Patent · US Expired

Underwater tapping machine

US4579484A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
5References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 1982
Grant dateApr 1, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 20, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T408/44
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An underwater tapping machine having a body equipped for attachment to a fitting secured to a pipeline and a rotatable boring bar within the body, a gear case affixed to the body to activate the boring bar, a containment vessel supported by the tapping machine body having a first opening communicating with the vessel exterior and thus to the pressure of fluid in which the tapping machine is employed, the containment vessel having a second opening and a fluid barrier pressure transmitting member dividing the interior of the vessel into a first portion having the first opening therein and a second portion communicating with the second opening, the second portion having liquid lubricant therein, and conduits extending from the containment vessel second opening to the interior of the tapping machine body and gear case so that the pressure of fluid in which the tapping machine is employed is applied by way of the pressure transmitting member to the liquid lubricant and thus to the interior of the tapping machine to thereby equalize the pressure interiorially of the tapping machine with the ambient pressure of fluid in which the machine is used to prevent the penetration of ambient fluid…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.