Hot tap apparatus and method

Claim 1

A hot tap adapter comprising a body having circular cross section and generally cylindrical shape and having (1) a single internal conduit extending therethrough along the central axis thereof, (2) a first end adapted to be welded onto to a pipe or other member said first end having an externally bevelled surface thereabout the internal conduit, said internal conduit extending inwardly from the first end having an enlarged portion and frusto-conical section inwardly thereof, said frusto-conical section communicating with a tapered section, which has a first bevelled surface toward said frusto-conical section, said tapered section having internal threads therearound for forming a metal to metal seal with an inserted device, said taper being toward said first bevelled surface, said tapered section connecting at its larger end to an upper chamber said body terminating concurrently with said upper chamber which has a larger cross section than said tapered section and having a second bevelled surface adjoining said tapered section and (3) means located on the exterior of the second end of said body about the upper chamber for attachment to a valve wherein when said device, having an elongated configuration, an upper portion, an intermediate portion having threads thereon and a lower portion, is seated in said adapter, the intermediate portion is engaged with the threads of the tapered section, said upper portion generally extends from said second end of said body and the lower portion generally extends from said first end of said body.