Mechanical Pipe Plugs
Mechanical Research & Design, Inc. is the industry leader in the design and manufacture of Mechanical Pipe Plugs. Mechanical Pipe Plugs are primarily used as Isolation Barriers and Pressure Test tools that seal off a pipeline through mechanical sealing means. They are also commonly known as: mechanical pipe stoppers, pipe bungs, pipe test plugs, and line stops as well. Mechanical pipe plugs can seal and restrain on the inside of a pipe, the outside of a pipe, or on a structural surface near a pipe. Pipe plugs have two primary operational requirements: pressure sealing and pressure restraining – holding the tool in place in the piping system to resist pressure. Most of our SEALFAST® Mechanical Pipe Plugs come with their own built in restraint system, meaning that users do not have to block or brace our tools to safely handle the full design pressure. Our tools do it for you, meaning you save the time, cost, and safety considerations of doing it yourself! We vulcanize our own SEALFAST® Mechanical Seals in house which allows us to offer short lead times and flexible design options.
We manufacture Mechanical Pipe Plugs for nearly every cross-section pipe: round, rectangular, and irregular cross-sections from smaller than 1/2″ to over 20 feet in diameter. SEALFAST® Mechanical Plugs can be designed to operate from vacuum pressures to over 5000 psi and have product families that focus on Low Pressure, Medium Pressure, and High Pressure to optimize weight, cost, and functionality for the different applications we cover.
Though we manufacture other styles of restraint and seal actuation for our SEALFAST® Mechanical Plugs, see the below diagram to see the basic operating principles of a mechanical plug. A standard in-line mechanical pipe plug has integral restraint screws which are tightened into the pipe I.D. or O.D. depending the style, seal actuation nuts which secure the mechanical seal into position as a pressure barrier, a bypass port to apply test fluid upstream or to add or remove fluid upstream, and a vent line which is used to evacuate air during bypass filling.
Mechanical Research & Design, Inc – We do the best work under pressure!
Have Specific Requirements?
We specialize in custom solutions! Take a look at a few of our proven custom solutions or let us know your requirements. Our engineers and production staff are equipped to travel around the world at a moment’s notice to assist you with your needs!
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OUR SEALFAST® MECHANICAL PIPE PLUGS AND PRESSURE BARRIERS
IN-LINE PIPE PLUGS
Our standard In-Line Pipe Plug series come in many shapes and sizes, providing safe testing and isolation options for carbon steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, polymer PVC, concrete, composite, and a host of other piping or tunneling applications. Mechanical Pipe Plugs are easy-to-use for quick pressure test applications and include our reliable SEALFAST® Mechanical Seals that can hold up for decades in safety critical isolation or even permanent pipeline abandonment projects.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
STANDARD PIPE PLUG FOR IN-LINE PRESSURE TESTING AND ISOLATION, CORRODED PIPE.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL NON-MARRING RESTRAINT SCREW AND
SINGLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
SUITED FOR QUICK INSTALLATION, LOW PRESSURE, PRESSURE AND VAPOR BLOCK ISOLATION.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-100 PSIG, 0-500 PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL NON-MARRING COLLET JAW RESTRAINT AND SINGLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR SEMI-REMOTE INSTALLATIONS, FRAGILE PIPE FINISHES AND SMALL BORE PIPES.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
LIGHT CONTACT INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND
SEALFAST® INFLATABLE SEAL DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR THIN WALL STEEL PIPE; PVC, HDPE, POLYMER PIPE.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR DUCTILE IRON, AGED/FRAGILE STEEL PIPE.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND
LOAD DISTRIBUTION DRUM WITH
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR CONCRETE PIPE, TILE.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-250 PSIG, 0-1500 PSIG, 0-2500+ PSIG NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL GRIPPING SURFACES WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
AVAILABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE LENGTH STEM KITS FOR EXTENDED REACH AND SHORTENING
TOOL LENGTH FOR SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-250 PSIG, 0-1500 PSIG, 0-2500+ PSIG NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SURFACES AND
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR STANDARD STEEL, DUCTILE IRON, AGED/FRAGILE STEEL, POLYMER, AND COMPOSITE PIPE.
END AND FACE STYLE PIPE PLUGS
We offer specialty Sealfast® Mechanical Pipe Plugs for Reverse Pressure and external pipe restraint service, perfect for diver installed applications, for applications where restraint cannot easily be performed in the piping system, and applications where paramount safety in new and old infrastructure is required.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-100 PSIG, 0-225+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL I.D. & O.D. RESTRAINT SCREW AND MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
FOR THIN WALL PIPE AND HIGH
PRESSURE APPLICATIONS.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND STRONGBACKS, MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
MOST OF THE ABOVE STANDARD INLINE PLUGS CAN BE ADAPTED WITH STRONGBACK RESTRAINTS FOR REVERSE PRESSURE. USED FOR DAM INLET, WATER INTAKE, SUMP CHAMBER ISOLATION.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE PRESSURE ONLY RATINGS
FLANGE RESTRAINT, WITH GASKET SEAL, MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
USED FOR DAM INLET, WATER INTAKE, SUMP CHAMBER ISOLATION.
QUICK INSTALLATION AND MECHANICAL RESTRAINT FOR UNDERWATER AND DRY SERVICE, REVERSE PRESSURE APPLICATIONS ONLY.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE PRESSURE ONLY RATINGS
FLANGE RESTRAINT MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
USE FOR HATCH REPLACEMENT PLUGS, UNDERWATER CONSTRUCTION DUAL SEAL PLUGS, REVERSE PRESSURE APPLICATIONS ONLY.
EXTENDED FLANGE MECHANICAL PLUG
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
FLANGE AND RESTRAINT SCREW RESTRAINT MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
QUICK INSTALLATION AND MECHANICAL RESTRAINT FOR UNDERWATER AND DRY SERVICE, REVERSE AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE USE.
EXTENDED FLANGE WITH JACKING SCREWS MECHANICAL PLUG
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
FLANGE AND RESTRAINT SCREW RESTRAINT MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN
WITH MECHANICAL FACE GASKET; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
QUICK INSTALLATION AND MECHANICAL RESTRAINT
FOR UNDERWATER AND DRY SERVICE, REVERSE AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE USE.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
FLANGE AND ANCHOR RESTRAINT
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
FLANGED ANCHOR RESTRAINT FOR REVERSE AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE USE INCLUDING
DRAIN AND FLOOR PLUGS.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
FLANGE AND ANCHOR RESTRAINT
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL AND MECHANICAL FACE GASKET
FLANGED ANCHOR RESTRAINT FOR REVERSE AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE USE INCLUDING
DUAL SEAL DRAIN AND FLOOR PLUGS.
REMOTE INSTALLATION PIPE PLUGS
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
NORMAL, REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
RESTRAINT GRIPPER AND REMOTE MECHANICAL SEAL ACTUATION METHODS; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
DESIGNED TO FIT THROUGH RESTRICTED SPACES, CONFINED OPENINGS, AND EXTENDED LENGTH PIPE SECTIONS. SOME DESIGNS TO GO AROUND ELBOWS, THROUGH TEES, ETC.
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
NORMAL, REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
RESTRAINT GRIPPER AND REMOTE MECHANICAL SEAL ACTUATION METHODS; HYDRAULIC & PNEUMATIC ACTUATION METHODS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS AVAILABLE; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
DESIGNED TO FIT THROUGH RESTRICTED SPACES, CONFINED OPENINGS, AND EXTENDED LENGTH PIPE SECTIONS. SOME DESIGNS TO GO AROUND ELBOWS, THROUGH TEES, ETC.
SPECIAL APPLICATION PLUGS
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-5 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100+ PSIG
NORMAL AND BI-DIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
INTEGRAL RESTRAINT SCREW AND
MULTIPLE SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN ; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
IDEAL FOR LONG AND SHORT RADIUS ELBOWS
PRESSURE RANGES AVAILABLE:
0-10 PSIG, 0-25 PSIG, 0-100 + PSIG
NORMAL, REVERSE AND BIDIRECTIONAL PRESSURE RATINGS
RESTRAINT SCREW, STRONG-BACK DESIGNS AVAILABLE; SEAL ACTUATION NUT DESIGN; WITH SEALFAST® MECHANICAL SEAL
DESIGNED TO FIT THROUGH MAN-WAYS OR TO MINIMIZE WEIGHT OF SECTIONS FOR INSTALLATION
PIPE PLUG CHARACTERISTICS AND USE
• Pipe plugs can be fabricated from lightweight aluminum, stainless steel, coated steel, bronze, plastics, and composites to name a few.
• Pipe plugs can be designed to isolate and test carbon steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, cast iron, RCP concrete, FRP composite, copper, PVC, poly-ethylene pipes, hose assemblies, tubing, and more.
• Our mechanical pipe plugs can come with a variety of different SEALFAST® elastomers, depending on your material compatibility and temperature requirements: Viton®, EPDM, Buna-N, silicone, natural rubber, neoprene, and SBR to name a few.
• Plugs can come with corrosion protection or lubricity coatings as needed including: epoxy coating systems,
flame spray coatings, nickel or chrome plating, PTFE coatings, plus other anodic protection.
COMMON USES OF MECHANICAL PIPE PLUGS
Mechanical pipe plugs are commonly used in nearly every industry that requires the isolation or pressure testing of transport pipelines, vessels, and containers.
• Pipeline assembly verification
• Refinery vapor isolation and pressure testing
• Conventional and nuclear energy process water pipelines
• Municipal force and water mains
• Fire protection pipelines
• Pumping and lift stations
• HVAC systems
• Subsea pipeline repair and abandonment
• Aerospace tubing weldment assemblies
OTHER ISOLATION AND TEST TOOLING OPTIONS!
Mechanical Research & Design, Inc. has a wide range of other isolation and test tools. Please review them and compare them to our mechanical pipe plugs to ensure you have selected the appropriate and flexible tool for your needs! Please call us today for help at any time!
• To see our Inflatable Pipe Plugs, click here.
• To see our General Isolation and Test Tool lines, click here.
• To see our large Isolation Barriers and Bulkhead lines, click here.
• To see our SEALFAST® Inflatable and Mechanical Seals, click here.
• For Control Panels, Utilities, Turnkey Test and Operational Systems, please see our Controls and Accessories page.
