Pressure indicating mechanical tee and method of use

Abstract

A method for the visual inspection of the existence of pressure within a branch line of pipes includes locating the run of pipes, coupling a mechanical tee to a first pipe so as to form a branch in the run of pipes wherein the mechanical tee has a pressure indicator, pressurizing the run of pipes, and checking the pressure indicator for an indication of pressure within the run of pipes. The mechanical tee includes a collar portion configured to extend around a pipe. A neck portion is coupled to the collar portion. The channel of the neck portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the pipe. A pressure indicating device is in fluid communication with the channel to provide a visual indication of the pressure level. The pressure indicating device may include electrical contacts to communicate with a monitoring system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for checking the pressure in a run of pipes, comprising:
 locating the run of pipes;   coupling a mechanical tee to a first pipe so as to form a branch in the run of pipes, the mechanical tee having a pressure indicator;   pressurizing the run of pipes; and   checking the pressure indicator for an indication of pressure within the run of pipes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical tee is located amongst the run of pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein checking the pressure of the run of pipes is performed without using a separate testing gauge. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring the pressure level in the run of pipes, the pressure indicator being in electrical communication with a monitoring system   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 generating a notification regarding the status of the pressure level in the run of pipes.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of pressure in the run of pipes is visible through a pressure indicating device in communication with a neck portion and a central channel within the neck portion along the run of pipe, the pressure indicating device being configured to indicate the presence a pressure level within the central channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion extends from a collar portion at an acute angle relative to an axis, the collar portion configured to extend around a pipe of the run of pipes, the collar portion defining the axis and including one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicating device includes an indicator, the indicator automatically alternates between a first position and a second position depending on the pressure level within the central channel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first position is maintained below a set pressure level and the second position being maintained at or above a set pressure level. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is configured to automatically transition from the first position to the second position when pressure in the central channel is at or above a set pressure level. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is configured to automatically reset back to the first position when pressure in the central channel drops below a set pressure level. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the positions of the indicator represent a pressure range. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicating device is configured to indicate a plurality of set pressure levels within the central channel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicating device further includes an electrical contact. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure indicating device includes an indicator operable between a first position and a second position, the electrical contact configured to detect the position of the indicator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 activating a monitoring system in communication with the electrical contact so as to receive a signal indicating the pressure level in the central channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the monitoring system is configured to provide a notification to a user related to the pressure level in the central channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 activating a monitoring system in communication with the pressure indicating device to monitor the pressure levels in the central channel.