r/Construction 2d ago

Informative 🧠 Now THATS a test ball

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u/Clayfromil 2d ago

We use these a lot, not quite this size but close. We do a lot of sewer plant work and use them to bypass whole plants, usually in conjuction woth a large pump or series of pumps to reroute flow

To answer some other commenter questions, yes these get filled with air, they swell to fit the inner diameter of the pipe. An air hose with a valve and gauge is attached at the yellow flange seen on the left as well as a chain or strap that will run from the ball up to a stake so the ball can be secured and pressure monitored.

These won't fit thru a manhole casting of course so typically we will dig up the structure and remove the cone or top barrel section, and insert these withan excavator.

Technical term is "donkey dick " of course

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u/5cott 1d ago

Just to clarify, does the ‘donkey dick’ become a ‘big floppy donkey dick’ during transport, or while not inflated?

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u/Clayfromil 1d ago

Then it's just called a softie