Patent ID: 7591491
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A clamping apparatus, comprising, in combination: a service adaptor for a natural gas service line; said natural gas service adaptor including a non-tapering hex-shaped member and an anodeless riser; said anodeless riser comprises an outer steel casing and an inner plastic pipe; said inner plastic pipe carrying the natural gas; two half clamping members having non-tapering interior portions shaped to receive therewithin and surround said natural gas service adaptor and said anodeless riser; said two half clamping members are identical; said two identical half clamping members are completely separate and unattached to each other; said two identical separate half clamping members are fabricated from a heavy-duty plastic type material; connection means for releasably and selectively securing together said two identical separate half clamping members with said natural gas service adaptor and said anodeless riser received therewithin; said two identical separate half clamping members being provided with non-tapering exterior portions which facilitate operation of said connection means; said non-tapering exterior portions of said two identical separate half clamping members include mating flanges provided with a predetermined number of apertures arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern; said apertures are aligned in two, and only two, straight lines which are parallel to each other; said connection means includes bolts and nuts therefor; said mating flanges are shaped and arranged to align pairs of said apertures for passage therethrough of said bolts for releasably and selectively securing together said two identical separate half clamping members with said natural gas service adaptor and said anodeless riser received therewithin, and to align a predetermined pair of said apertures for tagging said clamping apparatus; said non-tapering interior portions of said two identical separate half clamping members are provided with a non-tapering interior hex-shaped section at an upper portion of said two identical separate half clamping members, and a non-tapering interior curved section at a bottom portion of said two identical separate half clamping members; said non-tapering interior hex-shaped sections accommodate, surround and mate with said non-tapering hex-shaped member of said natural gas service adaptor; said non-tapering interior curved sections accommodate, surround and mate with said anodeless riser; and a locating wire disposed through said predetermined pair of said aligned apertures to tag said clamping apparatus.