Claims
- 1. A method of installing a gas pipe inner duct into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of:
attaching a first access fitting to the pressurized gas pipeline at a first location; attaching a second access fitting to the pressurized gas pipeline at a second location; inserting a gas pipe inner duct into the pipeline through the first access fitting; sealing the gas pipe inner duct at least indirectly to the first access fitting; routing the gas pipe inner duct through the pipeline; extracting the gas pipe inner duct from the pipeline at a second access fitting; and sealing the gas pipe inner duct at least indirectly to the second access fitting.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of sealing the inner duct to the pipeline to effect a gas-tight seal on both the first and second access fittings.
- 3. The method of claim 1 with the gas pipe inner duct also containing a telecommunications conduit or cable.
- 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transporting compressed gas through the gas pipe inner duct, in place of the pipeline, and depressurizing the pipeline, so that the gas pipe inner duct replaces the pipeline as the compressed gas transportation vessel or lumen.
- 5. A method of installing a gas pipe inner duct into a pressurized gas pipeline comprising the steps of:
attaching a first access fitting to the pressurized gas pipeline at a first location; attaching a second access fitting to the pressurized gas pipeline at a second location; inserting a translating member attached to a pull back member into the pipeline through the first access fitting; sealing the pull back member directly or indirectly with the first access fitting, to avoid gas leakage at the first access fitting; routing the translating member and pull back member through the pipeline from the first access fitting to the second access; attaching a gas pipe inner duct directly or indirectly to the pull back member; pulling the pull back member along with the gas pipe inner duct from the second access fitting back to the first access fitting; extracting the pull back member and the gas pipe inner duct from the pipeline through the first access fitting; and sealing the pull back member and gas pipe inner duct at least indirectly with the first access fitting to avoid significant escape of gas at the first access fitting.
- 6. The method of claim 5 where the gas pipe inner duct is attached directly or indirectly to the pull back member within the pipeline, adjacent to the second access fitting.
- 7. The method of claims 5 further including the step of extracting the translating member out of the pipeline through the second access fitting, and attaching the pullback member to the gas pipe inner duct outside of the pipeline.
- 8. The method of claim 5 further including the steps of installing final gas-tight seals around the inner duct after the conduit is installed.
- 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the translating comprises a duct rod.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/973,961, filed Oct. 9, 2001, and now pending, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/876,802, filed Jun. 7, 2001, and now pending, which is a Continuation in Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/685,236, filed Oct. 10, 2000, and now pending. These applications are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed by the same inventors on the same day as this Application, Docket 270/185, is also incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09973961 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Child |
10159298 |
May 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09876802 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
09973961 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09685236 |
Oct 2000 |
US |
Child |
09876802 |
Jun 2001 |
US |