US 11,913,584 B2
Insert valve cut warning system
Timothy J. Mitchell, Hixson, TN (US); Samantha Ellen Covington, Chattanooga, TN (US); and David Latimore Hughes, Jr., Signal Mountain, TN (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/064,207.
Application 18/064,207 is a continuation of application No. 17/458,685, filed on Aug. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,549,628.
Prior Publication US 2023/0108266 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 41/06 (2006.01); F16L 55/105 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 41/06 (2013.01) [F16L 55/105 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A warning system comprising:
a valve sleeve defining a cavity comprising a bottom sealing surface within the cavity;
a pipeline extending through the cavity;
a drill comprising a shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drill configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position to a post-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and
a proximity sensor positioned within the cavity and configured to produce an electric signal when a distance between the proximity sensor and some portion of the drill when the drill is in the post-engagement position.