Electrically insulating gas line system

A system for electrically insulating conduits carrying combustible gas comprising:

• a gas meter including a threaded spud, said spud having a spud opening bounded by a generally radially extending annular spud face;
• an electrically conductive conduit portion, said conduit portion having an annular longitudinal end, wherein said end includes an opening, said opening bounded by a generally radially extending opening end face, said opening adapted for flow of combustible gas therethrough, and wherein said conduit portion further comprises an annular radially extending conduit flange portion;
• a generally annular, continuous electrically insulating portion attached to said longitudinal end, said insulating portion extending in surrounding relation of said longitudinal end, both inwardly and outwardly of said opening and across said opening end face, said insulating portion including an annular radially outward extending insulating flange portion and a neck portion extending from said insulating flange portion in a longitudinal direction and away from said opening, and wherein said conduit flange portion underlies said insulating flange portion radially and also in the longitudinal direction and in an opposed longitudinal direction, and wherein said insulating portion extends in said spud opening, and wherein said insulating flange portion is disposed from said spud face by a generally annular space, and wherein an annular resilient seal fills said annular space;
• and
• a nut portion, wherein said nut portion includes a nut aperture, said neck portion extending through said nut aperture, said nut portion further including an annular, radially inward extending lip portion bounding said aperture, and an annular threaded portion longitudinally disposed from said lip portion, wherein said threaded portion is in engagement with said spud and said lip portion of said nut is in engagement with said insulating flange portion.

A method for insulating conduits for carrying combustible gas comprising the steps of:

• cold forming a flange, a pilot portion and an enlarged annular tapered portion having a tapered portion diameter and bounded by a generally radially extending step, on a metal conduit pipe;
• applying a continuous layer of electrically insulating material over the flange and pilot portion, and applying said layer on an annular neck portion longitudinally disposed from said flange portion, wherein said layer is applied longitudinally on said conduit in close adjacent relation to said radially extending step, and wherein said layer is applied on said neck portion such that a diameter of said neck portion is less than said tapered portion diameter;
• attaching a nut portion on said pipe, said nut portion having an aperture at a first longitudinal end, and a threaded portion at an opposed longitudinal end, said neck portion extending through said aperture;
• and
• engaging said threaded portion of said nut to a spud of a gas carrying device.

A method for insulating conduits for carrying combustible gas comprising the steps of:

• cold forming a flange and a pilot portion on a metal conduit pipe wherein said pipe has an opening to said interior area and wherein said opening is bounded by a generally radially extending end face, and wherein said pilot portion is disposed longitudinally between said end face and said flange;
• applying a continuous layer of electrically insulating material over the flange, said pilot portion, said end face and longitudinally into the interior area of said pipe, wherein said layer is applied so that said flange underlies said layer both in a radial direction and in a first longitudinal direction and in an opposed longitudinal direction from said flange;
• placing a resilient seal in supported relation on said pilot portion, wherein said resilient seal fills an annular space extending radially outward of said pilot portion and to a maximum diameter of said layer overlying said flange;
• attaching a nut portion on said pipe, said nut portion having an aperture at a first longitudinal end, and a threaded portion at an opposed longitudinal end, said pipe extending through said aperture;
• and
• extending said pilot portion in a spud opening of a spud, and engaging said resilient seal with an annular spud face extending generally radially outwardly of said spud opening, and engaging the threaded portion of said nut to an outer annularly threaded surface of said spud.

A method for insulating conduits for carrying combustible gas comprising the steps of:

• cold forming a flange and a pilot portion on a metal conduit pipe;
• bending said conduit pipe to a desired curved configuration;
• applying a layer of electrically insulating material over the flange and pilot portion;
• attaching a nut portion on said pipe, said nut portion having an aperture at a first longitudinal end, and a threaded portion at an opposed longitudinal end, said pipe extending through said aperture;
• and
• engaging said threaded portion of said nut to a spud of a gas carrying device.