Polyethylene pipe service system including quick connect means for polyethylene pipe tapping, plugging, and completion operations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10989344-B2
Application number	US-202016812985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2020
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of a polyethylene (“PE”) pipe servicing system of this disclosure may include a fusible PE fitting (F) providing a branch connection to a PE pipeline section or run (P), a valve (10) connected to the fitting and including quick connect/disconnect means, and a machine connectable to the valve including complementary quick connect/disconnect means. The quick connect means provide for full scope of operation, including cleaning, fusion, cool down, hot tap, plugging, and completion. No squeezing is used. The quick connect/disconnect means may include a first portion 20 of a cam profile and a second portion 40 of the cam profile complementary to that of the first. The machine may be a drilling or hot tapping machine (30T), a plugging machine (30P), or a completion machine (30 C), and their associated tools. The valve and machine are more lightweight and faster and easier to use than the prior art.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A polyethylene pipe service system comprising:
a valve ( 10 ) including:
a disk ( 71 ) moveable in an axial direction between an open and a closed position;
a cylindrical-shaped lower end ( 11 ) located below the disk and configured for connection to a saddle branch fitting (F) of a polyethylene pipe (P);
a cylindrical-shaped upper end ( 13 ) located above the disk and including a first portion ( 20 or 40 ) of a cam profile located on an inner wall ( 23 ) of the cylindrical-shaped upper end; and

a polyethylene pipe service machine ( 30 T, 30 P, or 30 C) including:
a cylindrical-shaped lower end ( 33 ) containing a second portion ( 40 or 20 ) of the cam profile located on an outer wall ( 67 ) of the cylindrical-shaped lower end; and
a collar ( 37 ) having a diameter greater than the cylindrical-shaped lower end of the polyethylene pipe service machine and configured for connection to the cylindrical-shaped upper end of the valve;

wherein when the first and second portions of the cam profile engage with one another, rotation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve changes a vertical elevation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve and connects the machine to the valve.

2. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first portion of the cam profile includes a pair of tabs ( 21 ) located opposite one another; and
the second portion of the cam profile includes a pair of stair-stepped channels ( 41 ) sized to receive a corresponding tab of the pair of tabs.

3. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 2 , further comprising, each stair-stepped channel including an open end ( 45 ), a closed end ( 47 ), and at least two stairs ( 61 ) located between the open and closed ends.

4. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 3 , each stair-stepped channel including the open end at is lowest most elevation and the closed end at its highest most elevation.

5. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 3 , wherein the rotation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve causes an end ( 25 ) of the tab to contact the closed end of the stair-shaped channel.

6. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 1 , further comprising, the polyethylene pipe service machine including a wheel ( 69 ) located toward, and arranged about, the cylindrical-shaped lower end of the polyethylene pipe service machine.

7. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second portion of the cam profile includes a pair of tabs ( 21 ) located opposite one another; and
the first portion of the cam profile includes a pair of stair-stepped channels ( 41 ) sized to receive a corresponding tab of the pair of tabs.

8. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 7 , further comprising, each stair-stepped channel including an open end ( 45 ), a closed end ( 47 ), and at least two stairs ( 61 ) located between the open and closed ends.

9. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 8 , each stair-stepped channel including the open end at is lowest most elevation and the closed end at its highest most elevation.

10. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 8 , wherein the rotation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve causes an end ( 25 ) of the tab to contact the closed end of the stair-shaped channel.

11. A method for securing a polyethylene pipe service machine ( 30 T, 30 C, or 30 P) to a valve ( 10 ) connected to a saddle branch fitting (F) of a polyethylene pipe run (P), the method comprising:
securing the valve to the branch access fitting, the valve including:
a disk ( 71 ) moveable in an axial direction between an open and a closed position;
a cylindrical-shaped lower end ( 11 ) located below the disk and configured for connection to the saddle branch fitting of the polyethylene pipe;
a cylindrical-shaped upper end ( 13 ) located above the disk and including a first portion ( 20 or 40 ) of a cam profile located on an inner wall ( 23 ) of the cylindrical-shaped upper end;

positioning the polyethylene pipe service machine above and directly over the valve; the polyethylene pipe service machine including:
a cylindrical-shaped lower end ( 33 ) containing a second portion ( 40 or 20 ) of the cam profile located on an outer wall ( 67 ) of the cylindrical-shaped lower end, and
a collar ( 37 ) having a diameter greater than the cylindrical-shaped lower end of the polyethylene pipe service machine and configured for connection to the cylindrical-shaped upper end of the valve;

aligning the first and second portions of the cam profile to one another;
lowering the polyethylene pipe service machine into the valve until its downward travel is arrested by the first portion of the cam profile;
rotating the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve until the rotation is arrested by the first portion of the cam profile; and
securing the collar to the cylindrical-shaped upper end of the valve.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first portion of the cam profile includes a pair of tabs ( 21 ) located opposite one another; and
the second portion of the cam profile includes a pair of stair-stepped channels ( 41 ) sized to receive a corresponding tab of the pair of tabs.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, each stair-stepped channel including an open end ( 45 ), a closed end ( 47 ), and at least two stairs ( 61 ) located between the open and closed ends.

14. The method of claim 13 , each stair-stepped channel including the open end at is lowest most elevation and the closed end at its highest most elevation.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the rotation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve causes an end ( 25 ) of the tab to contact the closed end of the stair-shaped channel.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, the polyethylene pipe service machine including a wheel ( 69 ) located toward, and arranged about, the cylindrical-shaped lower end of the polyethylene pipe service machine, the rotation occurring by turning the wheel.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the second portion of the cam profile includes a pair of tabs ( 21 ) located opposite one another; and
the first portion of the cam profile includes a pair of stair-stepped channels ( 41 ) sized to receive a corresponding tab of the pair of tabs.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, each stair-stepped channel including an open end ( 45 ), a closed end ( 47 ), and at least two stairs ( 61 ) located between the open and closed ends.

19. The method of claim 18 , each stair-stepped channel including the open end at is lowest most elevation and the closed end at its highest most elevation.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the rotation of the polyethylene pipe service machine relative to the valve causes an end ( 25 ) of the tab to contact the closed end of the stair-shaped channel.

Assignees

• Tdw Delaware Inc

Inventors

• Zann Olivier
• Cailloux Robin
• Horst Nicolas
• Burgert Stephane

Classifications

• F16K1/308

  Connecting means · CPC title

• F16L55/07

  Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T) · CPC title

• F16L47/34

  Tapping pipes, i.e. making connections through walls of pipes while carrying fluids; Fittings therefor · CPC title

• Y10T137/613

  With valved closure or bung · CPC title

• F16L55/1108

  fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring · CPC title