Method of fabricating and installing gas service line completion kit

A method of mass producing gas service field installation kits for subsequent installation to provide service line connections through respective gas meters having respective meter inlets and outlets arranged in predetermined spacings and in predetermined orientations to connect a gas distribution main line with respective gas service inlet pipe fittings, each spaced a maximum of a predetermined distance away from said distribution main, the method comprising the following steps:

• determining said predetermined orientation and said predetermined spacing;
• forming a gas meter mounting assembly by selecting first and second metallic pipes, bending said first and second pipes to form in said first pipe a turn-back U fitting having first inlet and outlet ends, and in said second pipe an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends, selecting a bracket and affixing said turn-back U fitting and said elbow thereto to orient said outlet end of said turn-back U fitting and said inlet end of said elbow in a complementary spacing and orientation relative to said predetermined spacing and said predetermined orientation for connection to the respective said meter inlets and outlets, coating the outer surfaces of said bracket, said turn-back U fitting, and said elbow with a protective polymeric coating, selecting a pressure regulator having regulator inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said outlet fitting of said pressure regulator to said first inlet end of said turn-back U fitting;
• forming a riser assembly by selecting a metallic L-shaped riser pipe of a selected length to define a vertical riser length having an upper end and a horizontal riser length having a bottom end, selecting integral plastic tubing of a length greater than said selected length of riser pipe, telescoping said bottom end of said riser pipe over an end of said plastic tubing sufficiently far to leave an excess length of said plastic tubing projecting from said bottom end to terminate in an excess end, coupling said free end of said plastic tubing to said upper end of said riser pipe to form a gas impermeable seal, selecting a shut-off valve of the type having valve inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said inlet fitting of said valve to said upper end of said riser pipe;
• coiling said excess length of said plastic tubing into a coil;
• packaging said riser assembly and said gas meter mounting assembly together to form said kit;
• and
• storing said kit for subsequent installation.

A method of mass producing a set of gas service field installation kits at a factory for providing service line connections through respective gas meters having respective meter inlets and outlets arranged in a predetermined orientation between a gas distribution main line and the respective gas service inlet pipe fittings, each spaced a predetermined distance away from said distribution main, the method comprising the steps of fabricating each kit by:

• determining said predetermined distance;
• determining said predetermined orientation;
• forming a gas meter mounting assembly by selecting first and second metallic pipes of the respective predetermined lengths, bending said first and second pipes to form in said first pipe a turn-back U fitting having first inlet and outlet ends, and in said second pipe an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends, said first outlet end and said second inlet end configured for connection to the respective said meter inlets and outlets, selecting a pressure regulator having regulator inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said outlet fitting of said pressure regulator to said first inlet end of said turn-back U fitting;
• forming an integral riser assembly by selecting a metallic L-shaped riser pipe of a selected length to define a vertical riser length having an upper end and a horizontal riser length having a bottom end, selecting plastic tubing of a length greater than said predetermined distance, telescoping said bottom end of said riser pipe over a free end of said plastic tubing so that an excess length of said plastic tubing projects from said bottom end to terminate in an excess end, coupling said free end of said plastic tubing to said upper end of said riser pipe to form a gas impermeable seal, selecting a shut-off valve of the type having valve inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said inlet fitting of said valve to said upper end of said riser pipe;
• coiling said excess length of said plastic tubing into a coil;
• packaging said riser assembly and said gas meter mounting assembly together to form said kit;
• and
• storing said kits for subsequent installation.

A method of mass producing gas service field installation kits for subsequent installation to provide service line connections through respective gas meters having respective meter inlets and outlets arranged in a predetermined orientation to connect a gas distribution main line with respective gas service inlet pipe fittings, each spaced a predetermined distance away from said distribution main, the method comprising the steps of fabricating each kit by:

• forming a gas meter mounting assembly by selecting first and second metallic pipes of the respective predetermined lengths, bending said first and second pipes to form in said first pipe a turn-back U fitting having first inlet and outlet ends, and in said second pipe an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends, said outlet end of said turn-back U fitting and said inlet end of said elbow configured for connection to the respective said meter inlets and outlets, coating the outer surfaces of said turn-back U fitting and said elbow with a protective polymeric coating, selecting a pressure regulator having regulator inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said outlet fitting of said pressure regulator to said first inlet end of said turn-back U fitting;
• forming an integral riser assembly by selecting a metallic L-shaped riser pipe of a selected length to define a vertical riser length having an upper end and a horizontal riser length having a bottom end, selecting plastic tubing of a length greater than said selected length, telescoping said bottom end of said riser pipe over a free end of said plastic tubing so that an excess length of said plastic tubing projects from said bottom end to terminate in an excess end, coupling said free end of said plastic tubing to said upper end of said riser pipe to form a gas impermeable seal, selecting a shut-off valve of the type having valve inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said inlet fitting of said valve to said upper end of said riser pipe;
• coiling said excess length of plastic tubing into a coil;
• packaging said riser assembly and said two-piece gas meter mounting assembly together to form said kit;
• and
• storing said kit for subsequent installation.

A method of forming on a factory assembly line a predetermined number of gas service field installation kits for providing service line connections along respective selected paths of respective predetermined distances from a gas main to a predetermined number of gas meters having respective meter inlets and outlets, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a predetermined number of integral meter mounting assemblies by selecting respective first and second metallic pipes of respective predetermined lengths, bending the respective said first and second pipes to form in the respective said first pipes respective turn-back U fittings having respective first inlet and outlet ends, and in said second pipe an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends to form in the respective said second pipes respective elbows having respective second inlet and outlet ends, selecting respective pressure regulators having respective regulator inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling the respective said outlet fittings of said pressure regulators to the respective said first inlet ends of the respective said turn-back U fittings;
• forming a predetermined number of integral riser assemblies by selecting respective metallic riser pipes, selecting respective plastic tubes of a length of at least the respective said predetermined distances, telescoping one end of the respective said riser pipes over a free end of the respective said plastic tubes so that an excess length of the respective said plastic tubes project from the respective one ends of the respective said riser pipes to terminate in respective excess ends, coupling the respective said free ends of said plastic tubes to the respective opposite ends of said riser pipes to form respective gas impermeable seals therebetween, selecting respective shut-off valves of the type having respective valve inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling the respective said inlet fittings of the respective said valves to the respective said opposite ends of the respective said riser pipes;
• coiling said excess length of said plastic tube into respective coils;
• selecting a predetermined number of stiff mounting boards of a predetermined configuration;
• packaging the respective said riser assemblies and said gas meter mounting assemblies together on the respective said mounting boards to form said predetermined number of kits;
• and
• storing said kits for subsequent installation.

A method of mass producing gas service field installation kits at a factory for providing service line connections through respective gas meters having respective meter inlets and outlets arranged in respective predetermined orientations between a gas distribution main line and respective gas service inlet pipe fittings, each spaced a predetermined distance away from said distribution main, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining said predetermined orientation and said predetermined distance;
• forming a gas meter mounting assembly by selecting first and second metallic pipes, said first pipe comprising a turn-back U fitting having first inlet and outlet ends, and said second pipe comprising an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends, selecting a bracket and affixing said turn-back U fitting and said elbow thereto to orient said outlet end of said turn-back U fitting and said inlet end of said elbow in a complementary orientation relative to said predetermined orientation for connection to the respective said meter inlets and outlets, selecting a pressure regulator having regulator inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said outlet fitting of said pressure regulator to said first inlet end of said turn-back U fitting;
• forming an integral riser assembly by selecting a metallic L-shaped riser pipe of a selected length to define a vertical riser length having an upper end and a horizontal riser length having a bottom end, selecting plastic tubing of a length greater than said selected length, telescoping said bottom end of said riser pipe over a free end of said plastic tubing so that an excess length of said plastic tubing projects from said bottom end to terminate in an excess end, coupling said free end of said plastic tubing to said upper end of said riser pipe to form a gas impermeable seal, selecting a shut-off valve of the type having valve inlet and outlet fittings, and coupling said inlet fitting of said valve to said upper end of said riser pipe;
• packaging said riser assembly and said gas meter mounting assembly together to form said kit;
• and
• storing said kit for subsequent installation.

A set of factory fabricated gas service installation kits to provide a service line connection through a set of gas meters having respective meter inlets and meter outlets arranged in a predetermined spacings and orientations to connect between a gas distribution main line and respective gas service inlet pipe fittings spaced a predetermined distance away from said gas distribution main, each kit of said set comprising:

• a gas meter mounting assembly including first and second metallic pipes of respective predetermined lengths, said first pipe formed with a turn-back U fitting having first inlet and outlet ends, said second pipe formed with an elbow having second inlet and outlet ends, a bracket affixing said turn-back U fitting and said elbow together to orient said first outlet end of said turn-back U fitting and said second inlet end of said elbow spaced apart at said predetermined spacing and configured for connection to the respective said meter inlet and outlet, and a pressure regulator having regulator inlet and outlet fittings, said regulator outlet fitting coupled to said first inlet end of said ram-back U fitting;
• and
• a riser assembly including a metallic L-shaped riser pipe of a selected length to define a vertical riser length having an upper end and a horizontal riser length having a bottom end, an integral plastic tubing of a length greater than said selected length having one end telescoped into said bottom end of said riser sufficiently far to leave an excess length of said plastic tubing projecting from said bottom end to terminate in an excess end, said one end of said tubing being coupled to said upper end of said riser pipe to form a gas impermeable seal therebetween, and a shut-off valve of the type having valve inlet and outlet fittings, said valve inlet fitting coupled to said upper end of said riser pipe.