Method of hot tapping a pipe for installing sonic flowmeter transducers

摘要

A method of hot tapping a pipe for installing a carrier for use with a sonic flowmeter transducer includes the steps of welding an alignment fixture to the pipe, attaching a drilling device to the alignment fixture, drilling a hole in the pipe, removing the drilling device and replacing it with a cleaning assembly to remove metal shavings, replacing the cleaning assembly with an extraction assembly which is used to remove the drilling device, removing the extraction assembly and installing an insertion assembly to which a carrier is removably attached. The insertion assembly is employed to secure the carrier to the alignment fixture. The insertion assembly and the drilling device are then detached from the alignment fixture and are ready for reuse.