Service tee with valve plug for isolation of side outlet

Abstract

A service tee (T) of this disclosure includes a valve plug (V) having a plunger (31) connected to a threaded stem (27) extending from a bottom end (10b) of a plug body (10). Turning the threaded stem actuates the plunger, thereby advancing and retracting a seal (35) of the plunger to block or allow flow respectively. An anti-rotation stop (23) prevents the plunger from rotating as the threaded stem linearly displaces the plunger. A keyway or drive (10d) for actuating the plunger remains recessed in the body of the plug so that prior art plug insertion tools can be used for plug installation. In some embodiments, the plug insertion tool may be a hot tapping machine. Once the plug has been set into a pressurized pipeline fitting, every leak path is sealed using non-metallic (e g. elastomeric or polymer) sealing technology.

Description

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in embodiments of this disclosure, the valve plug V includes a plug body 10 arranged coaxial a central longitudinal axis 39 of the valve plug V and having a bottom end 10b with a central opening 10c. A tube 17 is arranged coaxial to the central opening 10c and connected to the bottom end 10b of the plug body 10. The tube 17 has a larger diameter than the central opening 10c and includes a sidewall 17c with a through hole 17d.

[0015] The valve plug V further includes a threaded stem or screw 27 having an upper end 27a partially contained by, extending from, the central opening 10c and a lower end 27b surrounded by the tube 17. In embodiments, the upper end 27a of the screw 27 includes a pair of elastomeric or polymer seals 15 spaced from one another and arranged about the upper end. The upper end 27a may include a non-threaded portion where the seals 15 are located. To rotate the screw 27 in a first and second direction opposite that of the first, a drive lOd is provided at a top end 10a of the plug body 10, the top end 10a being recessed relative to the uppermost end Vu of the valve plug V. The drive lOd may adapted to receive a predetermined insertional tool for plug installation.

[0016] The plunger 31 is connected to the lower end 27b of the screw 27. A top end 3 la of the plunger 31 is surrounded by the tube 17. A bottom end 31b of the plunger 31 includes a seal assembly 35 that extends past a lower end 17b of the tube 17. The seal assembly 35 includes pair of elastomeric or polymer seals 35a spaced from one another and arranged about the bottom end 31b. The seals 35a may be a same or different elastomer or polymer than seals 15 of the screw 27. The plunger 31 also includes a sidewall 31c having a slot 3Id that extends between the seal assembly 35 and a top end 3 la of the plunger 31.

[0017] In embodiments, the valve plug V includes a plug body 10 having a top end 10a and a bottom end 10b; a tube 17 connected to the bottom end 10b of the plug body 10, the tube 17 including a sidewall wall 17c with a through hole 17d; a screw 27 at least partially contained by the tube 17 and having at least one seal 15 located toward an upper end 27a of the screw 27 and a drive lOd located at the upper end 27a of the screw 27; a plunger 31 connected to the screw27 and having a seal assembly 35 extending past a bottom end 17b of the tube 17; the plunger 31 further including a sidewall 31c having a slot 3 Id extending between the seal assembly35 and a top end 3 la of the plunge 31; and an anti-rotation stop 23 received by the through hole 17d of the tube 17 and the slot 3 Id of the plunger 31. When the screw 27 is rotated in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction, the plunger 31 does not rotate. When the screw 17 is rotated in the first direction and in the second direction, a linear distance between the seal assembly 35 and the lower end 17b of the tube 17 increases and decreases, respectively. The first direction may advance the screw 27 and therefore the plunger 31. The second direction may retract the screw 27 and therefore the plunger 31.

[0018] In some embodiments, the valve plug V comprises a plug body 10 having a top end 10a, the top end 10a recessed relative to an uppermost end Vu of the valve plug V, and a bottom end 10b, the bottom end 10b having a central opening 10c. A tube 17 is connected to the bottom end 10b of the plug body 10 and includes a sidewall 17c with a through hole 17d. A screw 27, having an upper end 27a that is partially contained by the central opening 10c, extends from the central opening 10c and has a lower end 27b surrounded by the tube 17. The upper end 27a of the screw 27 includes at least one seal 15. In embodiments, the seal 15 is non-metallic seal and may be a pair of seals 15 spaced apart from one another. A plunger 31 is connected to the lower end 27b of the screw 27. A top end 3 la of the plunger is surrounded by the tube 17 and its bottom end 3 lb, which includes a seal assembly 35, extends past a lower end 17b of the tube 17. The seal assembly 35 includes at least one seal 35a. In embodiments, the seal 35a is a non-metallic seal. In some embodiments, the seal assembly 35 includes a pair of seals 35a spaced from one another. The plunger 31 further includes a sidewall 31c having a slot 3 Id extending between the seal assembly 35 and the top end 31a of the plunger 3. An anti-rotation stop 23 is received by the through hole 17d of the tube 17 and the slot 3 Id of the plunger 31. In embodiments, the screw 27 includes a drive lOd located at an upper end 27a of the screw 27, the drive lOd being recessed relative to a top end Vu of the valve body V.

[0019] In embodiments of a method of this disclosure for preventing fluid flow through a side outlet of a tee connected to a pipeline, the method includes inserting the valve plug (V) into the tee, the valve plug V including a screw 27 and a plunger 31 connected to a lower end 27b of the screw 27; inserting a plug setting tool into a drive lOd connected to the screw 27; using the plug setting tool to rotate the screw 27 in a first direction; during the rotating in the first direction, maintaining sealing engagement by way of a pair of seals 15 spaced apart from one another at an upper end 27a of the screw 27; advancing the plunger 31 into a sealing position, the plunger 31 including a seal assembly 35; and during the advancing, preventing the plunger 31 from rotating.

[0020] In embodiments of the method, the method may further include, after the sealing position, removing the plug setting tool and capping an uppermost end Vu of the valve plug V. The method may further comprise removing the capping; re-inserting the plug setting tool into the drive lOd located at the upper end 27a of the screw 27; using the plug setting tool to rotate the screw 27 in a second direction opposite that of the first direction; during the rotating in the second direction, maintaining the sealing engagement by way of the pair of seals 15; and retracting the plunger 37 into a non-sealing position; and during the retracting, preventing the plunger 31 from rotating.

Claims

2024210486   15 Jul 2025What Is Claimed1. A tee adapted for use with a pipe, the tee including a valve plug comprising:a plug body arranged coaxial a central longitudinal axis of the valve plug, the plug body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having a central opening, the top end being recessed relative to an uppermost end of the valve plug;a tube arranged coaxial to the central opening and connected to the bottom end of the plug body, the tube having a larger diameter than the central opening and including a sidewall with a through hole;a threaded stem having an upper end partially contained by, extending from, the central opening and a lower end surrounded by the tube, the upper end further including a pair of seals spaced from one another;a plunger connected to the lower end of the threaded stem and having a top end surrounded by the tube, the plunger including a bottom end with a seal assembly extending past a lower end of the tube, the seal assembly including a pair of seals spaced from one another, the plunger further including a sidewall having a slot extending between the seal assembly and the top end of the plunger;an anti-rotation stop received by the through hole of the tube and the slot of the plunger;wherein, when the threaded stem is rotated in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction, the plunger does not rotate; andwherein, when the threaded stem is rotated in the first direction and in the second direction, a linear distance between the seal assembly and the lower end of the tube increases and decreases, respectively.2024210486   15 Jul 20252. The tee of claim 1, further comprising the threaded stem including a drive located at the upper end of the threaded stem.

3. A method for preventing fluid flow through a side outlet of a tee connected to a pipeline, the method comprising:inserting a valve plug into the tee, the valve plug including a threaded stem and a plunger connected to a lower end of the threaded stem;inserting a plug setting tool into a drive connected to the threaded stem;using the plug setting tool to rotate the threaded stem in a first direction;during the rotating in the first direction,maintaining sealing engagement by way of a pair of seals spaced apart from one another at an upper end of the threaded stem; andadvancing the plunger into a sealing position, the plunger including a seal assembly; andduring the advancing, preventing the plunger from rotating;wherein:a plug body is arranged coaxial a central longitudinal axis of the valve plug, the plug body having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having a central opening, the top end being recessed relative to an uppermost end of the valve plug;a tube is arranged coaxial to the central opening and connected to the bottom end of the plug body, the tube having a larger diameter than the central opening and including a sidewall with a through hole;2024210486   15 Jul 2025an upper end of the threaded stem is partially contained by, extending from, the central opening, a lower end of the threaded stem is surrounded by the tube;the plunger having a top end surrounded by the tube, the plunger including a bottom end with the seal assembly extending past the lower end of the tube, the seal assembly including a pair of seals spaced from one another, the plunger further including a sidewall having a slot extending between the seal assembly and a top end of the plunger;an anti-rotation stop is received by the through hole of the tube and the slot of the plunger.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, after the sealing position: removing the plug setting tool.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising, after the sealing position: capping an uppermost end of the valve plug.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:removing the capping;re-inserting the plug setting tool into the drive located at the upper end of the threaded stem;using the plug setting tool to rotate the threaded stem in a second direction opposite that of the first direction;during the rotating in the second direction,2024210486   27 Aug 2026maintaining the sealing engagement by way of the pair of seals; and retracting the plunger into a non-sealing position; andduring the retracting, preventing the plunger from rotating.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:re-inserting the plug setting tool into the drive;using the plug setting tool to rotate the threaded stem in a second direction opposite that of the first direction;during the rotating in the second direction,maintaining the sealing engagement by way of the pair of seals; and retracting the plunger into a non-sealing position; andduring the retracting, preventing the plunger from rotating.

8. A tee adapted for use with a pipe and including a valve plug comprising:a plug body including a bottom end having a central opening;a tube arranged coaxial to the central opening and connected to the bottom end of the plug body, the tube including a sidewall with a through hole;a threaded stem having an upper end partially contained by, extending from, the central opening and a lower end surrounded by the tube, the upper end further including a pair of seals spaced from one another;a plunger connected to the lower end of the threaded stem and having a top end surrounded by the tube, the plunger including a bottom end with a seal assembly having a pair of seals spaced apart from one another extending past a lower end of the tube, the2024210486   27 Aug 2026plunger further including a sidewall having a slot extending between the seal assembly and the top end of the plunger;an anti-rotation stop received by the through hole of the tube and the slot of the plunger;wherein, when the threaded stem is rotated in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction, the plunger moves in a linear direction and does not rotate.

9. The tee of claim 8, further comprising the plug body having a top end and the bottom end, the bottom end having the central opening, the top end being recessed relative to an uppermost end of the valve plug.

10. The tee of claim 8, wherein when the threaded stem is rotated in the first direction and in the second direction, a linear distance between the seal assembly and the lower end of the tube increases and decreases, respectively.

11. The tee of claim 8, further comprising the threaded stem including a drive located at the upper end of the threaded stem.

12. A tee adapted for use with a pipe and including a valve plug comprising:a plug body having a top end and a bottom end;a tube connected to the bottom end of the plug body, the tube including a sidewall wall with a through hole;2024210486   27 Aug 2026a threaded stem at least partially contained by the tube and having a pair of seals located toward an upper end of the threaded stem and a drive located at the upper end of the threaded stem, the drive recessed relative to the top end of the plug body;a plunger connected to the threaded stem and having a seal assembly including a pair of seals spaced apart from one another and extending past a bottom end of the tube; the plunger further including a sidewall having a slot extending between the seal assembly and a top end of the plunger; andan anti-rotation stop received by the through hole of the tube and the slot of the plunger.

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