Stabilized tap mounting assembly

• US 6,871,881 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Century Industries Company
• Original Assignee: Century Industries Company
• Inventors: Hutton, Peter B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US09/959,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 285/219, 285/143.1, 285/114, 285/116, 285/89, 285/220, 285/221, 285/115, 285/93, 137/317, 137/318, 292/82
• US Class Current: 285/219
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0015 using switching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/612 Tapping a pipe, keg, or apertured tank under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule

Abstract

A method and apparatus are directed to reduce the load from the threads on taps on an orifice plate or orifice fitting. The apparatus includes a tap (3) having an NPT threaded end (1) and a flanged end (12) and an intermediate flange (13) which engages with a stabilizing tube (2) placed around the tap (3). In use, a stabilizing nut (1), previously threaded on the stabilizing tube (2), is unthreaded thereby forcing the stabilizing tube (2) against the intermediate flange (13) and transferring at least some of the weight off the threads (1) of the tap (3).

Claims

1. A tap assembly comprising:

(a) tap comprising a male NPT threaded end and a flanged end, wherein the tap is further provided with a stabilizing flange integral with the tap;

(b) a separate stabilizing tube having an external thread; and

(c) a stabilizing nut threaded on said stabilizing tube.

2. The tap assembly of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing flange is provided intermediate the threaded end and flanged end.

3. The tap assembly of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing tube has at least one projection interfitting with a recess in the stabilizing flange.

4. The tap assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one projection comprises two projections interfitting with two mating recesses in the stabilizing flange.

5. The tap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a manifold attached to the flanged end of said tap.

6. The tap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pressure transmitter attached to the flanged end of said tap.

7. The tap assembly of claim 5, further comprising a pressure transmitter attached to the manifold.

17. The tap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flange shoe.

8. A method of transferring the load on the threads of a pressure tap to a larger area than just the threads of the pressure tap, said method comprising:

(a) providing a tap having at one end, male NPT threads and at the other end a flange and immediate thereto a stabilizing flange;

(b) providing a threaded stabilizing tube;

(c) threading a stabilizing nut on said stabilizing tube;

(d) threading said NPT threads into a source of pressure; and

(e) unthreading said stabilizing nut on said stabilizing tube to expand the stabilizing tube and stabilizing nut into a state of compression thereby transferring at least some of the load from the NPT threads to the stabilizing flange.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the source of pressure is an orifice plate fitting.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the source of pressure is an orifice flange.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising placing a flange shoe between said orifice flange and said stabilizing nut.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaching a manifold to said end flange.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising attaching a pressure transmitter to said manifold.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaching a pressure transmitter to said end flange.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising engaging at least one protrusion on said stabilizing tube with at least one mating recess on said stabilizing flange.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising engaging two protrusions on said stabilizing tube with two mating recesses on said stabilizing flange.