Anti-mismatch of near-sized coupling segments
First Claim
1. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect the similarly configured and sized pipe ends of juxtaposed pipes;
- each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising at least two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the juxtaposed ends of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
radially inwardly extending and axially spaced first and second keys, said first keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, and said second keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, each of said first and second keys adapted to cooperatively engage a peripheral groove about the outer circumference of one of the juxtaposed pipe ends, and bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the juxtaposed pipe ends, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior, with said keys being tightly retained within their respective pipe recesses when said bolts are in their fully tightened condition;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings in which an anti-mismatch means is provided to prevent the inadvertent connection of two different, but closely, sized arcuate coupling segments together. The anti-mismatch means is provided by members on the ends of the arcuate coupling segments which (a) will nest when the proper coupling segments are brought together, but (b) will be in an interference non-nested relationship when a mismatch is attempted. This will prevent the fully bolt tightened connection of the size mismatched coupling segments, as well as a visual indication to the workman that a size mismatch is being attempted.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect the similarly configured and sized pipe ends of juxtaposed pipes;
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each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising at least two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the juxtaposed ends of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
radially inwardly extending and axially spaced first and second keys, said first keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, and said second keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, each of said first and second keys adapted to cooperatively engage a peripheral groove about the outer circumference of one of the juxtaposed pipe ends, and bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the juxtaposed pipe ends, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior, with said keys being tightly retained within their respective pipe recesses when said bolts are in their fully tightened condition;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect the similarly configured and sized pipe ends of juxtaposed pipes;
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each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the juxtaposed ends of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
radially inwardly extending and axially spaced first and second keys, said first keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, and said second keys of the juxtaposed coupling segments being in circumferential alignment, each of said first and second keys adapted to cooperatively engage a peripheral groove about the outer circumference of one of the juxtaposed pipe ends, and bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the juxtaposed pipe ends, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior, with said keys being tightly retained within their respective pipe recesses when said bolts are in their fully tightened condition;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series;
said anti-mismatch means being a projection on a first of said coupling segments in each of said series, and a recess on a second of said coupling segments of each of said series;
the projection and recess of said first one of said series of segmented pipe couplings configured and located to nest as their coupling segments are bolt tightened, such that the ends of said coupling segments are brought together in close proximity to encircle a pipe of a diameter corresponding to said first diameter;
the projection and recess of said second ones of said series of pipe couplings configured and located to nest as their coupling segments are bolt tightened, such that the ends of said coupling segments are brought together in close proximity to encircle a pipe of a diameter corresponding to said second diameter;
the orientation of said projection and recess of said first one of said series of segmented pipe couplings differing from the orientation of said projection and recess of said second one of said series such that said projections of their respective segmented pipe couplings abut and provide an interference relationship opposing the bolted connection of an arcuate coupling segment of said first one of said series to an arcuate coupling segment of said second one of said series. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect similarly configured and sized pipes:
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each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the portions of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the juxtaposed pipe ends, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior, when said bolts are in their fully tightened condition;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series;
each of said arcuate coupling segments terminating at its ends with inclined end faces, and said anti-mismatch means provided by the angular direction of said inclined end faces;
the angular direction of the inclined end faces in said first one of said series of segmented pipe couplings differing from the angular direction in said second one of said series, such that the inclined end faces of juxtaposed individual arcuate coupling segments of said first one of said series will nest, the inclined end faces of juxtaposed individual arcuate coupling segments of said second one of said series will nest, and the end faces of a coupling segment of said first series juxtaposed to the end faces of a coupling segment of said second series will be in an interference non-nested relationship. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect similarly configured and sized pipes:
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each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising at least two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the portions of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
a radially inwardly extending portion adapted to engage the outer circumference of one of the pipes being connected, and bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the pipes being connected, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. In a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings, each coupling adapted to securably connect similarly configured and sized pipes:
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each one of said series of segmented pipe couplings comprising two arcuate coupling segments to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationship for encircling the portions of the pipes to be coupled;
each of said coupling segments including;
a radially inwardly extending portion adapted to engage the outer circumference of one of the pipes being connected, and bolt receiving pads at the ends of each of said coupling segments for receiving bolts to securably maintain the individual coupling segments of each series about the juxtaposed pipe ends, with the tightening of said bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly to produce a reduction in the internal circumference of the coupling and cause clamping engagement with the pipe exterior;
each one of said series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings having a different diameter, and intended to couple together correspondingly different diameter pipes;
a first one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a first diameter, and a second one of said successively sized series of segmented pipe couplings having a second diameter, said second segmented pipe coupling being the next successively sized coupling within said series after said first segmented pipe coupling, with said second diameter being slightly greater than said second diameter, the improvement comprising;
anti-mismatch means provided on the individual ones of said coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of a coupling segment of said first series to a coupling segment of said second series;
said anti-mismatch means being a projection on a first of said coupling segments in each of said series, and a recess on a second of said coupling segments of each of said series;
the projection and recess of said first one of said series of segmented pipe couplings configured and located to nest as their coupling segments are bolt tightened, such that the ends of said coupling segments are brought together in close proximity to encircle a pipe of a diameter corresponding to said first diameter;
the projection and recess of said second ones of said series of pipe couplings configured and located to nest as their coupling segments are bolt tightened, such that the ends of said coupling segments are brought together in close proximity to encircle a pipe of a diameter corresponding to said second diameter;
the orientation of said projection and recess of said first one of said series of segmented pipe couplings differing from the orientation of said projection and recess of said second one of said series such that said projections of their respective segmented pipe couplings abut and provide an interference relationship opposing the bolted connection of an arcuate coupling segment of said first one of said series to an arcuate coupling segment of said second one of said series. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification