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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11796106-B2
Application number	US-202117240465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2021
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

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 ( 30 T), a plugging machine ( 30 P), 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 ) adapted for connection to a saddle branch fitting (F) of a polyethylene pipe run (P), the valve including:
a disk ( 71 ) moveable in an axial direction between an open and a closed position and
a cylindrical-shaped upper end ( 13 ) located above the disk and including a first portion ( 20 or 40 ) of a non-threaded 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 non-threaded cam profile located on an outer wall ( 67 ) of the cylindrical-shaped lower end; and

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 engaging 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 saddle branch fitting, the valve including:
a disk ( 71 ) moveable in an axial direction between an open and a closed position; and
a cylindrical-shaped upper end ( 13 ) located above the disk and including a first portion ( 20 or 40 ) of a non-threaded 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 non-threaded cam profile located on an outer wall ( 67 ) of the cylindrical-shaped lower end;

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.

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.

21. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, after the rotating, securing a collar of the polyethylene pipe service machine to the cylindrical-shaped upper end of the valve.

22. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 1 , the valve further comprising:
a cylindrical-shaped lower end ( 11 ) located below the disk.

23. The polyethylene pipe service system of claim 22 , the polyethylene pipe service machine further comprising:
a collar ( 37 ) having a diameter greater than the cylindrical-shaped lower end of the polyethylene pipe service machine and adapted for connection to the cylindrical-shaped upper end of the valve.

24. A polyethylene pipe service system comprising:
a valve ( 10 ) adapted for connection to a saddle branch fitting (F), the valve including a disk ( 71 ) moveable in an axial direction between an open and a closed position and a cylindrical-shaped upper end ( 13 ) located above the disk, the cylindrical-shaped upper end containing a first portion ( 20 or 40 ) of a non-threaded cam profile; and
a polyethylene pipe service machine ( 30 T, 30 P, or

Assignees

• Tdw Delaware Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16K1/308

  Connecting means · CPC title

• F16L37/256 Primary

  the coupling not being coaxial with the pipe · CPC title

• F16L47/34

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

• F16L55/07

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

• F16L55/1108

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