Method for connecting a branch pipe to a main pipeline and underground network for distributing fluid
First Claim
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1. Method for connecting a branch pipe (4) to a main pipeline (2), in which the following operations are carried out:
- a) digging an exploration hole (8) from the ground (6) in order to open up a portion of the main pipeline (2) which has an upper edge (10) which extends at an upper level (12) which is substantially constant relative to the ground (6),b) using a branch connection (14) which has a support surface (16) in the form of a cylindrical portion and a shaft (18) which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the support surface (16) and which is provided with a branch (20) which is substantially perpendicular relative to the shaft (18) and to which the branch pipe (4) is connected,c) positioning the support surface (16) of the branch connection (14) against the main pipeline (2),d) fixing the branch connection (14) to the main pipeline (2),e) placing the branch pipe (4) and the main pipeline (2) in communication,f) refilling the exploration hole (8),characterised in that, during step c), the shaft (18) of the branch connection (14) is positioned, with the branch (20) thereof, entirely below said upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2), or substantially at the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2) relative to the ground (6), and, during step f), the branch pipe (4) is kept below the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2), or substantially at the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2) relative to the ground (6).
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Abstract
Method in which the following operations are carried out:
- a) digging an exploration hole (8) in order to open up a main pipeline (2) which has an upper edge (10) which extends at an upper level (12) which is substantially constant relative to the ground (6),
- b) using a branch connection (14) which has a support surface (16) and a shaft (18) to which the branch pipe is connected,
- c) positioning the support surface (16) of the branch connection (14) against the main pipeline (2) so that the shaft (18) is below the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2),
- d) fixing the branch connection (14) to the main pipeline (2),
- e) placing the branch pipe and the main pipeline (2) in communication,
- f) refilling the exploration hole (8), whilst keeping the branch pipe below the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2).
22 Citations
8 Claims
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1. Method for connecting a branch pipe (4) to a main pipeline (2), in which the following operations are carried out:
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a) digging an exploration hole (8) from the ground (6) in order to open up a portion of the main pipeline (2) which has an upper edge (10) which extends at an upper level (12) which is substantially constant relative to the ground (6), b) using a branch connection (14) which has a support surface (16) in the form of a cylindrical portion and a shaft (18) which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the support surface (16) and which is provided with a branch (20) which is substantially perpendicular relative to the shaft (18) and to which the branch pipe (4) is connected, c) positioning the support surface (16) of the branch connection (14) against the main pipeline (2), d) fixing the branch connection (14) to the main pipeline (2), e) placing the branch pipe (4) and the main pipeline (2) in communication, f) refilling the exploration hole (8), characterised in that, during step c), the shaft (18) of the branch connection (14) is positioned, with the branch (20) thereof, entirely below said upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2), or substantially at the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2) relative to the ground (6), and, during step f), the branch pipe (4) is kept below the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2), or substantially at the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2) relative to the ground (6). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8)
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4. Portion of an underground network (50) for distributing fluid, such as gas or water, said network portion comprising:
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at least one main pipeline (2), said main pipeline (2) having an upper edge (10) which extends at an upper level (12) which is substantially constant below the ground (6), a plurality of branch connections (14, 14′
) which are fixed to the main pipeline (2) and which each comprise a shaft (18, 18′
) which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the main pipeline,a plurality of branch pipes (4, 4′
) which extend in the ground (6), each branch pipe (4, 4′
) being connected to the main pipeline (2) by means of one of the branch connections (14, 14′
), for the circulation of fluid,said network portion being characterised in that the shaft (18, 18′
) of each of the branch connections (14, 14′
) and each of the branch pipes (4, 4′
) are located entirely below said upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2), or substantially at the upper level (12) of the main pipeline (2) relative to the ground (6).- View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeGdf Suez
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Original AssigneeGaz de France
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InventorsBideault, Jean-Michel, Darut, Alain, Hardy, Michel
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Primary Examiner(s)LEE, KEVIN L
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Application NumberUS11/106,519Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,026 DaysField of Search405/184.1, 405/184.3, 405/154.1, 408/87, 408/104, 408/105, 285/23, 285/187, 137/317, 137/318, 137/15.12, 137/15.13US Class Current137/15.12CPC Class CodesF16L 41/06 making use of attaching mea...F16L 47/345 making use of attaching mea...Y10T 137/0458 Tapping pipe, keg, or tankY10T 137/612 Tapping a pipe, keg, or ape...Y10T 408/56337 Oppositely moving lateral c...
