Method and tool for plugging a service connection in a gas main

A tool for plugging a connection in a pipe wherein the connection comprises a connecting member having a connector body affixed to and in fluid communication with the pipe through a hole in a wall of the pipe, the connector body having an interior threaded surface and a threaded body with an engagable socket engaged in the connector body, comprising

• a head having a working face with an opening for engagement to the free end of the connector body,
• a retractable driver bit having a tip adapted to engage the socket in the threaded body, in generally concentric alignment with the opening,
• a first actuator for extending the driver bit through the opening in the working face,
• a second actuator for rotating the driver bit,
• an adapter plate mounted within the head and pivotable between first, second and third working positions, the adapter plate having a first opening in generally concentric alignment with the opening in the working face when the adapter plate is in the first working position, a second opening in generally concentric alignment with the opening in the working face when the adapter plate is in the second working position, and a third opening in generally concentric alignment with the opening in the working face when the adapter plate is in the third working position,
• a holder for engaging the threaded body, mounted on the adapter plate in the first working position,
• a milling bit for milling a seat in the wall of the pipe, mounted on the adapter plate in the second working position, and
• a sealing plug for threadedly engaging the connector body mounted on the adapter plate in the third working position,
• wherein the driver bit engages the threaded body to extract the threaded body from the connector body in the first working position;
• the driver bit engages the milling bit to drive the milling bit into the connector body to mill a seat in the wall of the pipe in the second working position;
• and the driver bit engages the sealing plug to drive the sealing plug into the connector body and plug the hole in the third working position.

A method of plugging a connection in a pipe wherein the connection comprises a connecting member having a connector body affixed to and in fluid communication with the pipe through a hole in a wall of the pipe, the connector body having an interior threaded surface and a threaded body with an engagable socket engaged in a free end of the connector body, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a tool with a head having a working face comprising an opening for engagement to the free end of the connecting body, a retractable driver bit having a tip adapted to engage the socket in the threaded body in generally concentric alignment with the opening, a first actuator for extending the driver bit through the opening in the head and a second actuator for rotating the driver bit;
• b) aligning a holder for engaging the threaded body with the opening in the working face, extending the driver bit into the socket and rotating the driver bit to remove the threaded body from the connector body;
• c) aligning a milling bit with the opening in the working face, extending the driver bit into a socket of the milling bit and rotating and extending the driver bit to mill a seat in the wall of the pipe;
• and
• d) aligning a sealing plug with the opening in the working face, extending the driver bit into a socket in the sealing plug and rotating the driver bit to drive the sealing plug into the connector body to plug the hole.