Coupling gasket with multiple sealing surfaces

• US 10,641,421 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Anvil International Incorporated (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beagen, Jr., Joseph William
• Primary Examiner(s): Cigna, Jacob J
• Application Number:
  US15/359,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/025 and with at least one flexible lip
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/025 the sealing rings having radially directed ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/03 having annular axial lips
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/02 with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings F16L21/06, F16L21/08 take precedence ; sealing ring with radial ribs F16L17/025; sealing ring with axial lips F16L17/03; if adjustability is essential F16L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins

Abstract

An annular gasket includes an annular body; an annular body; a pair of sealing ribs each extending substantially radially inwardly from the annular body and having an innermost radial extent; and at least one center rib extending substantially radially inwardly from the annular body, the at least one center rib having an innermost radial extent closer to the annular body than the innermost radial extent of each of the pair of sealing ribs.

Claims

1. A method of coupling a first pipe element and a second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship comprising:

aligning a coupling with an end of the first pipe element;

the coupling comprising;

at least one segment, each segment defining a first end and a second end, the first end disposed opposite from the second end, each first end and each second end defining a fastener hole;

at least one fastener, each fastener extending through at least one of the fastener holes; and

a gasket, each segment positioned annular to the gasket, the gasket comprising;

an annular body;

a pair of sealing ribs each extending substantially radially inwardly from the annular body and defining a sealing ridge at a radially inward end of each of the pair of sealing ribs, each sealing ridge of the pair of sealing ribs defining a cylindrical sealing surface at an innermost radial extent in an uncompressed state, the cylindrical sealing surfaces defining a coupling void, each of the pair of sealing ribs defining an axially outer drafted edge and an axially inner drafted edge, the cylindrical sealing surface of each of the pair of sealing ribs respectively extending from the axially outer drafted edge to the axially inner drafted edge; and

at least one center rib extending substantially radially inwardly from the annular body, the at least one center rib defining an innermost radial extent closer to the annular body than an innermost radial extent of each of the pair of sealing ribs;

inserting the end of the first pipe element into the coupling void;

aligning an end of the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the end of the first pipe element;

inserting the end of the second pipe element into the coupling void; and

engaging each fastener with the at least one fastener hole of the at least one segment to bring the at least one segment into contact with a first outer surface defined by the first pipe element and a second outer surface defined by the second pipe element, wherein engaging each fastener comprises;

deforming the gasket; and

contacting the at least one center rib in sealing engagement with at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging each fastener further comprises:

deforming the gasket;

contacting a first sealing ridge of the sealing ridges of the pair of sealing ribs in sealing engagement with the first outer surface; and

contacting a second sealing ridge of the sealing ridges of the pair of sealing ribs in sealing engagement with the second outer surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each sealing rib defines an axially outer drafted edge;

each axially outer drafted edge extends axially outwards and radially outward from the cylindrical sealing surface at a non-zero angle from a radial direction; and

the method further comprises guiding the first pipe element into the coupling void with one of the axially outer drafted edges.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the cylindrical sealing surfaces each define a first diameter in an uncompressed state;

the first outer surface of the first pipe element defines a second diameter; and

the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the end of the first pipe element into the coupling void comprises maintaining a clearance between the cylindrical sealing surface and the first outer surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the coupling comprises a first segment and a second segment;

the first segment and the second segment are attached together by the at least one fastener; and

inserting the end of the first pipe element into the coupling void further comprises inserting the end of the first pipe element between the first segment and the second segment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each axially inner drafted edge extends axially inward and radially outward from the adjacent cylindrical sealing surface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each axially outer drafted edge extends axially outward and radially outward from the adjacent cylindrical sealing surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one center rib defines an innermost radial extent closer to the annular body than an innermost radial extent of each of the pair of sealing ribs in the uncompressed state.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sliding the coupling over the first pipe element such that both of the pair of sealing ribs slide entirely over the end of the first pipe element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first pipe element defines a first groove proximate the end of the first pipe element, and wherein the method further comprises sliding both of the pair of sealing ribs past the first groove.

12. The method of claim 10, inserting the end of the second pipe element into the coupling void further comprises sliding a first sealing rib of the pair of sealing ribs off of the first pipe element and over the end of the second pipe element.