Abstract:
A tapping adaptor assembly for direct connection to a gate valve. The assembly includes a tapping adaptor attached to a main pipe. An outlet conduit formed integrally with and extend outwardly from the tapping adaptor terminates in a distal end outlet. A adaptor for mounting on the tapping adaptor includes an integral flange, a shoulder and a spout. The adaptor may be attached to the tapping adaptor by welding or glueing depending upon the material of the tapping adaptor or may be formed integrally with the outlet conduit. The shoulder of the adaptor is positioned to engage the gasket of the gate valve. The spout of the mounting adaptor extends into the socket of the gate valve to help support the tapping sleeve. In an embodiment, a tapping sleeve semi-cylindrical section is formed integrally with the outlet conduit.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/480,814, filed Jan. 10, 2000.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Tapping sleeves are conventionally used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe in a fluid supply system such as a waterworks, without shutting down the main pipe. This procedure is usually referred to as making a pressure tap because the fluid pressure is maintained in the main pipe while a connection is made to a branch pipe. The connection is made by cutting a hole in the pressurized main pipe using a power or manual tapping machine. The tapping machine extends into a branch outlet pipe on the tapping sleeve through a gate valve which is closed after a cutaway portion of the main pipe is removed by the tapping machine through the branch outlet pipe and the gate valve. The gate valve remains to control fluid flow from the main pipe through the later installed distribution piping supplied by the branch outlet pipe.  
           [0003]    A specialized type of gate valve is presently used in making a pressure tap. This specialized tapping gate valve is equipped with a bolted flange having either a raised face or recessed face on its branch outlet pipe side and a mechanical joint on its tapping machine receiving side. The raised face or recessed face flange of the gate valve is bolted to a raised face or recessed face flange provided on the outlet end of the branch outlet pipe of the tapping sleeve. The raised or recessed faces are provided to insure vertical alignment of the gate valve with the outlet pipe of the tapping sleeves. A bolted flange joint has been considered necessary for use with a tapping sleeve so that the tapping cutter accurately cuts the opening in the main pipe and also withstands the large torque and axial thrust applied to the connection by the tapping machine.  
           [0004]    The use of a bolted flange on the branch outlet pipe requires contractors to obtain and inventory specialized tapping gate valves which are equipped with a bolted raised face or recessed face flange on one side and a mechanical joint on the other side of the gate valve. Additionally, the time required to make a pressure tap using these specialized tapping gate valves is substantial because of the difficulty in connecting bolted flanges compared to the time required to complete mechanical joint connections.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tapping sleeve assembly for making a pressure tap which can be welded to the tapping sleeve outlet pipe and connected directly to a mechanical joint gate valve thereby eliminating the need for use of a specialized raised face or recessed face tapping valve.  
           [0006]    Another object of this invention is a mechanical joint branch outlet pipe that is adaptable to both “bolt on” and “weld on” tapping sleeves or partial tapping sleeves.  
           [0007]    Still another object of this invention is a tapping sleeve which may be used with conventional cast iron, steel or plastic pipe.  
           [0008]    Yet another object of this invention is a tapping branch pipe sleeve having an integral mechanical joint adaptor.  
           [0009]    A further object of this invention is a tapping sleeve branch pipe having an integral mechanical joint adaptor and an integral semi-circular tapping sleeve portion.  
           [0010]    In its broadest aspect, this invention provides a pressure tap connection that incorporates all the advantages of a mechanical joint while not limiting the use of modified joint accessories.  
           [0011]    Other objects of this invention will be found in the following specification, claims and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded, elevational view partially in cross section showing the tapping sleeve of this invention connected to a main pipe of a fluid supply system and positioned for connection to a standard mechanical joint gate valve;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an orthographic view of a modified form of branch outlet pipe;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an orthographic view of yet another embodiment of the tapping sleeve of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an exploded, elevational view partially in cross section showing another modified adaptor of this invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded, elevational view partially in cross section showing a further modified adaptor of this invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is an exploded, elevational view partially in cross section showing a further modified adaptor of this invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention includes a tapping sleeve  11  which surrounds a main fluid supply pipe  13 . The tapping sleeve has a branch outlet pipe  15  which connects to a gate valve  17  having mechanical joint end connections  19  on opposite sides thereof. The mechanical joint valve outlet, which is not shown, connects the gate valve to an outlet distribution pipe which also is not shown, but which is conventional.  
         [0020]    The tapping sleeve  11  shown herein is formed of one or more semi-cylindrical sections  23  and  25 . However, smaller diameter tapping sleeves may have a single longitudinal split cylindrical section. The cylindrical sections or section are equipped with bolt lugs  27 . Holes are provided through the bolt lugs but are not shown in the drawings. Bolts  29  pass through the aligned holes in the bolt lugs, through washers, also not shown, and through nuts  31  threaded on the bolts  29  to secure the semi-cylindrical sections  23  and  25  in water-tight contact with the main pipe  13 . A tapping sleeve of this type is shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,087, issued Dec. 20, 1994. Other bolt lug designs for tapping sleeves have bolts welded to the lugs which bolts pass through two aligned plate members on the opposing lug. The tapping sleeve  11  of this invention may also be used with “weld on” branch outlet pipes. The branch outlet pipe  15  has a wall  35  with an outer surface  37 . The wall  35  terminates in an outlet opening  39 .  
         [0021]    The mechanical joint valve adaptor  41  of this invention is formed with an integral flange  43 , a shoulder  45  extending forwardly of the flange and a spout  47  projecting forwardly of the shoulder. Elongated bolt receiving passages  49  are formed in the flange  43 . The shoulder  45  has an inwardly inclined annular face  51  and the spout terminates in an outlet  53 . An internal annular shoulder  55  in the adaptor  41  engages the outlet opening  39  of the branch outlet pipe. The adaptor  41  may be welded or otherwise attached to the branch outlet pipe  15  if the branch outlet is metal or adhered thereto by a suitable adhesive if the branch outlet pipe is plastic. The spout  47  extends into a mechanical joint socket  59  formed in the mechanical joint flange  57  so that the spout  47  is supported by or supports the gate valve  17 .  
         [0022]    The adaptor  41  is connected to the gate valve  17  by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned passages  49  and  63  in the adaptor flange  43  and in the mechanical joint flange  57 . A mechanical joint gasket  61  fits into the joint flange  57  and fits over the spout  47  of the sleeve  41  as is most clearly shown in the drawings.  
         [0023]    The adaptor  41  of this invention eliminates the need for attaching a retaining ring to the branch outlet pipe. Instead, the adaptor may be attached directly to the branch outlet pipe  15 . Formed integrally with the sleeve is the shoulder  45 . The shoulder has an inclined annular face  51  which is positioned to engage the mechanical joint gasket  61  of the gate valve  17 . Also, other changes to the mechanical parts of the tapping sleeve assembly may be made in accordance with the knowledge of one skilled in the art without departing from the novel aspects of this invention.  
         [0024]    A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The branch outlet pipe  71  of this embodiment is formed with an integral flange  73 , an integral shoulder  75  extending forwardly of the flange and an integral spout  77  projecting forwardly of the shoulder. Elongated bolt receiving passages  79  are formed in the flange  73 . The shoulder  75  has an inwardly inclined face  81  and the spout terminates in an outlet  83 . The branch outlet pipe  71  is attached, usually by welding, to the semi-cylindrical section  25  of the tapping sleeve  11 .  
         [0025]    The branch outlet pipe  71  is connected to a mechanical joint gate valve by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned bolt receiving passages  79  in the flange  73  and corresponding bolt receiving passages (not shown) in the mechanical joint flanges of the gate valve which is not shown. A mechanical joint gasket fits into the joint flange of the gate valve and fits over the spout  77  of the branch outlet pipe  71 .  
         [0026]    A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The tapping sleeve  91  of this embodiment of the invention includes a branch outlet pipe  93  which is integrally formed with a tapping sleeve semi-cylindrical section  95  which fits around one side of a main fluid supply pipe  13 . The branch outlet pipe  93  is also formed with an integral flange  97 , an integral shoulder  99  extending forwardly of the flange  97  and an integral spout  101  projecting forwardly of the shoulder  99 . Elongated bolt receiving passages  103  are formed in the flange  97 . The shoulder  99  has an inwardly inclined face  105  and the spout terminates in an outlet  107 .  
         [0027]    The tapping sleeve  91  is attached to the main fluid supply pipe  13  by fastening its semi-cylindrical section  95  to the semi-cylindrical section  23  positioned on the opposite side of the main fluid supply pipe  13 . Bolts such as the bolts  29  shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings pass through aligned holes  109  in the bolt lugs  111  of the semi-cylindrical section  95  and through similar aligned holes in the semi-cylindrical section  23  and are secured by washers and bolts (not shown) to secure the semi-cylindrical sections  23  and  95  in watertight contact with the main pipe  13 .  
         [0028]    The branch outlet pipe  93  is connected to a mechanical joint gate valve by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned bolt receiving passages  103  in the flange  97  and corresponding bolt receiving passages (not shown) in the mechanical joint flange of the gate valve which is not shown. A mechanical joint gasket (not shown) fits into the joint flange of the gate valve and fits over the spout  101  of the branch outlet pipe  91 .  
         [0029]    A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The tapping sleeve  11  shown therein is identical in construction and function to the sleeve shown and discussed in connection with the embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 3  of the drawings. The same parts carry the same numbers and modified parts will have their own numbers. The mechanical joint valve adaptor  221  of this fourth embodiment of the invention is formed with an integral flange  223 , an annular surface  225  is formed on this flange and a spout  227  projects forwardly of the annular surface  225 . Elongated bolt receiving passages  229  are formed in the flange  223  outwardly of the annular surface  225 . The spout  227  terminates in an outlet  231 . An internal shoulder  233  in the adaptor  221  engages the outlet opening  39  of the branch outlet pipe. The adaptor  221  may be welded or otherwise attached to the branch outlet pipe  15  if the branch outlet pipe is metal or it may be adhered thereto by a suitable adhesive if the branch outlet pipe is plastic. The spout  227  extends into a mechanical joint socket  59  formed in the mechanical joint flange  57  of the gate valve  17  so that the spout  227  is supported by or supports the gate valve  17 .  
         [0030]    The adaptor  221  is connected to the gate valve  17  by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned passages  229  and  63  in the adaptor flange  223  and in the mechanical joint flange  57 . An axially elongated mechanical joint gasket  235  seats in the mechanical joint flange  57  and fits over the spout  227 . The gasket  235  includes an axially elongated body portion  237  which is sufficiently long to span the space between the mechanical joint flange  57  and the annular surface  225  of the flange  223  when the T-bolts are tightened to draw together the adaptor  221  and the gate valve  17 . The gasket  235  may be reinforced if operating pressures and/or conditions dictate.  
         [0031]    A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The tapping sleeve  11  shown in this embodiment is identical in construction to the sleeve  11  shown and described in the embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 3  and the elements thereof are identified by the same numbers. The mechanical joint valve adaptor  251  of this embodiment is similar to the adaptor of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the elements that are the same generally bearing the same numbers and modified elements having different numbers. The adaptor  251  includes an integral flange  223  with a recessed annular surface  253  formed on the flange and facing the gate valve  17 . A spout  227  projects forwardly of the flange  223  and the recessed annular surface  253 . Elongated bolt receiving passages  229  are formed in the flange  223  outwardly of the recessed annular surface  253 . The spout terminates in an outlet  231 . An integral shoulder  233  in the adaptor  251  engages the outlet opening  39  of the branch outlet pipe  15 . The adaptor  253  may be welded or otherwise attached to the branch outlet pipe if the branch outlet pipe is metal or adhered thereto by a suitable adhesive if the branch outlet pipe is plastic. The spout  227  extends into a mechanical joint socket  59  formed in the mechanical joint flange  57  of the gate valve  17  so that the spout is supported by or supports the gate valve  17 .  
         [0032]    The adaptor  251  is connected to the gate valve  17  by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned passages  229  and  63  in the adaptor flange  223  and in the mechanical joint flange  57  respectively. An axially elongated mechanical joint gasket  235  seats in the mechanical joint flange  57  and fits over the spout  227 . The gasket  235  includes an axially elongated body portion  237  which is sufficiently long to span the space between the mechanical joint flange  57  and the recessed annular surface  253  of the flange  223  when the T-bolts are tightened to connect the adaptor  251  to the gate valve  17 . The gasket  235  may be reinforced if operating pressure and/or conditions dictate.  
         [0033]    A sixth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The tapping sleeve  11  is identical in construction to the sleeve shown and described in the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 3  and the parts are identified by the same numbers. The mechanical joint valve adaptor  261  of this embodiment of the invention is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the elements that are the same bearing the same numbers and the elements that are modified are assigned different numbers. The adaptor  261  includes an integral flange  223  with an annular surface  225 . A rim  263  is formed on the flange outwardly of the annular surface. A spout  227  projects forwardly of the annular surface  225  and rim  263 . Elongated bolt receiving passages  229  are formed in the flange  223  axially outwardly of the annular surface  225 . The spout terminates in an outlet  231 . Internal shoulder  233  in the adaptor  261  engages the outlet opening  39  of the branch outlet pipe  15 . The adaptor  261  may be welded or otherwise attached to the branch outlet pipe if the branch outlet pipe is metal or adhered thereto by a suitable adhesive if the branch outlet pipe is plastic. The spout  227  extends into a mechanical joint socket  59  formed in the mechanical joint flange  57  of the gate valve  17  so that the valve spout  227  is supported by or supports the gate valve  17 .  
         [0034]    The adaptor  261  is connected to the gate valve  17  by T-bolts (not shown) which extend through aligned passages  229  and  63  in the adaptor flange  223  and in the mechanical joint flange  57  respectively. An axially elongated mechanical joint gasket  235  seats in the mechanical joint flange  57  and fits over the spout  227 . The gasket  235  includes an axially elongated body portion  237  which is sufficiently long to span the space between the mechanical joint flange  57  and the annular surface  225  of the flange  223  when the T-bolts are tightened to connect the adaptor  261  to the gate valve  17 . The gasket  235  may be reinforced if operating pressures and/or conditions dictate.