Abstract: A method of cutting and removing a section of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe and then installing a replacement valve while the pipeline is fully pressurized uses a replacement valve body with two cylinders that match the openings of the cut pipe. Inside each of the two cylinders is a cut-covering assembly which includes a cylindrical elastomeric seal and a mechanical linkage to move the seal in and out of the cut pipe. The replacement valve body further includes a rotatable valve in a central portion of the valve, and when the cylinder ends of the replacement valve body are positioned adjacent the bores of cut pipe ends, the valve can be rotated to move linkage assemblies that control the elastomeric seals in and out of each of the cut-covering assemblies into the bores of the cut pipe ends, thereby covering gaps created when the pipe was cut and placing the pipe ends in fluid-tight engagement with the replacement valve body.

Abstract: A method of cutting and removing a section of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe and then installing a replacement valve while the pipeline is fully pressurized uses a replacement valve body with two cylinders that match the openings of the cut pipe. Inside each of the two cylinders is a cut-covering assembly which includes a cylindrical elastomeric seal and a mechanical linkage to move the seal in and out of the cut pipe. The replacement valve body further includes a rotatable valve in a central portion of the valve, and when the cylinder ends of the replacement valve body are positioned adjacent the bores of cut pipe ends, the valve can be rotated to move linkage assemblies that control the elastomeric seals in and out of each of the cut-covering assemblies into the bores of the cut pipe ends, thereby covering gaps created when the pipe was cut and placing the pipe ends in fluid-tight engagement with the replacement valve body.

Abstract: A pipeline control unit that joins pipeline conduits and has a housing with an interior compartment for receiving a gate. A valve servicing assembly or pressure plates can be installed onto the housing to form a fluid tight structure to allow removal and replacement of a retained gate without depressurizing a pipeline system. Strongbacks attached to the housing can compress lateral walls of the housing to secure a gate in the interior compartment, and removal of such compression allows removal of the gate while the pipeline is pressurized.

Abstract: A valve body with conduits on opposing sides having attachable pressure cover-plates and valve servicing assemblies that can be selectively installed onto the valve body while it is fully pressurized. The valve body includes simple isolators that allow access openings to be blocked and exposed that allow various style operating mechanisms and tools without the need for intermediate isolating mechanisms. Attachable subcomponents can provide pressurized fluid that is injected into the valve body from an external power source to move sand and debris away from seating surfaces while advancing and retracting various style gates.

Abstract: A pipeline control unit that joins pipeline conduits and has a housing with an interior compartment for receiving a gate. A valve servicing assembly or pressure plates can be installed onto the housing to form a fluid tight structure to allow removal and replacement of a retained gate without depressurizing a pipeline system. Strongbacks attached to the housing can compress lateral walls of the housing to secure a gate in the interior compartment, and removal of such compression allows removal of the gate while the pipeline is pressurized.

Abstract: A valve body with conduits on opposing sides having attachable pressure cover-plates and valve servicing assemblies that can be selectively installed onto the valve body while it is fully pressurized. The valve body includes simple isolators that allow access openings to be blocked and exposed that allow various style operating mechanisms and tools without the need for intermediate isolating mechanisms. Attachable subcomponents can provide pressurized fluid that is injected into the valve body from an external power source to move sand and debris away from seating surfaces while advancing and retracting various style gates.

Abstract: A pipeline control unit that connects two conduits attached to opposing sides of a housing with an attachable pressure cover plate and a valve servicing assembly that can be installed onto the housing to form a fluid-tight structure. A pipeline control mechanism can be mounted in an access opening of the pipeline control unit to enable a user to selectively control fluid flow through the housing. The pipeline control unit allows the removal and replacement of the pipeline control mechanism without depressurizing a pipeline system.

Abstract: A pipeline control unit that connects two conduits attached to opposing sides of a housing with an attachable pressure cover plate and a valve servicing assembly that can be installed onto the housing to form a fluid-tight structure. A pipeline control mechanism can be mounted in an access opening of the pipeline control unit to enable a user to selectively control fluid flow through the housing. The pipeline control unit allows the removal and replacement of the pipeline control mechanism without depressurizing a pipeline system.

Abstract: A valve assembly for insertion in a pipe containing fluid under pressure includes a valve body adapted to be assembled over the pipe and a valve-stopping mechanism that mounts on the valve body. The hollow valve body interior and an access opening in the valve body are sufficiently large to receive a hole saw element no smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe as installers advance the hole saw element radially through the access opening to form a gap in the pipe. The valve-stopping mechanism includes a gate with a cross sectional area greater than the pipe that mates with the valve body interior so that the gate can be advanced radially through the gap in the pipe into direct fluid-tight contact of the valve body in order to thereby stop the flow of fluid through the pipe.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body with an access opening in which a linearly installed but pivotally operated gate-like valve-stopping mechanism is disposed, said mechanism including a support structure or cartridge with a pivotally moveable valve-stopping element or isolator (e.g., a butterfly element). A method for hot tapping a pipeline with a valve assembly as described above proceeds by (i) connecting the valve body to a line to be tapped, (iii) connecting a hot-tapping machine to the valve body, (iv) connecting a bonnet holding the valve-stopping mechanism to the valve body over the access opening, (v) hot tapping the line, (vi) advancing the valve-stopping mechanism into the valve body interior, and (vii) disconnecting the hot-tapping machine from the valve body with the valve-stopping element pivoted to the first position where it stops fluid communications. The gate-like valve-stopping mechanism can replace a gate in an insert valve (IV) or a repair-under-pressure (RUP) valve.

Abstract: A valve includes a valve body with a hollow valve body interior and an opening-defining portion that defines an access opening. The opening-defining portion is arranged as a connection-facilitating structure for facilitating the fluid-tight connection of a separate isolation valve assembly to the opening-defining portion in a position over the access opening that enables removal and replacement of a valve-stopping mechanism from the valve through the isolation valve assembly. It may include a flange, exterior thread, one or more annular grooves or rings, and/or a segmented cam lock arrangement.

Abstract: A valve assembly for insertion in a pipe containing fluid under pressure includes a valve body adapted to be assembled over the pipe and a valve-stopping mechanism that mounts on the valve body. The hollow valve body interior and an access opening in the valve body are sufficiently large to receive a hole saw element no smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe as installers advance the hole saw element radially through the access opening to form a gap in the pipe. The valve-stopping mechanism includes a gate with a cross sectional area greater than the pipe that mates with the valve body interior so that the gate can be advanced radially through the gap in the pipe into direct fluid-tight contact of the valve body in order to thereby stop the flow of fluid through the pipe.

Abstract: A valve assembly for insertion in a line formed by an existing pipe of predetermined outside diameter containing fluid under pressure includes a valve body with a bonnet-supporting flange that defines an access way into the valve body through which an installer can cut and remove a section of the existing pipe. A bonnet with a moveable gate having a width no less than the predetermined outside diameter of the pipe, includes a flange-mating portion that fits into the access way in a fluid-tight fit while defining a gate opening through which the gate moves into the valve body to a closed position in which the gate extends through the gate-receiving gap in the pipe and into fluid-tight engagement of the valve body.

Abstract: A method for inserting a valve in a line, including polyethylene, PVC, plastic, and copper line, pipe, and tubing, without, for example, having to first shut down a line containing fluid under pressure, includes the step of providing first and second ball valve subassemblies that are adapted to be assembled over the line to form a ball valve assembly having a ball component within a housing component. The ball defines a bore, includes cutting edges, and is adapted to be rotated ninety degrees within the housing about an axis of ball rotation perpendicular to the central axis of the bore. The method proceeds by assembling the first and second ball valve subassemblies over the line, and rotating the ball relative to the line so that the cutting edges on the ball cut out a section of the line. In one embodiment, the ball is rotated ninety degrees within the housing about the axis of ball rotation so that the cutting edges slice through the line.

Abstract: A method for inserting a valve in a line includes providing a valve body that assembles on and rotates about an existing pipe. A first sealing mechanism is provided on the valve body that enables a user to selectively open (unseal) and close (seal) a gate access opening through the valve body. At least one cutting assembly is provided on the valve body for cutting the pipe as the valve body is rotated about the pipe, as well as a removably mountable gate assembly. The method proceeds by assembling the valve body on the pipe, rotating the valve body about the pipe with the cutting assembly and without the gate assembly, operating the cutting assembly to form the cut in the pipe (and removing any debris), mounting the gate assembly on the valve body, and then opening the gate access opening to enable movement of the gate through the gate access opening to a closed gate position within the cut in the pipe.

Abstract: A method of hot tapping a pipeline includes the step of providing a valve having a valve body, a bonnet on the valve body, and means in the form of an isolating mechanism for enabling a user to seal the valve body from the bonnet for purposes of removing the bonnet with the valve in use. The method proceeds by (i) connecting the valve body to a line to be tapped and a hot tapping machine to the valve body; (ii) hot tapping the line through the valve body with the valve open, withdrawing the hot tapping machine from the valve body, closing the valve, removing the hot tapping machine, and connecting a desired downstream component; (iii) sealing the valve body from the bonnet with the isolating mechanism; and (iv) removing the bonnet from the valve body.

Abstract: A method for inserting a valve in a line includes the step of providing a valve assembly having a valve body with two sections adapted to be assembled over an existing pipe and a gate adapted to cut through the pipe as the gate advances from an open position toward a closed position. The method proceeds by installing the valve assembly on the existing pipe with the gate in the open position and then moving the gate toward the closed position to thereby cut through the pipe. A rotatable-pipe-cutter version of a valve assembly constructed according to the invention includes at least one cutting tooth and the valve body is configured so that an operator can rotate the body on the existing pipe while the gate is advanced toward the closed position. A guillotine version, suited for use with pipes made of polyethylene and other sliceable materials, includes a gate with a cutting edge that slices through the pipe as the gate is advanced toward the closed position.