Method and Device for Tapping and Tracing a Conduit

• US 20140076414A1
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jameson, LLC (Spartaco LLC)
• Original Assignee: Jameson, LLC (Spartaco LLC)
• Inventors: Kokoski, Bradley Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,057,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/15.13
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/11 for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/04 Tapping pipe walls, i.e. making connections through the walls of pipes while they are carrying fluids; Fittings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/06 making use of attaching means embracing the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/48 Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0463 Particular aperture forming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6123 With aperture forming means

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a device for tapping and tracing a conduit that is obstructed from view such as a subterranean pipe. The invention allows the conduit to be traced while the conduit continues to function. The device includes a tapping tee for tapping into a conduit with an entry port at an acute angle to the conduit, a flexible fiberglass rodder that includes a conductor, a stuffing box removably attached to the tapping tee for inserting the rodder into the tapping tee, a signal transmitter operably attached to the rodder, and a signal receiver that receives the signals transmitted by the transmitter through the rodder and through the obstruction.

Claims

1. A device for tapping and accessing a buried pressurized conduit comprising:

a. a tapping assembly for being operatively connected to the conduit, and including an attachment to the conduit, a pathway into the conduit, and a port for permitting access to the conduit via the pathway;

b. a stuffing box defining a void having an entrance and exit, an o-ring fitting tightly within an o-ring cavity, and a lubrication port for dispensing lubrication into the void;

c. a connection between the stuffing box and the tapping assembly that connects the exit of the stuffing box to the port of the tapping assembly; and

d. a flexible rodder adapted to be received into and through the void and into the conduit in a pressure-tight sealing state for maintaining pressurization in the conduit during tapping, and for receiving lubrication from the lubrication port sufficient to permit movement of the rodder through the void and into and out of the conduit.

2. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 1 wherein the rodder comprises an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod.

3. The device for tapping and accessing a buried conduit of claim 2 further comprising:

a. a signal transmitter operably connected to the internal conductor of the flexible rodder and capable of transmitting a signal in the form of a pulse of electric current through the length of the flexible rodder; and

b. a receiving antenna for receiving and detecting the signal transmitted by the signal transmitter through the flexible rodder.

4. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 3 wherein the stuffing box further comprises a shut-off valve located proximate the exit.

5. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 3 wherein the lubrication port of the stuffing box further comprises a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant valve, and a cap and the stuffing box has an outer housing surrounding an inner housing which defines the hollow void.

6. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 4 wherein

a. the port is positioned at an acute angle to the conduit;

b. the port of tapping assembly is made from a polymer; and

c. the attachment to the conduit of the tapping assembly is electro-fused to the conduit.

7. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 6 wherein the connection between the stuffing box and the tapping assembly further comprises a short piece of polymeric conduit attached to the exit of the stuffing box and a coupler electro-fused to the short piece of pipe and to the port of the tapping tee.

8. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 4 wherein the lubricant applied to the lubrication port is a lubricant that is applied to the rodder via the reservoir when the rodder is being extracted from the stuffing box and wherein the device further comprises a plurality of pre-saturated wipes containing a lubricant for manually lubricating the rodder as it is inserted into the stuffing box.

9. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 4 further comprising a reel for holding and storing the flexible rodder.

10. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 9 wherein the signal transmitter further comprises an output lead and a ground lead attached to a ground stake inserted into soil surrounding the buried cable, and the internal conductor of the flexible rodder is a single conductor and further comprises a first comprising an external conductive fitting that is inserted into the stuffing box and a second comprising an external conductive fitting that is connected to the output lead of the signal transmitter.

11. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 9 wherein the signal transmitter further comprises a first output lead and a second output lead and wherein the internal conductor of the flexible rodder is a dual conductor further comprising:

a. a first conductor comprising an external fitting operably attached to the first output lead of the signal transmitter;

b. a second conductor comprising an external fitting operably attached to the second output lead of the signal transmitter; and

c. a coil that splices the first conductor and the second conductor together at an end opposite the respective external fittings and that coils around the axis of the rodder.

12. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 7 further comprising a stab plug for disconnecting the stuffing box and for cutting and sealing off the short piece of polymeric conduit after the conduit has been tapped and traced.

13. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 3 wherein the connection between the stuffing box and the tapping assembly further comprises a shutoff valve removably attached to the port of the tapping tee and removably attached to the stuffing box.

14. The device for tapping and accessing a conduit of claim 4 wherein

a. the port is positioned at an acute angle to the conduit;

b. the port of tapping assembly is made from a polymer; and

c. the attachment to the conduit of the tapping assembly is mechanically clamped to the conduit.

15. A method of tapping and tracing a buried pressurized conduit comprising the steps of:

a. determining the location of an entrance point into a polymeric conduit to be traced;

b. providing;

i. a tapping assembly capable of being attached to and creating an opening into the polymeric conduit and further comprising a single open port fixed at an acute angle relative to the polymeric conduit and having a shut-off valve;

ii. a stuffing box having open cylindrical void and a lubrication port;

iii. a signal transmitter operably tied to a traceable rodder and a signal receiving antenna, the traceable rodder being adapted to tightly fit within the cylindrical void in a pressure-tight sealing state for maintaining pressurization in the conduit during tapping;

c. attaching the tapping assembly to the conduit;

d. attaching the stuffing box to the open port with the shutoff in a closed position;

e. actuating the tapping assembly thereby creating the opening into the conduit;

f. inserting the rodder into the inner housing of the stuffing box;

g. opening the shutoff valve and inserting the rodder through the shutoff valve, into the tapping tee, and into the conduit;

h. operating the signal transmitter;

i. moving the signal receiving antenna over a section of ground thereby tracing the conduit;

j. deactivating the signal transmitter; and

k. removing the rodder from the conduit and shutting off the valve of the stuffing box after the rodder exits the valve but before the rodder completely exits the stuffing box housing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an additional step 1 comprises:

l. sealing off the single open port and removing the stuffing box.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step l. includes sealing the single open port with a stab plug.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein an additional step l comprises:

l. installing a permanent closable valve box extending from grade to the conduit for protecting the tapping assembly.

19. The method of tapping and tracing a conduit of claim 15 wherein step b further comprises providing a plurality of pre-saturated wipes and step f further comprises wiping the rodder with the pre-saturated lubricant wipes as the rodder is inserted into the stuffing box.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the tapping assembly provided in step b. i. is capable of attachment via either mechanical clamp attachment or electro fusion attachment.

21. A method of tapping and tracing a buried pressurized conduit comprising the steps of:

a. determining the location of an entrance point into a polymeric conduit to be traced;

b. providing;

a tapping assembly capable of being electro-fused to or mechanically attached to the polymeric conduit, capable of creating an opening into the polymeric conduit at the entrance point, and further comprising a single open port made of a polymer fixed at an acute angle relative to the polymeric conduit;

ii. a stuffing box comprising a shutoff valve, an inner housing having an open cylindrical void, and a lubrication port;

iii. a short section of conduit capable of being attached to the stuffing box;

iv. a coupler capable of being electro-fused to or mechanically attached to the single open port of the tapping tee and to the short section of conduit;

v. a signal transmitter capable of transmitting an electric pulse and further comprising a ground lead attached to a stake and an output lead;

vi. a traceable rodder made of fiberglass, adapted to receive lubrication and to tightly pass through the void of the stuffing box, and having an outer plastic covering and a single internal conductor attached at one end to the output lead of the signal transmitter; and

vii. a signal receiving antenna;

c. attaching the tapping asssembly to the conduit via mechanical attachment or electro fusion;

d. attaching the coupler to the single open port of the tapping assembly and to the short section of conduit via mechanical attachment or electro fusion;

e. attaching the short section of conduit to the stuffing box and ensuring that the shutoff valve of the stuffing box is shutoff so as not to allow an open passage;

f. actuating the tapping assembly thereby creating the opening into the conduit;

g. inserting the rodder into the inner housing of the stuffing box;

h. opening the shutoff valve of the stuffing box and inserting the rodder through the shutoff valve, into the tapping tee, and into the conduit;

i. operating the signal transmitter;

j. moving the signal receiving antenna over a section of ground thereby tracing the conduit;

k. deactivating the signal transmitter;

l. removing the rodder from the conduit and shutting off the valve of the stuffing box after the rodder exits the valve but before the rodder completely exits the stuffing box housing; and

m. applying the stab plug to the short section of conduit thereby sealing off the conduit, tapping assembly, and coupler and allowing the stuffing box to be removed.

22. The method of tapping and tracing a conduit of claim 21 wherein step b further comprises providing a plurality of pre-saturated wipes and step g further comprises wiping the rodder with the pre-saturated lubricant wipes as the rodder is inserted into the stuffing box.

23. The method of tapping and tracing a conduit of claim 21 wherein an additional step m comprises:

m. applying a stab plug to the short section of conduit thereby sealing off the conduit, tapping assembly, and coupler and allowing the stuffing box to be removed.

24. The method of tapping and tracing a conduit of claim 21 wherein an additional step m comprises:

m. installing a permanent closable valve box extending from grade to the conduit for protecting the tapping assembly.