US 12,560,267 B2Granted

Wide range tapping sleeve

AssigneeMueller International, LLC

InventorsTimothy Wayne Stern, David Latimore Hughes, Jr., Timothy J. Mitchell

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Abstract

A tapping sleeve for a pipe element can include first and second sleeve portions, each defining a first axial end, a second axial end, a first side end, a second side end, and an arcuate portion extending between the first side end and the second side end; the second sleeve portion hingedly secured to the first sleeve portion; and a connecting element joining the first side ends of the first and second sleeve portions; wherein the connecting element, the first side end of the first sleeve portion, and the first side end of the second sleeve portion define at least a portion of a hinge of the tapping sleeve, a position of the first sleeve portion with respect to the second sleeve portion in an assembled condition in a circumferential direction of the tapping sleeve being different between the at least two assembled conditions of the hinge.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A tapping sleeve for a pipe element, the tapping sleeve comprising:

a first sleeve portion defining:
a first axial end;
a second axial end;
a first side end;
a second side end;
and
an arcuate portion extending between the first side end and the second side end;
and
a second sleeve portion hingedly secured to the first sleeve portion and defining:
a first axial end;
a second axial end;
a first side end;
a second side end;
and
an arcuate portion extending between the first side end of the second sleeve portion and the second side end of the second sleeve portion;
and
a connecting element:
received within each of the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion;
and
joining the first side end of the first sleeve portion to the first side end of the second sleeve portion;
wherein the connecting element, the first side end of the first sleeve portion, and the first side end of the second sleeve portion define at least a portion of a hinge of the tapping sleeve, the hinge defining at least two assembled conditions, a position of the first sleeve portion with respect to the second sleeve portion in an assembled condition in a circumferential direction of the tapping sleeve being different between the at least two assembled conditions.

18 more elements

A device for a pipe element, the device comprising:

a first sleeve portion defining:
a first axial end;
a second axial end;
a first side end;
a second side end, one of the first side end or the second side end defining at least one insert, the at least one insert being deformable in normal use after assembly of the device;
and
an arcuate portion extending between the first side end and the second side end;
a second sleeve portion hingedly secured to the first sleeve portion and defining:
a first axial end;
a second axial end;
a first side end;
a second side end;
and
an arcuate portion extending between the first side end of the second sleeve portion and the second side end of the second sleeve portion;
and
one of a connecting element and a connector extending through the at least one insert and joining the first side end of the first sleeve portion to the first side end of the second sleeve portion;
wherein the first side end of the first sleeve portion, the first side end of the second sleeve portion, and the one of the connecting element and the connector define at least a portion of a hinge side and a connecting side of the device, an effective inside diameter of the device being configured to increase as a result of deformation of the at least one insert.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/151,303Filed 6 Jan 2023
Published: US 2024/0230005 A111 Jul 2024
Granted: 24 Feb 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16L 41/065
Making use of attaching means embracing the pipe: without removal of material
F16L 41/06
Tapping pipe walls, i.e. making connections through the walls of pipes while they are carrying fluids; Fittings therefor: making use of attaching…
F16L 47/345
Tapping pipes, i.e. making connections through walls of pipes while carrying fluids; Fittings therefor: making use of attaching means embracing…
F16L
Pipes