Pressure indicating mechanical tee

Abstract

A device and method for the visual inspection of the existence of pressure within a branch line of pipe is described. A mechanical tee includes a collar portion configured to extend around a pipe. The collar portion defines an axis and includes one or more fasteners to secure the tee to the 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 seal is used to prevent leakage between the pipe and the mechanical tee. A pressure indicating device is in fluid communication with the channel of the neck portion and configured to provide a visual indication of the pressure level in the channel. The pressure indicating device may optionally include electrical contacts to communicate with a monitoring system to discern and track the pressure levels in the channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mechanical tee device, comprising:
 a collar portion configured to extend around a pipe, the collar portion defining an axis and including one or more fasteners;   a neck portion integrally formed with the collar portion, the neck portion extending out from a side of the collar portion thereby having an internal end adjacent the collar portion and an open external end distal to the internal end, the neck portion having a hollow central channel extending axially between the internal end and the distal end;   a seal surrounding the central channel at the internal end; and   a pressure indicating device directly attached to the neck portion, the pressure indicating device being configured to indicate a pressure level within the neck portion, the pressure indicating device automatically alternates between a first position and a second position depending on the pressure level within the neck portion.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion extends perpendicularly to the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion extends from the collar portion at an acute angle relative to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is maintained below a set pressure level and the second position being maintained at or above a set pressure level. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the positions of the indicator represent a pressure range. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicating device is configured to indicate a plurality of set pressure levels within the central channel. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure indicating device includes a translating indicator that automatically translated relative to the neck portion with respect to changes in the pressure inside the neck portion. 
     
     
         10 . 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 within the run of pipes so as to form a branch, the mechanical tee having a pressure indicator located in a neck portion for the branch;   pressurizing the run of pipes; and   checking the pressure indicator for an indication of pressure within the branch off of the run of pipes.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 creating a hole through at least one of the run of pipes aligned with the neck portion for the branch.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 setting the pressure indicator.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 comparing the pressure within the branch via the pressure indicator with the pressure within the run of pipes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 monitoring the pressure level in the branch, the pressure indicator being in electrical communication with a monitoring system, the pressure indicator having an electrical contact.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating a notification regarding the status of the pressure level in the run of pipes.