US3756261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for connecting a tap to a pipeline
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-16
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-11-16
Abstract
Abstract According to the invention a fitting having an outlet passageway is initially located on a pipeline to be tapped. The fitting includes a cylindrical cutting blade and an expandable sealing wafer internally of a radially expandable tubular insert. The cutting blade, sealing wafer and insert are threadably advanced internally of the fitting, causing the cutting blade to remove a coupon portion from the pipeline and provide an aperture through the pipeline sidewall. The tubular insert and sealing wafer are partially inserted into the pipeline, with the wafer being expanded to radially expand the tubular insert into sealing engagement within the pipeline sidewall. When the coupon portion, cutter blade and sealing wafer are removed from the pipeline, the pipeline interior will communicate with the fitting through the tubular insert which operatively couples the fitting to the pipeline. Additionally, an interference fit of the tubular insert within the pipeline sidewall and a portion of the fitting which encircles the pipeline aperture assures a positive pressuretight seal encircling the tubular insert.
Inventors
- 👤 P Minchhoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L41/00; F16L41/04; F16L41/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0402; Y10T137/0441; Y10T137/0458; Y10T137/0463; Y10T137/0469; Y10T137/598; Y10T137/612; Y10T137/6123; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4994
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of tapping into a pipe and anchoring a fitting thereto, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a substantially tubular fitting having a bore therethrough, said bore having an upwardly facing shoulder therein; b. movably positioning a pipe-cutting assembly and a tubular insert with one end being flanged into said bore; c. placing said fitting on said pipe; d. actuating said pipe-cutting assembly thereby cutting an aperture in said pipe; e. driving said tubular insert downwardly so that said flanged end abutts said shoulder in said bore and another end protrudes into said pipe through said aperture; and f. flaring said another end of said tubular insert against the inside wall of said pipe thereby anchoring said fitting to said pipe.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of tapping into a pipe and anchoring a fitting thereto, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a substantially tubular fitting having a bore therethrough, said bore having an upwardly facing shoulder therein; b. movably positioning a pipe-cutting assembly and a tubular insert with one end being flanged into said bore; c. placing said fitting on said pipe; d. actuating said pipe-cutting assembly thereby cutting an aperture in said pipe; e. driving said tubular insert downwardly so that said flanged end abutts said shoulder in said bore and another end protrudes into said pipe through said aperture; and f. flaring said another end of said tubular insert against the inside wall of said pipe thereby anchoring said fitting to said pipe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
236 words
A fitting for tapping into a pipeline, comprising: a portion of said fitting for engaging a pipeline and provided with a bore in communication with the interior of said fitting, a ram threadably received internally of said fitting, a pistoN threadably received in said ram, a deformable, relatively incompressible sealing member received over said piston, a cutter blade received over said piston, a tubular insert freely received over said cutter blade and said sealing member with an end of said tubular insert abutting against an end of said ram, said ram and said piston together being threadably advanced internally of said fitting to advance said cutter through said bore of said fitting and to cut through and remove a coupon portion from said pipeline, said ram and said piston further being threadably advanced internally of said fitting to serially advance said tubular insert and said sealing member into said bore of said fitting and at least partially into said pipeline, said piston being threadably retractable with respect to said ram to compress said cutter against said sealing member and thereby forcibly radially expand said sealing member and to flare at least a portion of said tubular insert, said ram, said piston, said sealing member and said cutter being threadably retractable from said tubular insert to allow communication of the interior of said pipeline with the interior of said fitting through the interior of said tubular insert.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
236 words
A fitting for tapping into a pipeline, comprising: a portion of said fitting for engaging a pipeline and provided with a bore in communication with the interior of said fitting, a ram threadably received internally of said fitting, a pistoN threadably received in said ram, a deformable, relatively incompressible sealing member received over said piston, a cutter blade received over said piston, a tubular insert freely received over said cutter blade and said sealing member with an end of said tubular insert abutting against an end of said ram, said ram and said piston together being threadably advanced internally of said fitting to advance said cutter through said bore of said fitting and to cut through and remove a coupon portion from said pipeline, said ram and said piston further being threadably advanced internally of said fitting to serially advance said tubular insert and said sealing member into said bore of said fitting and at least partially into said pipeline, said piston being threadably retractable with respect to said ram to compress said cutter against said sealing member and thereby forcibly radially expand said sealing member and to flare at least a portion of said tubular insert, said ram, said piston, said sealing member and said cutter being threadably retractable from said tubular insert to allow communication of the interior of said pipeline with the interior of said fitting through the interior of said tubular insert.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fitting for tapping into a pipe which comprises: a. a substantially tubular fitting having a bore extending therethrough with said bore having an upwardly facing shoulder therein; b. a ram threadably received in said bore and having therein a bore having counterclockwise threads; c. means on said ram for rotating such in said bore; d. a piston having counterclockwise threads thereon threadably received in said bore of said ram whereby said piston is advanced downwardly as said ram is rotated clockwise, said piston further having a stem depending therefrom; e. means on piston for rotating said piston independent of said ram; f. a bushing positioned on said stem; g. a cylindrical cup-shaped pipe-cutter positioned on the lower end of said stem, said cutter adapted to cut an aperture in said pipe as said piston is advanced downwardly by said ram; h. a generally non-compressible but resilient cylindrical ring positioned on said stem between said bushing and said pipe cutter; and i. a tubular insert movably positioned in said bore of said fitting below said ram and freely received over said piston, said insert having on its upper end a radial, outwardly extending flange for abutting said shoulder in said bore and for being retained thereon by said ram, and a lower end adapted to be received into said pipe via said aperture, and to be forcibly radially expanded against the inside wall of said pipe by said cylindrical ring as said piston is retracted upwardly through said ram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fitting for tapping into a pipe which comprises: a. a substantially tubular fitting having a bore extending therethrough with said bore having an upwardly facing shoulder therein; b. a ram threadably received in said bore and having therein a bore having counterclockwise threads; c. means on said ram for rotating such in said bore; d. a piston having counterclockwise threads thereon threadably received in said bore of said ram whereby said piston is advanced downwardly as said ram is rotated clockwise, said piston further having a stem depending therefrom; e. means on piston for rotating said piston independent of said ram; f. a bushing positioned on said stem; g. a cylindrical cup-shaped pipe-cutter positioned on the lower end of said stem, said cutter adapted to cut an aperture in said pipe as said piston is advanced downwardly by said ram; h. a generally non-compressible but resilient cylindrical ring positioned on said stem between said bushing and said pipe cutter; and i. a tubular insert movably positioned in said bore of said fitting below said ram and freely received over said piston, said insert having on its upper end a radial, outwardly extending flange for abutting said shoulder in said bore and for being retained thereon by said ram, and a lower end adapted to be received into said pipe via said aperture, and to be forcibly radially expanded against the inside wall of said pipe by said cylindrical ring as said piston is retracted upwardly through said ram.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |