Method and device for tapping and tracing a conduit

• US 9,057,471 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARSS, KEVIN R
• Application Number:
  US13/919,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20140076414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 137/317
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 tee 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, wherein the lubrication port 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;

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;

d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and 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;

e. 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

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

2. A device for tapping and accessing a buried pressurized 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, a shut-off valve located proximate the exit, 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;

d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and 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;

e. 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;

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

g. 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.

3. 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, a shut-off valve located proximate the exit, 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;

d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and 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;

e. 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;

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

g. 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.

4. 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, a shut-off valve located proximate the exit, 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;

d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and 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;

e. 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;

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

g. 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.

5. 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, a shut-off valve located proximate the exit, 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 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 assembly;

d. a flexible rodder comprising an internal conductor, a fiberglass rod covering the internal conductor, and a plastic sheath covering the fiberglass rod and 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;

e. 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;

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

g. 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; and

h. wherein the port is positioned at an acute angle to the conduit, the port of tapping assembly is made from a polymer, and the attachment to the conduit of the tapping assembly is electro-fused to the conduit.