Patent ID: 7216795

Claim:
A method of preparing an elongated pipe that carries liquids or gases to receive equipment by which the pipe may be tapped, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning on the external cylindrical surface of the pipe spaced-apart circumferential gaskets, each in planes perpendicular to the pipe; (b) assembling on the pipe first and second spaced apart metal collars, each collar being formed of attachable upper and lower semi-toroidal portions that, when engaged with each other, provide internal and coaxial external cylindrical surfaces, the internal cylindrical surfaces conforming to the pipe external cylindrical surface, each collar having at least one internal circumferential sealing groove therein, the grooves receiving said gaskets; (c) securing said semi-toroidal portions of said first and second collars to each other, capturing said gaskets in contact with the pipe cylindrical surface, the assembled collars providing spaced-apart external cylindrical surfaces; (d) positioning an upper semi-tubular metal containment member onto said external cylindrical surfaces of said collars, the upper containment member having spaced-apart paralleled lower horizontal edges and having an integral upwardly extending tubular access portion; (e) positioning a lower semi-tubular metal containment member onto said external cylindrical surfaces of said collars, the lower containment member having spaced-apart paralleled upper horizontal edges that match said upper containment member lower horizontal edges; and (f) welding said upper and lower containment members to said collars and to each other to fully encompass a portion of the pipe to provide passage through said tubular access portion for tapping the pipe without welding to the pipe.