US 7,252,459 B2Granted

Method and device for positioning a branch connection on a pipeline

AssigneeGaz de France

InventorJean-Michel Bideault

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Abstract

The following operations are carried out: a) digging an exploration hole (8), b) using a branch connection (10) which includes a main plate (12) and a fixing plate (22) which are held together, c) using a device (1) which has: a support (36) retaining elements, (38) which are connected to the support (36), a foot (40) which is articulated so as to rotate relative to the support (36), actuation elements (44) for displacing the foot (40) between an introduction position and a pressing position, d) placing the foot (40) in an introduction position, e) retaining the main plate (12) on the device (1), f) positioning the support surface (14) of the main plate (12) against the pipeline (2), g) bringing the foot (40) into a pressing position, h) fixing the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22) together around the pipeline (2).

Claims19

Dependent claims

A device for positioning, from the level of the ground (6), a branch connection (10) on a pipeline (2), the branch connection (10) comprising a main plate (12) and a fixing plate (22), the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22) each having a substantially semi cylindrical support surface (14, 24) which has a circular cross-section defined by an extension axis (16, 26), a retaining edge (18, 28) and a free edge (20, 30) which extends parallel with the extension axis (16, 26) thereof at one side and the other of the support surface (14, 24), the extension axes (16, 26) being substantially parallel with each other, the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22) being held together by the retaining edge (18, 28) thereof, whilst the free edges (20, 30) thereof can be moved relative to each other by means of rotation about an axis of articulation (32) which is substantially parallel with the extension axes (16, 26), the device comprising:

a support (36),
retaining means (38) connected to the support (36) in order to retain the main plate (12) in a position in which the extension axes (16, 26) of the support surfaces (14, 24) are substantially parallel with the first axis of rotation (42) and the fixing plate (22) substantially comes into contact with the foot (40),
a foot (40) articulated to rotate relative to the support (36) about a first axis of rotation (42),
actuation means (44) for displacing the foot (40) in rotation relative to the support (36) between an introduction position and a pressing position in which the pipeline (2) is pressed between the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22),
a support element (50), and
means (52) for articulating in rotation about a second axis of rotation (54) which is substantially parallel with the first axis of rotation (42), said articulation means (52) being arranged between the support element (50) and the foot (40), said support element (50) configured to come into contact with the fixing plate (22) in order to bring the fixing plate into contact with the pipeline (2).

3 more elements

A positioning device for positioning a branch connection (10) on a pipeline (2) from ground level, the device comprising:

a support (36);
a retaining means (38) connected to the support (36) and configured to engage a branch connection (10) comprising a main plate (12) and a fixing plate (22), the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22), each of the main plate and fixing plate having a substantially semi cylindrical support surface (14, 24) with a circular cross-section defined by an extension axis (16, 26), a retaining edge (18, 28) and a free edge (20, 30) extending parallel with the extension axis (16, 26) thereof at one side and the other of the support surface (14, 24), the extension axes (16, 26) being substantially parallel with each other, the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22) being held together by the retaining edge (18, 28) thereof, the free edges (20, 30) thereof movable relative to each other by rotation about an axis of articulation (32) which is substantially parallel with the extension axes (16, 26),
the retaining means further configured to retain the main plate (12) in a position in which the extension axes (16, 26) of the support surfaces (14, 24) are substantially parallel with the first axis of rotation (42) and the fixing plate (22) substantially comes into contact with the foot (40);
a foot (40) articulated to rotate relative to the support (36) about a first axis of rotation (42);
an actuator (44) for displacing the foot (40) in rotation relative to the support (36) between an introduction position and a pressing position in which the pipeline (2) is pressed between the main plate (12) and the fixing plate (22);
a support element (50) connected to the foot;
and
an articulator (52) arranged between the support element (50) and the foot (40) for articulating in rotation about a second axis of rotation (54) which is substantially parallel with the first axis of rotation (42),
said support element (50) configured to come into contact with the fixing plate (22) in order to bring the fixing plate into contact with the pipeline (2).

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/102,819Filed 11 Apr 2005
Priority: FR 04 0394715 Apr 2004
Published: US 2005/0238438 A127 Oct 2005
Granted: 7 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

F16L 41/06
Tapping pipe walls, i.e. making connections through the walls of pipes while they are carrying fluids; Fittings therefor: making use of attaching…
F16L 47/345
Tapping pipes, i.e. making connections through walls of pipes while carrying fluids; Fittings therefor: making use of attaching means embracing…
F16L
Pipes