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Flanged fittings with proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends, the proximal section including a flange portion with bolt holes, and the central section including curved or angled surfaces, and which provide enhanced structural integrity and function for use in pipelin

Flanged fittings with proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends, the proximal section including a flange portion with bolt holes, and the central section including curved or angled surfaces, and which provide enhanced structural integrity and function for use in pipeline operations are described. The fittings can include an inner threaded surface capable of receiving a threaded plug to provide a primary seal in the fitting, and then can be capped with a finishing cap at the flange portion following a pipeline tapping process.

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1. A flanged fitting comprising: proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends of the fitting;wherein the proximal section comprises a flange portion having a circumference, proximal, first vertical, and distal surfaces, and a plurality of bolt holes extending through the f

1. A flanged fitting comprising: proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends of the fitting;wherein the proximal section comprises a flange portion having a circumference, proximal, first vertical, and distal surfaces, and a plurality of bolt holes extending through the flange portion from its proximal surface to distal surface, wherein the plurality of bolt holes are circumferentially arranged in the flange portion;a central opening extending from the proximal to distal end of the fitting and having a central axis, the opening having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner threaded surface positioned between a first inner non-threaded surface and a second inner non-threaded surface, wherein the inner threaded surface is capable of receiving a threaded plug and is closer to the proximal end than the distal end;the central section having a tubular shape and comprising, in a proximal to distal arrangement: a first curved outer surface defining a first section of fitting wall between the inner surface that decreases in thickness; a second vertical surface, parallel to the central axis and defining a second section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness; and a second curved surface defining a third section of fitting wall between the inner surface that increases in thickness;the distal section comprising a third vertical surface parallel to the central axis defining a fourth section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness;wherein the fourth section of fitting wall has an outer diameter and thickness that is greater than a thickness of an outer diameter and thickness of the second section of fitting wall;wherein the inner threaded surface begins at a location on the inner surface corresponding to the flange portion and ends at a location on the inner surface corresponding to the first curved outer surface of the central portion. 2. The flanged fitting of claim 1 further comprising a raised portion that extends proximally from the flange portion, the raised portion having a circumference that is smaller than the flange circumference. 3. The flanged fitting of claim 1 further comprising a third angled outer surface angled relative to the central axis and defining a fifth section of fitting wall between the inner surface that decreases in thickness. 4. The flanged fitting of claim 3 wherein, as measured along the central axis, a combined length of the third, fourth, and fifth sections of the fitting wall are less than the length of the second section of fitting wall. 5. The flanged fitting of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the fourth section of fitting wall is about 1.8—about2.0 times the thickness of the of the second section of fitting wall, wherein the central opening has an inner diameter, and the thickness of the second section of fitting wall is in the range of about 15-25% of the inner diameter, and the thickness of the fourth section of fitting wall is in the range of about 35-45% of the inner diameter. 6. The flanged fitting of claim 5 wherein the thickness of the fourth section of fitting wall is about 1.9 times the thickness of the second section of fitting wall, the thickness of the second section of fitting wall is about 20% of the inner diameter, and the thickness of the fourth section of fitting wall is about 40% of the inner diameter. 7. The flanged fitting of claim 1 wherein the second section of fitting wall has an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of any section of the fitting having a constant wall thickness. 8. A system comprising the flanged fitting of claim 1, a cover plate attachable to the proximal end of the fitting and having bolt holes in alignment with the bolt holes of the fitting. 9. The flanged fitting of claim 1 wherein the inner threaded surface is present at a location in the central opening at a distance from the proximal end that is between about 5% to about 35% of the overall length of the fitting. 10. The flanged fitting of claim 1 wherein the curved surfaces of the central section comprising the first and second outer surfaces comprise majority of the length of the central section. 11. A system comprising a flanged fitting and a threaded plug capable of being screwed into an inner threaded surface, wherein the flanged fitting comprises: proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends of the fitting;wherein the proximal section comprises a flange portion having a circumference, proximal, first vertical, and distal surfaces, and a plurality of bolt holes extending through the flange portion from its proximal surface to distal surface, wherein the plurality of bolt holes are circumferentially arranged in the flange portion;a central opening extending from the proximal to distal end of the fitting and having a central axis, the opening having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner threaded surface positioned between a first inner non-threaded surface and a second inner non-threaded surface, wherein the inner threaded surface is capable of receiving a threaded plug and is closer to the proximal end than the distal end;the central section having a tubular shape and comprising, in a proximal to distal arrangement: a first curved outer surface defining a first section of fitting wall between the inner surface that decreases in thickness; a second vertical surface, parallel to the central axis and defining a second section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness; and a second curved surface defining a third section of fitting wall between the inner surface that increases in thickness;the distal section comprising a third vertical surface parallel to the central axis defining a fourth section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness;wherein the fourth section of fitting wall has an outer diameter and thickness that is greater than a thickness of an outer diameter and thickness of the second section of fitting wall;and wherein the threaded plug provides a primary seal in the central opening of the flanged fitting and inhibits release of fluid through the central opening of the fitting. 12. A method for accessing a pipe comprising steps of (a) providing a fitting of claim 1, and (b) attaching the distal end of the fitting to a pipeline. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising steps of forming an opening in a sidewall of a pipeline sized to accommodate the distal end of the fitting. 14. A flanged fitting comprising: proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends of the fitting;wherein the proximal section comprises a flange portion having a circumference, proximal, first vertical, and distal surfaces, and a plurality of bolt holes extending through the flange portion from its proximal surface to distal surface, wherein the plurality of bolt holes are circumferentially arranged in the flange portion;a central opening extending from the proximal to distal end of the fitting and having a central axis, the opening having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner threaded surface positioned between a first inner non-threaded surface and a second inner non-threaded surface, wherein the inner threaded surface is capable of receiving a threaded plug and is closer to the proximal end than the distal end;the central section having a tubular shape and comprising, in a proximal to distal arrangement: a first angled outer surface angled relative to the central axis and defining a first section of fitting wall between the inner surface that decreases in thickness; a second vertical surface, parallel to the central axis and defining a second section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness; and a second angled outer surface angled relative to the central axis defining a third section of fitting wall between the inner surface that increases in thickness;the central section further comprising a first curved transition surface between the first angled outer surface and the second outer vertical surface, and a second curved transition surface between the second outer vertical surface and the second angled outer surface,the distal section comprising a third vertical surface parallel to the central axis defining a fourth section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness;wherein the fourth section of fitting wall has an outer diameter and thickness that is greater than a thickness of an outer diameter and thickness of the second section of fitting wall;and wherein the inner threaded surface begins at a location on the inner surface corresponding to the flange portion and ends a location on the inner surface corresponding to the first angled outer surface of the central section. 15. The flanged fitting of claim 14 wherein the second angled outer surface is at an angle in range of about 28° to about 38° to the central axis. 16. The flanged fitting of claim 15 wherein the second angled outer surface is at an angle of about 32°, 33°, or 34° to the central axis. 17. A system comprising the flanged fitting of claim 14 and a threaded plug capable of being screwed into an inner threaded surface, wherein the threaded plug provides a primary seal in the central opening of the flanged fitting and inhibits release of fluid through the central opening of the fitting. 18. A flanged fitting comprising: proximal, central, and distal sections between proximal and distal ends of the fitting;wherein the proximal section comprises a flange portion having a circumference, proximal, first vertical, and distal surfaces, and a plurality of bolt holes extending through the flange portion from its proximal surface to distal surface, wherein the plurality of bolt holes are circumferentially arranged in the flange portion;a central opening extending from the proximal to distal end of the fitting and having a central axis, the opening having an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner threaded surface positioned between a first inner non-threaded surface and a second inner non-threaded surface,wherein the inner threaded surface is capable of receiving a threaded plug and is closer to the proximal end than the distal end,the central section having a tubular shape and comprising, in a proximal to distal arrangement: a first curved outer surface defining a first section of fitting wall between the inner surface that decreases in thickness; a second vertical surface, parallel to the central axis and defining a second section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness; and a second curved surface defining a third section of fitting wall between the inner surface that increases in thickness;the distal section comprising a third vertical surface parallel to the central axis defining a fourth section of fitting wall between the inner surface that is constant in thickness;wherein the fourth section of fitting wall has an outer diameter and thickness that is greater than a thickness of an outer diameter and thickness of the second section of fitting wallwherein the proximal section further comprises a curved transition surface and a second vertical surface between the distal surface of the flange portion and the first section of fitting wall of the central section, wherein the inner threaded surface extends a length along the inner surface traversing the curved transition surface and second vertical surface.