Abstract:
A method and valve assembly adapted for remote controlled mounting of the valve assembly on a subterraneously positioned pipe. The valve assembly is used to regulate flow of fluid through the pipe. The valve assembly includes a clamp having a base and jaw secured to the pipe. A stand tube is mounted on the clamp and receives a plunger. A resilient seat is mounted on the plunger to move selectively the plunger into and out of the pipe for regulating flow of fluid through the pipe.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an improved valve construction and a method for installation of the valve in a subterraneously positioned pipe having fluid flowing through the pipe. The valve is attached to the pipe and has a control insert positionable in the pipe to regulate flow of fluid through the pipe.  
         [0002]     In a distribution system for distributing a fluid, such as natural gas, pipes carrying the gas are customarily positioned subterraneously to protect the pipes from damage. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to add a valve to a pipe to control the flow of gas through the pipe. The first step during the typical installation of a valve is digging a hole in the ground above, surrounding and below the pipe. Typically, the hole is dug with a backhoe and is of a size to accommodate at least one workman. Often times, it is big enough to accommodate two workmen. The workman goes down into the excavation to install a valve by conventional and well known means. Once the valve is installed, it is necessary to replace the material that was remove in order to expose the pipe and provide room for workmen to install the valve. Thus, the cost of installation of a valve in a gas line is substantial because of the amount of material which must be excavated, and the cost of replacing the excavated material upon completion of the valve installation.  
         [0003]     The present invention provides an improved valve construction which allows the valve to be installed in a pipe with a minimum of excavation of material.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention includes a method and apparatus for installing a valve in a subterraneously positioned pipe utilizing only a minimum of excavation.  
         [0005]     Once the position of the valve to be installed in a selected pipe is determined, a hole is dug to the pipe. The hole has a diameter of approximately 30 inches and the pipe is exposed. A clamp with a closure apparatus is placed into the hole with a clamp base mounted on the pipe. A closure apparatus includes a means for remotely controlling a cylinder to move a clamp jaw into engagement with the pipe and simultaneously position a fastener proximate an ear mounted on the clamp base. The fastener is tightened from a remote position to lock the clamp jaw to the clamp base and thereby secure the clamp to the pipe. The closure apparatus is then removed and a conventional valve insertion apparatus is mounted on a stand pipe connected to the clamp. The insertion apparatus has a cutter mounted therein to cut a coupon from the pipe to form an aperture in the pipe. The cutter with the coupon is removed from the pipe and an insertion apparatus valve is closed. The cutter is removed from the valve insertion apparatus. A valve assembly is then mounted on a shaft and is positioned in the valve insertion apparatus. The insertion apparatus valve is opened, and the valve assembly is positioned in the stand pipe. The insertion apparatus is removed and a fitting cap is mounted on the valve assembly and the stand tube.  
         [0006]     The valve includes an actuator body which is secured to the stand tube. A plunger having a non-circular cross section is slidably mounted in a mating aperture in the actuator body. The plunger carries a rubber seat. A feed screw is rotatably mounted in the actuator body and is threadedly connected to the plunger, so that rotation of the feed screw in one direction will insert the rubber seat into the pipe to control the flow of fluid through the pipe and rotation of the feed screw in the opposite direction will move the seat from the pipe to allow fluid to flow to the pipe thereby regulating flow of fluid through the pipe. The feed screw may be operated remotely.  
         [0007]     Upon completion of the installation of the valve, the material removed to expose the pipe is returned thereby effecting an efficiency in the installation of the valve by minimizing the amount of material removed to expose the pipe and returning that material upon successful installation of the valve. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view through a subterraneously positioned pipe with material excavated to expose the pipe with a clamp having a clamp base positioned on the pipe and a closure assembly connected to the clamp;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view showing the clamp attached to the pipe and a fastener attached to the clamp jaw and clamp base;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view taken on Line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing a pair of fasteners securing the clamp jaw to the clamp base;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional view showing a portion of a valve insertion apparatus with a coupon cutter in position after cutting a coupon from the pipe;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross sectional view showing a valve assembly in the valve insertion apparatus positioned in the stand tube;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the valve in position allowing fluid to flow through the pipe;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken on Line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing the non-circular cross section of the plunger positioned in a mating aperture in the actuator body; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the valve in an attitude for interrupting flow of fluid through the pipe. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to the drawings, and especially to  FIG. 1 , a pipe  10  is shown therein. The pipe in this instance is part of a fluid distribution system, and in particular, a natural gas distribution system. The pipe is subterraneous positioned to protect it from damage. To add a valve into the distribution system, and in particular, pipe  10 , the pipe must be exposed. Earth  12  is excavated to the pipe to form excavation  14 . In this instance, the excavation has a diameter of approximately 30 inches. The excavation may be accomplished by any well known means, such as an auger hole digger. However, any other suitable means may be utilized. Once the pipe  10  is exposed, it is cleaned remotely in order to remove any dirt on the pipe. It is not necessary for a workman to enter the excavation to reach the pipe.  
         [0017]     A clamp  16  with a clamp closure apparatus  18  is inserted into the excavation  14 . Clamp  16  includes a clamp base  20  which has an interior surface which mates with the exterior surface of pipe  10 . The clamp includes a clamp jaw  22  pivotly connected to base  20  through hinge  24 . Hinge  24  includes a receptacle  26  welded to the clamp jaw and a clamp axle  28  connected to clamp base  20 . A stand tube  30  is sealingly mounted on base  20 . As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , base  20  contains an aperture  32  which is aligned with the interior of stand tube  30 . A seal  34  is mounted in the interior surface of base  20  surrounding aperture  32  so that there is a seal between base  20  and pipe  10  around aperture  32  forming a fluid tight junction.  
         [0018]     Closure apparatus  18  includes a closure head  36  which is mounted on stand tube  30 . A post  38  is connected to closure head  36  and to stand tube  30 . An arm mount  40  is mounted on closure head  36 . A curved closure arm  42  is pivotly mounted on the arm mount  40 . The closure arm includes a contact  44  slidably engaging clamp jaw  22 . A cylinder support arm  46  is mounted on cylinder post  38 . A pneumatic cylinder  48  has a tube  50  pivotly connected to a cylinder mount  52  secured to closure arm  42 . The cylinder has a rod  54  pivotly connected to cylinder support arm  46  through a rod pivot  56 . A pneumatic line  58  is connected to the cylinder  48  and extends to a source of air under pressure from a conventional and well known source not shown herein.  
         [0019]     Clamp  16  includes a pair of fasteners  60  and  62 , best shown in  FIG. 3 . Fastener  60  is mounted in a generally U-shaped bracket  64  and fastener  62  is mounted in a like U-shaped bracket  66 . The U-shaped brackets  64  and  66  are welded to jaw  22 . Fastener  60  includes a head  68  mounted in bracket  64  and a threaded shank  70  fixed to head  68 . A nut  72  is threadedly mounted on threaded shank  70 . In a like manner, fastener  62  includes a head  74  mounted in bracket  66  with a threaded shank  76  fixed to head  72 . A conventional nut  78  is threadedly mounted on threaded shank  76 .  
         [0020]     A slotted ear  80  is welded to base  20  and includes a slot  82  for receiving threaded shank  70 . A slotted ear  84  is welded to base  20  and includes a slot  86  for receiving threaded shank  76 .  
         [0021]     Clamp  16  with the clamp apparatus is initially inserted into excavation  14  with clamp jaw  22  in an open position. The clamp with the closure apparatus is moved laterally and then vertically so that the clamp is positioned with clamp base  20  on pipe  10 , so that stand tube  30  extends radially away from pipe  10  and is perpendicular to the pipe. Positioning of the clamp with the closure apparatus is accomplished without a workman entering the excavation. Once the clamp base is securely resting on the pipe, cylinder  48  is activated by a remote control outside of excavation  14  to pivot arm  42  and thus pivot clamp jaw  22  about its hinge. The pivoting of the clamp jaw allows the threaded shanks  70  and  76  to enter their respective slots  82  and  86  of ears  80  and  84 , respectively. Upon positioning of the threaded shanks in respective ears, a socket with a long handle (not shown here) is inserted into the excavation to engage nuts  72  and  78  serially. The nuts are tightened remotely so that the fasteners hold jaw  22  in secure engagement with the pipe. Once the fasteners are secured, the closure apparatus is removed from the stand tube.  
         [0022]     A conventional and well known valve insertion assembly  88  is then mounted on stand tube  30 . Assembly  88  is dropped down onto the stand tube and assembly connector  90  is threaded onto the end of stand tube  30 . As is conventional, assembly  88  includes an assembly valve  92  which is connected to an assembly tube  94 . An assembly head  96  is mounted on the assembly tube. An assembly shaft  98  is rotatably and sealingly mounted in assembly head  96 . The assembly shaft has a cutter shaft  100  secured thereon with a conventional cutter  102  mounted on the end of the cutter shaft, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Shaft  98  is rotated from above ground so that cutter  102  is rotated to cut a coupon out of the pipe. Removal of the coupon forms a pipe aperture  106  which is aligned with aperture  32  and the opening of stand tube  30 . The coupon, as is conventional, is raised up above valve  92 . The valve is closed and the cutter with the coupon is then retracted.  
         [0023]     A valve insertion assembly  108  is mounted on shaft  98 . Valve  92  is opened and assembly  108  is positioned adjacent to stand tube  30 . The valve insertion assembly includes a valve holder  110  which receives a valve assembly  112 . The valve assembly includes an actuator body  114  which is sealingly mounted in holder  110 . The actuator body has a seal  116  which sealingly engages the interior of stand tube  30 . The actuator body has a threaded portion  118  which threadedly engages an interiorly threaded portion  120  of the stand tube to connect the actuator body to the stand tube. Shaft  98  rotates the actuator body relative to the stand tube to threadedly connect the actuator body with the stand tube. Valve holder  110  is then disengaged from the actuator body and retracted. Connector  90  is then disengaged from the stand tube, so that assembly apparatus  88  may then be disengaged from the stand tube and retracted.  
         [0024]     A fitting cap  122  is threadedly mounted on the end of the stand tube and sealingly engages actuator body  114 . The actuator body has a retaining nut  124  mounted in its upper end sealingly and rotatably engaging feed screw  126 . The feed screw has a pair of seals  128  and  130  engaging the interior of the actuator body. A plunger  132  threadedly engages the threaded portion of the feed screw. The exterior of the plunger is an irregular hexagon, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The plunger mates with portion  134  of the actuator body so that there is no rotation between the plunger and the actuator body. The plunger has an enlarged circular collar  136  which rides in the stand tube  30 . Support shaft  136  is threadedly mounted in the end of the plunger and a resilient rubber seat  138  is mounted on support shaft  136 .  
         [0025]     A conventional elongated valve operator (not shown herein) extending above the excavation engages the end of the feed screw  126 . When the valve operator rotates feed screw  126  in one direction, it forces the plunger downward as viewed in  FIG. 6 , so that rubber seat  138  passes through the aperture  106  in the pipe and engages the interior of the pipe, as seen in  FIG. 8 , to interrupt the flow of natural gas through pipe  10 , thus providing means for regulating flow through the pipe. Rotation of the feed screw in the opposite direction cause the plunger to rise and carry with it the rubber seat and thereby allow gas to flow through the pipe. Thus, the valve regulates the flow of gas through the pipe.  
         [0026]     Once the valve installation has been completed, the excavated material is returned to excavation  14 . The material is substantially less than that which is required to provide an excavation large enough to accommodate a workman. Thus, the valve is inserted efficiently by the reduction in the amount of material to be excavated utilizing the remote clamping ability of the present assembly.  
         [0027]     The description of the above-mentioned invention has been described in terms of use with natural gas. It is readily apparent that the subject invention may be used for other fluids. Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes in the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is to be expressly understood that the instant invention is limited only by the appended claims.