said frame is in said predetermined position.

Claim 3

A fixture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means is operable to move said separable members together in opposite directions along a line passing through the axis of such pipe to said installation position and said spaced guide means prevents movement of said frame assembly in either of said opposite directions.

Claim 4

A fixture as set forth in claim 2, wherein said fixture includes spaced end walls, said spaced guide meAns includes an elongated recess in each of said end walls adapted to be positioned over a pipe, said recess having its long dimension extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said separable members and its short dimension substantially equal to the diameter of such pipe.

Claim 5

A fixture as set forth in claim 3, wherein said spaced guide means includes a flexible translation member secured to said frame assembly and a flexible guide member secured to a pipe adjacent said predetermined position where said fitting is to be installed extending upwardly to the surface of said liquid and through a guideway provided by said frame.

Claim 6

A fixture as set forth in claim 4, wherein said spaced guide means includes a second flexible guide member secured to such pipe so that said predetermined position lies intermediate said flexible guide members, said second flexible guide member extending upwardly to the surface of said liquid and through a second guideway provided by said frame assembly.

Claim 7

A fixture as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first-mentioned guideway is located adjacent one of said axial end walls of said frame assembly and said second guideway is located adjacent the other axial end wall of said frame assembly.

Claim 8

A fixture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes a pair of oppositely disposed jacks on said frame assembly and operatively connected to said separable members to provide movement thereof towards and away from a pipe.

Claim 9

A fixture as set forth in claim 7, wherein said jacks are screw jacks operable to position and move the associated separable members.

Claim 10

A fixture as set forth in claim 7, wherein said jacks include hydraulic means, said hydraulic means providing oppositely disposed actuators, said actuators being operatively connected to said separable members to provide movement thereof towards a pipe.

Claim 11

A fixture as set forth in claim 7, wherein said mounting means includes alignment means for radial and axial alignment of said separable members.

Claim 12

A fixture as set forth in claim 10, wherein said alignment means includes guide pins radially extending from a pair of mounting bars separately connected to each of said separable members and mating alignment sleeves fixed to said frame assembly adapted to receive said guide pins in a sliding relationship.

Claim 13

A fixture as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fitting includes a split coupling comprising a pair of semicylindrical members and means to join said members into a single cylindrical unit to encircle such pipe, each of said members including a body portion having a pipe gripping portion adjacent each end thereof to embrace such pipe and an intermediate body portion having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of such pipe, gasket means surrounding said intermediate body portion coacting with said members and such pipe to define a sealed portion therebetween, said gasket means including resilient, rubberlike gasket members positioned in gasket grooves in each of said members and radially extending therefrom to form said sealed portion, flexible girdering means secured to each of said members adjacent said gasket members and overhanging said gasket members, and pipe gripping means adjacent the interior surface of said pipe gripping portion, said pipe gripping means mechanically engaging the adjacent surfaces of said members and such pipe when said members are joined into a single unit.

Claim 14

A fixture as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible girdering means comprises a first portion secured to each of said members axially outwardly from said sealed portion and a second portion bent radially inward overhanging each of said gasket members, said second portion extending only partially across said gasket members towards said sealed portion and constructed to be bendable radially outward by engagement with the outside surface of such pipe when said members are joined into a single unit.

Claim 15

A fixture as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first portion of said flexible girdering means is secured to said intermediate body portion so as to lie radially outward from said interior surface of said pipe gripping portion and thereby provide clearance for such pipe when said members are joined into a single unit.

Claim 16

A fixture as set forth in claim 14, wherein said pipe gripping means includes a plurality of particles having a hardness substantially greater than the hardness of the adjacent surfaces of said members and such pipe, said particles retained adjacent the interior surface of said pipe gripping portion by an adhesive and forming a layer of substantially uniform thickness, and said particles being embedded in the adjacent surfaces when said members are joined into a single unit.

Claim 19

A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said mounting means moves said separable members together in opposite directions along a line passing through the axis of such pipe to said installation position and said spaced guide means prevents movement of said frame assembly in said opposite directions.

Claim 20

A method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said flexible guide member is maintained under sufficient tension after said frame assembly has been positioned on such pipe to provide cooperation between said flexible member and said guideway to resist rotational movement of said frame assembly about such pipe.

Claim 21

A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said frame assembly and said flexible guide member are disconnected from said separable members and such pipe, respectively, after said separable members have been joined into a single unit.