1. An inflatable plug assembly for plugging a pipe, the inflatable plug assembly comprising:
a first inflatable plug;
a second inflatable plug;
a first mount coupled to the first inflatable plug, the first mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the first inflatable plug; and
a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug, the second mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug;
wherein the first mount and the second mount are insertable into the pipe with the first inflatable plug and the second inflatable plug so that the first and second mounts are received within an inner periphery of the pipe.
2. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable plug, the second inflatable plug, the first mount, and the second mount are insertable into the pipe as a single unit.
3. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 2, wherein the first mount and the second mount are secured together.
4. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 3, wherein the first mount and the second mount are bolted together.
5. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 1, wherein each mount includes a first flange plate and a second flange plate, wherein the first flange plate is positioned outside of the corresponding inflatable plug, and wherein the second flange plate is positioned substantially within the corresponding inflatable plug.
6. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 5, wherein a portion of each inflatable plug is captured between the corresponding first and second flange plates.
7. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable plug and the second inflatable plug are independently inflatable.
8. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 7, wherein the first mount defines a first flow path to direct fluid to the first inflatable plug, wherein the second mount defines a second flow path to direct fluid to the second inflatable plug, and wherein the first flow path is discrete from the second flow path.
9. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 1, wherein each mount includes a first side and a second side, wherein the first sides of the first and second mounts face each other, and wherein the first inflatable plug is coupled to the second side of the first mount and the second inflatable plug is coupled to the second side of the second mount.
10. A system for plugging a pipe, the system comprising:
an inflatable plug assembly including
a first inflatable plug,
a second inflatable plug,
a first mount coupled to the first inflatable plug, the first mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the first inflatable plug, and
a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug, the second mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug; and
an inflation ram coupled to the first mount and the second mount, the inflation ram operable to push the inflatable plug assembly into the pipe as a single unit.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the inflatable plug assembly further includes a centering guide having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the inflation ram is coupled to the first surface of the centering guide, and wherein the first and second mounts are coupled to the second surface of the centering guide.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the centering guide has an outer surface extending generally perpendicularly between the first and second surfaces, wherein the outer surface defines a periphery of the centering guide, and wherein the first and second inflatable plugs generally fit within the periphery of the centering guide when deflated.
13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a hot tap sleeve configured to couple to the pipe to allow access into the pipe, wherein the inflation ram is insertable through the hot tap sleeve to push the inflatable plug assembly into the pipe.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first mount defines a first flow path to direct fluid to the first inflatable plug, wherein the second mount defines a second flow path to direct fluid to the second inflatable plug, and wherein the first flow path is discrete from the second flow path.
15. An inflatable plug assembly for plugging a pipe, the pipe having a hot tap sleeve extending therefrom, the inflatable plug assembly comprising:
an inflatable plug;
a mount coupled to the inflatable plug, the mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the inflatable plug; and
a centering guide coupled to the mount and configured to be positioned within the hot tap sleeve, the centering guide movable within the hot tap sleeve to direct the inflatable plug through the hot tap sleeve and into the pipe.
16. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 15, wherein the centering guide has an outer surface that defines a periphery of the centering guide, wherein the mount is positioned within the periphery of the centering guide, and wherein the inflatable plug generally fits within the periphery of the centering guide when deflated.
17. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 15, wherein the inflatable plug is a first inflatable plug and the mount is a first mount, and further comprising:
a second inflatable plug, and
a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug, the second mount configured to direct fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug;
wherein the centering guide is coupled to the second mount to direct the second inflatable plug through the hot tap sleeve and into the pipe.
18. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 15, wherein the centering guide includes a plurality of bolts, and wherein the plurality of bolts is configured to secure the centering guide to an inflation ram.
19. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 15, wherein the centering guide includes a conduit, and wherein the conduit communicates with the mount to deliver fluid to the mount.
20. The inflatable plug assembly of claim 15, wherein the mount is bolted to the centering guide.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of operating an automatic clutch apparatus to reduce impact of a clutch apparatus, the clutch apparatus being placed in a drive train between a drive machine and a transmission, the clutch apparatus being engaged by a closing force and is disengaged by a piston-cylinder combination when pressure is applied thereto, valve units with actuation members facilitate supplying pressurized fluid to the piston-cylinder combination and facilitate de-aeration thereof, at least one sensor determines at least one operational condition of the clutch apparatus and sends at least one signal representative of the at least one operational condition to an electronic control unit for adjustment of a respective actuator member of the valve units such that an adjusted movement of the clutch apparatus is available, the method comprising the steps of:
determining on a continuous basis, by the at least one sensor, an actual engagement position and an actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus toward impact;
generating the at least one signal by the at least one sensor and sending the at least one signal to the electronic control unit;
comparing, in the electronic control unit, data representing the actual engagement position and the actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus with a stored predetermined set position and a correlated stored set engagement speed; and
braking the actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus, upon attainment of a defined set position or any deviation from a desired engagement speed, so as to attain a predetermined engagement of the clutch apparatus which minimizes, at the very least, the clutch impact.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the set engagement speed is overstepped, braking the actual engagement speed by corresponding control of the actuation members of the valve units so as to reduce a de-aeration rate of the piston-cylinder combination.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the set engagement speed is overstepped, braking the actual engagement speed by corresponding control of the actuation members of the valve units so that the de-aeration rate of the piston-cylinder combination is interrupted for a period of time in accord with a kind of counter pulsations to which the piston-cylinder combination is subjected.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, if the set engagement speed is overstepped, braking an actual engagement speed by corresponding control of the actuation members of the valve units so that the de-aeration rate of the piston-cylinder combination is interrupted for a period of time by pressure application to the piston cylinder combination in accord with the counter pulsations to which the piston-cylinder combination is subjected.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating braking of the engagement speed as soon as at least one of an excess engagement speed terminates and a required set engagement speed is attained.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of braking the engagement speed only once per engagement of the clutch apparatus to avoid hunting in the clutch system.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of employing a distance-time measurement device as the at least one sensor.
8. A method of operating an automatic clutch apparatus of a vehicle to minimize detection of clutch impact of a clutch apparatus, the clutch apparatus being located in a drive train between a drive machine and a transmission, the clutch apparatus being engaged by a closing force and is disengaged by a piston-cylinder combination when pressure is applied thereto, actuation members facilitate supplying pressurized fluid to the piston-cylinder combination and facilitate de-aeration thereof, at least one sensor detects an operational condition of the clutch apparatus and sends a signal, representative of the operational condition, to an electronic control unit for adjustment of a respective actuator member for controlling engagement of the clutch apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
determining on a continuous basis, by the at least one sensor, an actual engagement position and an actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus toward impact;
generating a signal by the at least one sensor and sending the signal to the electronic control unit;
comparing, in the electronic control unit, data representing the actual engagement position and the actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus with stored engagement positions and engagement speeds; and
braking the actual engagement speed of the clutch apparatus, as necessary, to attain a predetermined engagement of the clutch apparatus which minimizes detection of clutch impact by an occupant of the vehicle.