# US 5,349,979 A · Line tapping and clamping assembly for refrigeration systems

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- Number: US 5,349,979 A
- Document ID: US5349979A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/189,432
- Filed: 1994-01-31
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1992-09-21
- Assignees: Instant Pierce, Inc.
- Inventors: Terri Zeien; Richard Rahn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349979A

## CPC

- F16L 41/065: {without removal of material}
- B25B 5/068: {with at least one jaw sliding along a bar (B25B5/061, B25B5/085, B25B5/102, B25B5/127 take precedence)}
- B25B 5/102: {with at least one jaw sliding along a bar}
- B25B 5/163: {Jaws or jaw attachments}
- B26F 1/0015: {specially adapted for perforating tubes}
- Y10T 137/6123: With aperture forming means
- Y10T 408/56245: including tool-guide [or bushing]
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a self-contained line tapping and clamping device for removing fluids from a refrigeration system. The apparatus includes a main inner shaft, and an outer tubular shaft slidably fitting over at least a portion of the inner shaft. A pair of opposing clamp arms are provided, one carried by the lower portion of the inner shaft and the other carried by the outer shaft. The clamp arms align by relative movement of the inner and outer shafts. One of the clamp arms carries a piercing device which includes a piercing point for piercing a line supported by the other clamping arm such that the piercing point is aimed directly at the line. A threaded actuating device including a mechanism for rotating the actuating device is provided for urging the two arms together as they move relative to each other to thereby cause the piercing point to pierce the line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-contained piercing apparatus comprising:
(a) an inner shaft having an upper portion, a lower portion and a first arm carried on said lower portion;
(b) an hollow outer shaft slidably fitting over a portion of said inner shaft and carrying a second arm thereon, said first and second arms being capable of alignment by relative movement of said inner and outer shafts;
(c) piercing means having an end with a piercing point for piercing a line supported by one of said arms, said piercing means being attached to the other of said first and second arms with the piercing point facing in the direction of the one of said arm supporting the line and the line; and
(d) a threaded actuating means for urging said first and said second arms together as they move relative to each other, said actuating means including means for rotating said threaded actuating means to cause said piercing means to pierce said line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said piercing means is hollow.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said piercing means includes integral connection means for externally connecting a pierced line.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the piercing means further comprises sealing means to prevent leakage from the tapped hole other than through said connection means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising alignment means for maintaining said first and second arms aligned.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the alignment means comprises said inner shaft having a slot extending from said upper portion toward said first arm, and a tab on the inside of said hollow outer shaft, said tab slidably inserted into said slot of said inner shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an infinitely adjustable handle means attachable to said hollow outer shaft for moving and holding said apparatus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner shaft consists of a single member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner shaft comprises a first piece having a threaded shaft and a second piece having a threaded bore.

### Claim 10

An apparatus for piercing and clamping a main line, comprising:
(a) an inner shaft having a first threaded end and a second end carrying a first arm;
(b) a hollow outer shaft slidably fitting over a portion of said inner shaft, and carrying a second arm thereon, said first and second arms being capable of alignment by relative movement of said inner and outer shafts;
(c) a hollow piercing member having an end with a piercing point for piercing a line supported by said first arm, said piercing member being carried by said second arm with the piercing point facing in the direction of the first arm and the line; and
(d) actuating means, including a threaded member rotatably connected to the threaded end of said inner shaft, for urging said first and second arms together to cause said piercing means to pierce said line.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising alignment means for keeping said first and second arms aligned.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the alignment means comprises said inner shaft having a slot extending from the first threaded end toward the second end and a tab on the inside of said hollow outer shaft slidably fit into said slot of said inner shaft.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an axially and radially adjustable handle means capable of being carried by said outer shaft for moving and holding said apparatus.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said piercing member includes integral connection means for externally connecting a pierced line.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the piercing member further comprises sealing means to prevent leakage from the tapped hole other than through said connection means.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for piercing a line, comprising:
(a) a first inner shaft having a threaded bore in one end and carrying a first arm at the other end;
(b) a hollow outer shaft slidably fitting over a portion of said first inner shaft, said outer shaft carrying a second arm thereon, said first and second arms being capable of alignment by relative movement of said first inner shaft in said outer shaft;
(c) a hollow piercing member having an end with a piercing point for piercing a line supported by said first arm, said hollow piercing member being carried by said second arm and facing said first arm and the line; and
(d) actuating means including a second threaded inner shaft connected to a rotation means for rotating said second threaded inner shaft into said threaded bore in said first inner shaft, said actuating means urging said first and second arms together to cause said piercing member to pierce said line.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising alignment means for keeping said first and second arms aligned.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the alignment means comprises a first flat surface on said first inner shaft and a matching second flat surface in said hollow outer shaft slidably fit over said first inner shaft, said first and second flat surfaces preventing rotation of said hollow outer shaft on said first inner shaft.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an axially and radially adjustable handle means attachable to said outer shaft for moving and holding said apparatus.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said piercing member includes integral connection means for externally connecting a pierced line.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the piercing member further comprises sealing means to prevent leakage from the tapped hole other than through said connection means.