The present flow-undisrupted process includes: enclosing a portion of an existing pipe with a sealing case; connecting a boring machine to the sealing case in a non-valve state in which no operation valve is interposed between a projecting pipe portion of the sealing case and the boring machine; forming a circular opening in an area of the existing pipe corresponding to the projecting pipe portion by means of a hole saw of the boring machine; rotating a tee and the boring machine in a circumferential direction of the existing pipe to a position at which the projecting pipe portion is completely past the opening; after the rotation, maintaining a sealed state in which the seal packing prevents a pressure of a fluid inside the existing pipe from being applied to the projecting pipe portion; and removing the boring machine from the projecting pipe portion in the sealed state.

The present flow-undisrupted process includes: enclosing a portion of an existing pipe with a sealing case; connecting a boring machine to the sealing case in a non-valve state in which no operation valve is interposed between a projecting pipe portion of the sealing case and the boring machine; forming a circular opening in an area of the existing pipe corresponding to the projecting pipe portion by means of a hole saw of the boring machine; rotating a tee and the boring machine in a circumferential direction of the existing pipe to a position at which the projecting pipe portion is completely past the opening; after the rotation, maintaining a sealed state in which the seal packing prevents a pressure of a fluid inside the existing pipe from being applied to the projecting pipe portion; and removing the boring machine from the projecting pipe portion in the sealed state.

The present invention proposes a split clamp (7), typical of trepanning operations in pipes, which allows the intervention with a tool (3) that makes a circular hole in the pipe (1) under analysis, removing layer by layer, until reaching the pressure barrier (2). With this, a sample of the layer of interest is removed to be forwarded for analysis. Such a clamp (7) has means to isolate the pipe (1) from the external environment, introduce the tool (3) and remove the same with the sample, also allowing tightness repair of the pipe (1).

The invention is a tapping assembly for use on a pipe or tank. It includes a hollow body that sits flush on the outer wall of the pipe or tank and includes a plurality of locking members that sit flush within the body and form a threaded portion into which a cap is inertable. Each locking member extends into the interior of the pipe or tank, and has an outwardly extending flanged portion that engages with the inner sidewall of the pipe or tank. When the cap is tightened against the body, it causes each of the locking member to retract, thereby causing the respective flange portions to lock the assembly against the pipe or tank wall. The assembly can be manufactured to provide either an orthogonal tap, or an angled tap, relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, or plane of the tank sidewall.

The invention is a tapping assembly for use on a pipe or tank. It includes a hollow body that sits flush on the outer wall of the pipe or tank and includes a plurality of locking members that sit flush within the body and form a threaded portion into which a cap is inertable. Each locking member extends into the interior of the pipe or tank, and has an outwardly extending flanged portion that engages with the inner sidewall of the pipe or tank. When the cap is tightened against the body, it causes each of the locking member to retract, thereby causing the respective flange portions to lock the assembly against the pipe or tank wall. The assembly can be manufactured to provide either an orthogonal tap, or an angled tap, relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, or plane of the tank sidewall.

The branch pipe forming apparatus 100 includes a first split member 3 and a second split member 4, which include split surfaces 3a and 4a along a plane including an axial center X of the existing pipe W and an axial center Y of a branch pipe 2, and which are connected to each other in a sealed state by a fastening member B. An axial center Z of a tube part 31 is located closer to the branch pipe 2 than to the outer circumferential surface of an existing pipe W in a cutter accommodation space Sp. The first split member 3 and the second split member 4 are coupled to each other at respective coupling portions with respective coupling openings opposite to each other across the drilled hole Wa and the cutter accommodation space Sp and holding therebetween an end portion 2A of the branch pipe 2 in a sealed state.

The branch pipe forming apparatus 100 includes a first split member 3 and a second split member 4, which include split surfaces 3a and 4a along a plane including an axial center X of the existing pipe W and an axial center Y of a branch pipe 2, and which are connected to each other in a sealed state by a fastening member B. An axial center Z of a tube part 31 is located closer to the branch pipe 2 than to the outer circumferential surface of an existing pipe W in a cutter accommodation space Sp. The first split member 3 and the second split member 4 are coupled to each other at respective coupling portions with respective coupling openings opposite to each other across the drilled hole Wa and the cutter accommodation space Sp and holding therebetween an end portion 2A of the branch pipe 2 in a sealed state.

A tapper for tapping a water main is disclosed. The tapper includes a tapping portion having an open first end for coupling to a saddle fitted on a water main. The tapping portion defines a first interior space to be fluidly connected to the water main. A coupling portion extends from the tapping portion and has a receiving end for receiving a service line. The coupling portion has a second interior space fluidly connecting the first interior space and the receiving end. A cutter is arranged in the first interior space. The cutter is advanceable from a starting position to a tapping position at the first end and retractable to the starting position. Related methods are also disclosed.

An example shut-off device includes a valve body to surround a section of a pipe and form a chamber about the section of the pipe. The example shut-off device also includes a first flange bearing on a first side of the chamber. The first flange bearing in a closed position forming a first seal between the pipe and the chamber. The example shut-off device also includes a second flange bearing on a second side of the chamber. the second flange bearing in a closed position forming a second seal between the pipe and the chamber. The example shut-off device also includes a cutting blade in the chamber. The cutting blade tightens against the pipe to cut through the pipe and at least partially seals an opening in the cut pipe. The cutting blade is configured to operate as a gate valve.

A water main tapping device and method includes a saddle body including an arcuate portion between a first end and a second end, wherein the saddle body includes a saddle opening at a location between the first end and the second end, and a corporation stop body formed integrally with and extending from the saddle body. The corporation stop body includes a base with an inlet cavity in fluid communication with the saddle opening, a housing extending from the base and having a valve cavity in which a rotatable valve is positioned and which is in fluid communication with the inlet cavity, and a connector end extending from the housing and including an outlet in fluid communication with the valve cavity.