Line clamping self-tapping service valve

Claim 1

A line tapping service valve, comprising: line clamping means including a substantially U-shaped member having a bight portion and a pair of legs straddling and projecting beyond the line to be tapped, said legs being transversely bored in aligned relation, said bight portion having a threaded bore perpendicular to the axis of the line to be tapped; a pin extending through the transverse bores in said legs; a rectangular block transversely fitted between said legs and journaled for rotation about the axis of said pin, said block having a coextensive V-shaped groove in opposing end surfaces, the depth of each said groove being complemental to the outside dimension of a line to be tapped for nesting a peripheral portion of the line and disposing an opposite peripheral portion of the line toward the bight portion of said U-shaped member; a centrally bored housing having an externally threaded end portion engaging the threaded bore of said bight portion; a line piercing core coaxially formed on one end of said housing and projecting, at one end portion, beyond said housing and terminating in a sharpened tip end, whereby when said housing is progressively engaged, threadedly, with the threaded bore of said bight portion said sharpened tip end is forced through and seals with the wall of a line to be tapped, said core having a gas passageway communicating with the bore of the taPped line; and, a valve within said housing for opening and closing the gas passageway.