1. US5732728 - Valve insertion method and assembly for inserting a valve in a line

A method for inserting a valve in a line includes providing a valve body that assembles on and rotates about an existing pipe. A first sealing mechanism is provided on the valve body that enables a user to selectively open (unseal) and close (seal) a gate access opening through the valve body. At least one cutting assembly is provided on the valve body for cutting the pipe as the valve body is rotated about the pipe, as well as a removably mountable gate assembly. The method proceeds by assembling the valve body on the pipe, rotating the valve body about the pipe with the cutting assembly and without the gate assembly, operating the cutting assembly to form the cut in the pipe (and removing any debris), mounting the gate assembly on the valve body, and then opening the gate access opening to enable movement of the gate through the gate access opening to a closed gate position within the cut in the pipe. One valve insertion assembly includes a removably mounted cutting assembly that moves a cutting element through the gate access opening to form the cut before withdrawing the cutting element, closing the gate access opening (and removing a residue receptacle), and replacing the cutting assembly with the gate assembly. A second access opening and second sealing mechanism may be included for cutting assembly access and/or pipe residue removal purposes also.