MECHANICAL PIPE FITTING
Devices and methods for coupling fluid conveying piping ( 12 ) in an arrangement to provide a one or more branch connections. A mechanical fitting includes a lower housing ( 110 a ) and an upper housing ( 110 b ) coupled to one another to define an interior space ( 112 ) for housing a tubular pipe segment ( 12 ). At least one insert ( 200 ) for insertion in one of the upper or lower housing includes a tubular body ( 200 b ) that defines a fluid flow passageway ( 202 ) and a base ( 200 a ) that engages an opening ( 14 ) in the pipe segment ( 12 ). The base and housings are configured to engage one another to prevent rotation of the insert ( 200 ) with respect to the housing ( 110 ).
1 .- 61 . (canceled)
62 . A mechanical fitting comprising:
a pipe segment having a first opening in a wall portion of the pipe segment and a second opening formed in the wall portion of the pipe segment;
a first tubular body disposed in the first opening, the first tubular body having a base and a stem for forming a pipe connection along a first stem axis;
a first housing secured about the pipe segment and having the first tubular body received within the first housing so as to prevent relative rotation between the first tubular body and the first housing about the first stem axis;
a second tubular body disposed in the second opening, the second tubular body having a base and a stem for forming a pipe connection along a second stem axis; and
a second housing secured about the pipe segment and having the second tubular body received within the second housing so as to prevent relative rotation between the second tubular body and the second housing about the second stem axis, the first and second housings being disposed relative to one another about the pipe segments such that the first and second tubular bodies are disposed on opposite sides of a plane bisecting the pipe segment.
63 . A method of forming a multi-branch pipe connection, the method comprising:
forming a first opening and a second opening in a wall portion of a pipe segment such that the first and second openings are disposed about a plane bisecting the pipe segment;
securing a first housing about the pipe segment, the first housing having a first tubular body received within the first housing and disposed in the first opening; and
securing a second housing about the pipe segment, the second housing having a second tubular body received within the second housing and disposed in the second opening; such that the first and second tubular bodies are disposed about the plane.
64 . The mechanical fitting of claim 62 , wherein the first tubular body and the first housing define a first mechanical tee fitting and the second tubular body and the second housing define a second mechanical tee fitting.
65 . (canceled)
66 . The mechanical fitting of claim 64 , wherein the first and second mechanical tee fittings are the same.
67 . The mechanical fitting of claim 64 , wherein the first and second mechanical tee fittings are different.
68 . A multi-branch mechanical fitting comprising:
a first tee fitting defining a first branch pipe connection;
a second tee fitting defining a second branch pipe connection, the second tee fitting being disposed relative to the first tee fitting such that the first and second branch pipe connections are disposed in a common plane and skewed or axially aligned about the pipe segment relative to one another.