Patent ID: 7552742

Claim:
A device for tapping into a pipe element for attaching a valve to said pipe element using a saddle connection and a hole boring tool, said saddle connection being mounted on said pipe, said valve being attached to said saddle connection, said saddle connection comprising: a first strap having a concave surface with a curvature adapted to interface with said pipe element; a nipple mounted on said first strap, said nipple having a bore therethrough, said bore extending through said first strap; a second strap having a concave surface with a curvature adapted to interface with said pipe element, said second strap being positioned opposite said first strap on said pipe element, said first and second straps surrounding said pipe element; connection members mounted on each end of each of said first and second straps, at least one of said connection members being adjustably tightenable for joining said straps in end to end relation surrounding said pipe element; at least one projection extending from said concave surface of said second strap, said projection for biting into said pipe element and preventing motion of said straps relatively thereto; said device comprising: a tube having first and second ends, said first end being engageable with said valve, said tube having a sidewall defining a bore sized to receive said hole boring tool therein, said bore having an inwardly projecting shoulder, a sealing member comprising a flexible ring positioned within said bore against said shoulder and having an inner diameter engageable with said hole boring tool; a gland engaged directly with said second end of said tube, said boring tool passing through said gland, said gland having a surface engageable with said ring to compress and deform said ring against said shoulder to effect a fluid tight seal against said hole boring tool; an opening in said sidewall in fluid communication with said bore; and wherein fluid from within said pipe element, released when said boring tool penetrates said pipe element, being conducted through said saddle connection, through said valve and through said tube bore, said fluid washing swarf from said pipe element outwardly through said opening in said sidewall.