Patent ID: 9057471
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A device for tapping and accessing a buried pressurized conduit comprising: a. a tapping tee assembly for being operatively connected to the conduit, and including an attachment to the conduit, a pathway into the conduit, and a port for permitting access to the conduit via the pathway; b. a stuffing box defining a void having an entrance and exit, an o-ring fitting tightly within an o-ring cavity, and a lubrication port for dispensing lubrication into the void, wherein the lubrication port further comprises a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant valve, and a cap and the stuffing box has an outer housing surrounding an inner housing which defines the hollow void; c. a connection between the stuffing box and the tapping assembly that connects the exit of the stuffing box to the port of the tapping assembly; d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and adapted to be received into and through the void and into the conduit in a pressure-tight sealing state for maintaining pressurization in the conduit during tapping, and for receiving lubrication from the lubrication port sufficient to permit movement of the rodder through the void and into and out of the conduit; e. a signal transmitter operably connected to the internal conductor of the flexible rodder and capable of transmitting a signal in the form of a pulse of electric current through the length of the flexible rodder; and f. a receiving antenna for receiving and detecting the signal transmitted by the signal transmitter through the flexible rodder.