Water Main Tapping Devices and Methods

A water main tapping device for receiving a drill comprising:

• a saddle body including an arcuate portion having a length between a first end and a second end and a width extending perpendicular to the length, wherein the saddle body includes a saddle opening in the arcuate portion located between the first end and the second end and the arcuate portion having a thickness adjacent the saddle opening;
• the arcuate portion of the saddle body having an arcuate surface configured for mounting adjacent a water main;
• a corporation stop body formed integrally as a single piece 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;
• the base having a length and width, and the base extending from and providing added thickness to the arcuate portion of the saddle body adjacent the saddle opening;
• the rotatable valve comprising a valve element, wherein a bore extends through the valve element and is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the valve element, wherein the bore through the valve element is located between and axially aligned with the saddle opening and the outlet when the valve element is in a fully open position, and when the valve element is rotated one quarter turn to a closed position the valve element occupies the same axial position as when in the fully open position but prevents fluid flow between the saddle opening and the outlet;
• wherein the rotatable position of the valve element controls fluid flow between the saddle opening and the outlet;
• and
• wherein when the valve element is in the fully open position, a drill may be inserted through the axially aligned outlet, the bore through the valve element and the saddle opening.

A method of tapping a water main using a drill, comprising the steps of:

• providing a water main tapping device comprising:
• a saddle body including an arcuate portion having a length between a first end and a second end and a width extending perpendicular to the length, wherein the saddle body includes a saddle opening in the arcuate portion between the first end and the second end, and the arcuate portion having a thickness adjacent the saddle opening;
• the arcuate portion of the saddle body having an arcuate surface configured for mounting adjacent the water main;
• a corporation stop body formed integrally as a single piece 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;
• the base having a length and width, and the base extending from and providing added thickness to the arcuate portion of the saddle body adjacent the saddle opening;
• the housing having a length and width that are less than the length and width of the base, respectively;
• the rotatable valve housed in a valve cavity within the housing of the corporation stop body comprising a valve element further comprising a bore that extends through the valve element and is perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the valve element, wherein the bore through the valve element is located between and axially aligned with the saddle opening and the outlet when the valve element is in a fully open position, and when the valve element is rotated one quarter turn to a closed position the valve element occupies the same axial position as when in the fully open position but prevents fluid flow between the saddle opening and the outlet;
• wherein the rotatable position of the valve element controls fluid flow between the saddle opening and the outlet;
• and
• securing the water main tapping device to a saddle back portion about the water main;
• ensuring the rotational position of the valve element is in the fully open position;
• inserting the drill through the outlet, the valve element bore, and the saddle opening to strike the water main;
• drilling into the water main;
• removing the drill from the water main tapping device;
• and
• rotating the valve element to the closed position.