Pipe saddle assembly

Claim 2

A pipe assembly for use in making a tightly sealed connection to a fluid passage formed transversely into a pipe line comprising a flexible strap to be disposed about the pipe, boss means formed with a flow passage to be aligned with said fluid passage, a resilient sealing element disposed between the bottom of the boss means and that annular margin surface of the pipe encircling said fluid passage, rigid fulcrum elements carried by said boss means and having a narrow support edge extending in the direction of the pipe, means interconnecting the ends of said strap, said interconnecting means engaging said fulcrum elements for transmitting tightening forces to said boss means via said fulcrum elements to urge said boss means toward said sealing element, tightening means cooperating with said interconnecting means for tightening the strap about the pipe, said boss means being free to adjust relative to said interconnecting means and said sealing element to evenly distribute around said sealing element those compressive forces applied thereto while distributing compressive forces about the pipe periphery via said strap.

Claim 3

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fulcrum elements lie substantially along an extension of the opposite ends of a diameter of the flow passage of the boss means and in a plane including the axis of the pipe.

Claim 4

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means interconnecting the ends of said strap comprises individually adjustable bolt means adjacent said boss means and interconnecting the ends of said strap, and wherein said tightening means includes nuts threadedly engaging the ends of said bolts.

Claim 5

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said boss means includes an annular compression element formed to be aligned with said flow passage, said compression element serving to compress said seal to said pipe line and having a pressure receiving portion, a member disposed for applying pressure to said pressure receiving portion, said fulcrum elements protruding from said member, means disposed across said fulcrum elements and interconnecting the ends of the strap whereby tightening the strap causes said member to apply increasingly compressive forces to said seal via said fulcrum elements.

Claim 6

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 4 wherein said member consists of a hollow pipe-like fluid connection formed with said fulcrum elements.

Claim 7

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 5 further including a fluid seal interposed between said hollow pipe-like fluid connection and said compression element.

Claim 8

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 4 wherein said member consists of a collar formed with said rigid fulcrum elements and threadedly engaging the boss means whereby rotation of the latter causes the collar to raise the fulcrum elements along the boss means while the latter applies pressure upon said pressure receiving portion of said compression element.

Claim 9

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said boss means includes an annular compression element formed to include a portion of said flow passage, said compression element having an undersurface for pressing against said seal and a pressure receiving portion formed around its exterior, and exteriorly threaded member bearing against said pressure portion and including a portion of said flow passage, said threaded member being adapted to be rotated relative to said compression element, and a collar formed with said fulcrum elements protruding therefrom, means interconnecting the ends of the strap disposed across said fulcrum elements, said collar threadedly encircling said threaded member to be drawn upwardly therealong during rotation of said threaded member while said collar is held from rotating by said attachable means disposed across said fulcruM elements.

Claim 10

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 8 further including an O-ring interposed between said compression element and said exteriorly threaded member to form a fluid seal therebetween.

Claim 11

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means for interconnecting the ends of the strap includes end portions of the strap each folded under to dispose the strap end portion between the pipe and the strap, lugs disposed in the folds and formed to include bolt-receiving passages, bolts in the passages for drawing the folded ends of the strap toward each other to tighten the strap, said lugs serving to press against the under-folded ends and retain same pinched against the pipe.

Claim 12

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 10 wherein portions of the undersurface of the lugs are formed and adapted to ride in contact upon the wall of the pipe at positions flanking said under-folded strap ends so as to stabilize the lugs in the region of the boss means.

Claim 13

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said boss means includes an outer flared portion closely adjacent the bottom of the boss and formed to include an inclined wedging portion on opposite sides of the boss, said wedging portions lying intermediate said fulcrum elements, and said means for interconnecting the ends of the strap includes end portions of the strap folded under to dispose the folded end portion of the strap between the pipe and the unfolded portion of the strap, lugs disposed in the folds and formed to include bolt-receiving passages, bolts in the passages and threaded for nuts to draw the folded ends of the strap toward the boss means to tighten the strap, said lugs being disposed to contact and press the under-folded strap end portions against said wedge portions to retain same pinched thereagainst and to apply localized compressive sealing forces to said boss means via said wedging portions to aid in compressing said seal against said pipe.

Claim 14

In a pipe saddle assembly for making a tightly sealed connection to a fluid passage formed transversely into a pipe line comprising a flexible strap to be disposed about the pipe, the ends of said strap being disposed on one side of the pipe and folded under to dispose the end portions of the strap between the pipe and the strap, lugs disposed in the folds formed at the ends and formed to include projecting portions having bolt-receiving passages, a saddle member formed with a flow passage therein to be aligned with said fluid passage, a resilient seal between the bottom of the saddle and that annular margin of the pipe encircling said fluid passage, a pair of rigid elements supported by said saddle member, a projecting lug portion on each lug disposed between the lug and said saddle member to project toward said saddle member and the under-folded ends of said strap each include an opening through the strap for receiving a said projecting lug portion therethrough, bolts in said bolt-receiving passages and engaging said rigid elements for interconnecting the ends of said strap, and nuts carried on said bolts adjacent the saddle member and pipe for tightening said strap about the pipe to compress said seal between said saddle member and the pipe.

Claim 15

In a pipe saddle assembly for making a tightly sealed connection to a fluid passage formed transversely into a pipe line comprising a flexible strap to be disposed about the pipe, the ends of said strap being disposed on one side of the pipe and folded under to dispose the end portions of the strap between the pipe and the strap, lugs disposed in the folds formed at the ends and formed to include projecting portions having bolt-receiving passages, a saddle member formed with a flow passage therein to be aligned with said fluid passage, a resilient seal between the bottom of the saddle and that annular margin of the pipe encircling said fluid passage, a pair of rigid elements supported by said saddle member, a projecting lug portion on each lug disposed between the lug and said saddle member to project toward said saddle member and the under-folded ends of said strap each include an opening through the strap for receiving a said projecting lug portion therethrough, bolts in said bolt-receiving passages and engaging said rigid elements for interconnecting the ends of said strap, and nuts carried on said bolts adjacent the saddle member and pipe for tightening said strap about the pipe to compress said seal between said saddle member and the pipe.

Claim 16

A pipe saddle assembly for making a tightly sealed connection to a fluid passage formed transversely into a pipe line comprising a flexible strap for engaging the pipe, the ends of said strap being disposed at one side of the pipe, boss means formed with a flow passage therein to be aligned with said fluid passage, a resilient seal between the bottom of the boss means and that annular margin of the pipe encircling said fluid passage, a pair of rigid elements carried by said boss means and extending in the direction of the pipe for receiving compressive sealing forces locally applied thereto, means extending across said rigid elements for interconnecting the ends of said strap, the last named means including rigid portions bearing against said rigid elements and means at saiD side of the pipe cooperating with the last named said means for tightening the strap about the pipe to cause said rigid portions to bear against and compress said seal between said boss and the pipe, the last named means acting upon said boss means via said rigid elements to localize the application of forces thereto substantially at the extensions of a diameter of said flow passage while evenly distributing compressive forces about the pipe periphery via said strap.

Claim 17

A pipe saddle assembly for making a tightly sealed connection to a fluid passage formed transversely into a pipe line comprising a flexible strap for engaging the pipe, the ends of said strap being disposed at one side of the pipe, boss means formed with a flow passage therein to be aligned with said fluid passage, a resilient seal between the bottom of the boss means and that annular margin of the pipe encircling said fluid passage, a pair of rigid elements carried by said boss means and extending in the direction of the pipe for receiving compressive sealing forces locally applied thereto, means extending across said rigid elements for interconnecting the ends of said strap, the last named means including rigid portions bearing against said rigid elements and means at saiD side of the pipe cooperating with the last named said means for tightening the strap about the pipe to cause said rigid portions to bear against and compress said seal between said boss and the pipe, the last named means acting upon said boss means via said rigid elements to localize the application of forces thereto substantially at the extensions of a diameter of said flow passage while evenly distributing compressive forces about the pipe periphery via said strap.

Claim 18

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 14 wherein lugs are coupled to the ends of said strap, said lugs having a pair of upper portions formed with bolt receiving passages therethrough, a pair of downwardly extending pivot arms for engaging said rigid elements to pivot therefrom, and adjustable elongated bolts disposed to extend between said lugs for drawing said lugs toward each other to tighten the strap while the pivoting ends of said pivot arms apply compressive forces locally to the boss means in the region of said rigid elements.

Claim 19

A saddle assembly comprising an elongated, thin, flexible strap adapted to encircle a pipe line, the ends of said strap being disposed to be drawn toward each other, lugs to be coupled to the ends of the strap and having radially outwardly protruding portions formed to include bolt-receiving passages therethrough for interconnecting the ends of the strap, said lugs having a leading edge portion around which an end of said strap is folded to conform thereto, a slot formed in said lug at a position trailing behind the leading edge and dimensioned and formed to pass an end of said strap therethrough in relatively closely spaced relation to the thickness of the strap to permit the leading end portion of said strap to be bent about said leading edge while retaining trailing portions thereof from above, each of the lugs lying in the fold of an end of the strap, bolts extending through said passages for drawing said ends toward each other to tighten the strap, and boss means including a resilient annular seal disposed between the bottom of the boss and the pipe held by said strap to the pipe, said boss means including a flow passage therethrough for alignment with a transverse opening in the pipe.

Claim 20

A saddle assembly comprising an elongated, thin, flexible strap adapted to encircle a pipe line, the ends of said strap being disposed to be drawn toward each other, lugs to be coupled to the ends of the strap and having radially outwardly protruding portions formed to include bolt-receiving passages therethrough for interconnecting the ends of the strap, said lugs having a leading edge portion around which an end of said strap is folded to conform thereto, a slot formed in said lug at a position trailing behind the leading edge and dimensioned and formed to pass an end of said strap therethrough in relatively closely spaced relation to the thickness of the strap to permit the leading end portion of said strap to be bent about said leading edge while retaining trailing portions thereof from above, each of the lugs lying in the fold of an end of the strap, bolts extending through said passages for drawing said ends toward each other to tighten the strap, and boss means including a resilient annular seal disposed between the bottom of the boss and the pipe held by said strap to the pipe, said boss means including a flow passage therethrough for alignment with a transverse opening in the pipe.

Claim 21

A saddle assembly according to claim 16 further wherein an end of said strap includes a series of holes formed therethrough, and a projecting nib fixed to the leading edge of one of said lugs for engaging a selected one of said holes.

Claim 22

A saddle assembly comprising an elongated, thin, flexible strap adapted to encircle a pipe line, the ends of said strap being disposed to be drawn toward each other, lugs to be coupled to the ends of the strap and having radially outwardly protruding portions formed to include bolt-receiving passages therethrough for interconnecting the ends of the strap, said lugs having a leading edge portion, an end of said strap being folded to conform thereto, the lugs lying in the fold of an end of the strap, bolts extending through said passages for drawing said ends toward each other to tighten the strap, and boss means including a resilient annular seal disposed between the bottom of the boss means and the pipe, said boss means including a flow passage therethrough for alignment with a transverse opening in the pipe, said bolts flanking said boss means for adjusting compressive forces applied to said seal along the pipe, a forwardly projecting nib extending away from said leading edge and fixed thereto, and an opening formed through said strap in the region of said fold to be engaged by said nib to retain said strap.

Claim 23

A saddle assembly comprising an elongated, thin, flexible strap adapted to encircle a pipe line, the ends of said strap being disposed to be drawn toward each other, lugs to be coupled to the ends of the strap and having radially outwardly protruding portions formed to include bolt-receiving passages therethrough for interconnecting the ends of the strap, said lugs having a leading edge portion, an end of said strap being folded to conform thereto, the lugs lying in the fold of an end of the strap, bolts extending through said passages for drawing said ends toward each other to tighten the strap, and boss means including a resilient annular seal disposed between the bottom of the boss means and the pipe, said boss means including a flow passage therethrough for alignment with a transverse opening in the pipe, said bolts flanking said boss means for adjusting compressive forces applied to said seal along the pipe, a forwardly projecting nib extending away from said leading edge and fixed thereto, and an opening formed through said strap in the region of said fold to be engaged by said nib to retain said strap.

Claim 24

A pipe saddle assembly adapted for use in making a sealed connection with a pipe having a flow passage therein and having an opening in the wall of the pipe in communication with the flow passage, said assembly comprising a saddle member having a bore therein forming a flow passage and adapted to be mounted on the wall of the pipe so that the bore therein is in general registration with said opening in the pipe, resilient sealIng means adapted to be disposed between the saddle and the wall of the pipe to form a fluid-tight seal between the saddle and the wall of the pipe, a pair of rigid fulcrum elements carried by said saddle and disposed on opposite sides of the bore and extending radially of the bore, said fulcrum elements having a narrow support edge extending in the direction of the pipe, a flexible strap-like element adapted to engage the side of the pipe, adjustable means disposed across and engaging said support edges of the fulcrum elements on said saddle and coupled to the ends of said strap-like element for applying forces to said saddle through said narrow support edges of said fulcrum elements to thereby apply relatively equally distributed forces to said resilient sealing means.

Claim 25

A pipe saddle assembly adapted for use in making a sealed connection with a pipe having a flow passage therein and having an opening in the wall of the pipe in communication with the flow passage, said assembly comprising a saddle member having a bore therein forming a flow passage and adapted to be mounted on the wall of the pipe so that the bore therein is in general registration with said opening in the pipe, resilient sealIng means adapted to be disposed between the saddle and the wall of the pipe to form a fluid-tight seal between the saddle and the wall of the pipe, a pair of rigid fulcrum elements carried by said saddle and disposed on opposite sides of the bore and extending radially of the bore, said fulcrum elements having a narrow support edge extending in the direction of the pipe, a flexible strap-like element adapted to engage the side of the pipe, adjustable means disposed across and engaging said support edges of the fulcrum elements on said saddle and coupled to the ends of said strap-like element for applying forces to said saddle through said narrow support edges of said fulcrum elements to thereby apply relatively equally distributed forces to said resilient sealing means.

Claim 26

A pipe saddle assembly according to claim 19 wherein said saddle member has a second pair of fulcrum elements disposed on said opposite sides of the bore but above the level of said first pair.