HFT introduces inflatable stoppers

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT) has released its Inflatable Pipestopper^®. Its inflatable stopper helps to reduce the volume in pipes or tanks for weld purging, to block pipe ends or to open orifices in systems in order to conduct routine maintenance.

HFT has made its range of both standard and non-standard inflatable pipe stoppers available for tanks, chambers, tubes, pipes, pipework fabrications and ductwork.

All of HFT’s inflatable stoppers are manufactured with a strong internal latex balloon, covered in a waterproof polyurethane coated nylon bag for low friction and to prevent the production of static electricity or accidental sparking.

Chairman for HFT, Ron Sewell, commented: “These versatile inflatable stoppers are used to service a wide variety of industrial applications. They provide a strong barrier in pipeline activities in order to prevent foreign bodies from entering the line during downtime.”

In machining applications, the stoppers can be inserted below a horizontal flange on a vertical pipe. This prevents machining fluid, swarf and stops tools from falling into expensive machinery – such as pumps and turbines.

When welding large tanks and vessels, the stoppers can dramatically reduce the volume inside so that the argon purging process takes little time and uses a minimum amount of expensive gas.

The HFT inflatable stoppers are particularly useful when one or more can be inserted into a small opening close to a work location, rather than at the end of the pipe, tank or vessel. Moreover, no high-pressure equipment is needed for inflation.

Edited from various sources by Anna Nicklin

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/tanks-terminals/14092016/hft-introduces-inflatable-stoppers/