Pipe coupling having wedge shaped keys

• US 20050212284A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
• Inventors: Dole, Douglas R.
• Application Number:
  US11/091,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/110
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 17/04 by rolling
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/025 the sealing rings having radially directed ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/22 made exclusively of a material other than metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/12 Joints for pipes being spaced apart axially
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 43/00 Bends; Siphons with cleaning apertures F16L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A coupling and pipes joined by the coupling are disclosed. The pipes have circumferential grooves adjacent their ends which are engaged by keys that project inwardly from the couplings. The keys are wedge shaped and substantially fill the grooves to provide a rigid joint. The grooves may have a shape that is complementary to the grooves. The keys may have convex or concave cross sectional shapes. The couplings have segments attached by fasters engaging lugs at either end of the coupling. The lugs are attached pad to pad or in spaced relationship. Gaps may be maintained between various surfaces on the keys and on the grooves through tolerances on the couplings.

Claims

1. In combination, a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting said pipes end to end, said pipes having circumferential grooves proximate to each said end, said coupling comprising a plurality of segments positionable circumferentially around said pipes and means for attaching said segments end to end, each of said segments having a pair of keys projecting radially inwardly toward said pipes for engagement with said circumferential grooves, said keys being positioned in spaced apart relation from one another and defining a space therebetween, said keys having a wedge-shaped cross section, said grooves having a complementary shape to said keys for receiving said keys when said segments are positioned circumferentially around said pipes.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said segments have outwardly extending lugs at one end, said lugs aligning with one another and being adapted to receive a fastener for attaching said segments to one another end to end, said lugs and fastener comprising said attachment means.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein one of said keys has an inner surface facing said space and an outer surface facing away from said space, said inner and outer surfaces being angularly oriented relative to one another thereby defining said wedge-shaped cross section of said one key.

4. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said outer surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile.

5. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said inner surface is oriented substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of said pipes.

6. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lug on one of said segments is engaged in pad to pad contact with said lug on another of said segments, said radially facing surface and said outer surface remain substantially in spaced relation away from said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

7. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lug on one of said segments is engaged in pad to pad contact with said lug on another of said segments, said outer surface is positioned in contact with said pipe and said radially facing surface is positioned in spaced relation away from said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

8. A combination according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of teeth positioned on said outer surface, said teeth engaging said groove when said outer surface is positioned in contact with said pipe.

9. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lug on one of said segments is engaged in pad to pad contact with said lug on another of said segments, both said radially facing surface and said outer surface are positioned in contact with said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

10. A combination according to claim 7, wherein said radially facing surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile.

11. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said spaced relation between said radially facing surface and said pipe is no greater than about 0.030 inches.

12. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said pipe ends are separated apart from one another by a gap, said outer surface being spaced apart from said pipe by a distance approximately equal to ½

of said gap between said pipe ends.

13. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said spaced relation between said outer surface and said pipe is no greater than about 0.035 inches.

14. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lug on one of said segments is attached in spaced apart relation to said lug on another of said segments, said radially facing surface and said outer surface remain substantially in spaced relation away from said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

15. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lug on one of said segments is attached in spaced apart relation to said lug on another of said segments, said outer surface is positioned in contact with said pipe and said radially facing surface is positioned in spaced relation away from said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

16. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said one key further includes a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said one key being sized so that when said lugs on one of said segments are attached in spaced apart relation with said lugs on another of said segments, both said radially facing surface and said outer surface are positioned in contact with said pipe, said inner surface engaging said groove to connect said pipes to one another.

17. A combination according to claim 15, wherein said radially facing surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile.

18. A combination according to claim 1, wherein one of said grooves comprises:

a first side surface positioned proximate to an end of said pipe;

a second side surface positioned in spaced apart relation to said first side surface and distally to said end of said pipe;

a floor surface extending between said first and second side surfaces; and

wherein one of said first and second side surfaces is oriented at an angle to said floor surface, said angle being greater than 90 degrees.

19. A combination according to claim 18, wherein said second side surface is oriented at said angle to said floor surface.

20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein said first side surface is oriented substantially perpendicularly to said floor surface.

21. A combination according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing member positionable within said space between said keys, said sealing member extending circumferentially around said pipes to provide a fluid tight seal between said pipe ends.

22. A coupling for connecting two pipes together end to end, said pipes having circumferential grooves proximate to each end, said coupling comprising first and second segments positionable circumferentially around said pipes, each said segment having outwardly extending lugs at each end, said lugs of said first segment aligning with said lugs of said second segment and being adapted to receive fasteners for attaching said segments to one another, each of said segments having a pair of keys projecting radially inwardly toward said pipes for engagement with said circumferential grooves, said keys being positioned in spaced apart relation from one another and defining a space therebetween, each of said keys having an inner surface facing said space and an outer surface facing away from said space, said keys further including a radially facing surface positioned between said inner and outer surfaces, said keys being sized so that when said lugs on said first segment are engaged with said lugs on said second segment, at least one of said radially facing surfaces and said outer surfaces remain substantially in spaced relation away from said pipes, said inner surfaces engaging said grooves to connect said pipes to one another.

23. A coupling according to claim 22, wherein both said radially facing surface and said outer surface remain substantially in spaced relation away from said pipes when said lugs on said first segment are engaged with said lugs on said second segment.

24. A coupling according to claim 22, wherein said outer surface is angularly oriented relative to said inner surface thereby defining a wedge-shaped cross section of said keys.

25. In combination, a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting said pipes end to end, said pipes having circumferential grooves proximate to each said end, said coupling comprising a plurality of segments positionable circumferentially around said pipes, each of said segments having a pair of keys projecting radially inwardly toward said pipes for engagement with said circumferential grooves, said keys being positioned in spaced apart relation from one another and defining a space therebetween, said keys having a cross sectional shape that substantially fills said grooves when said segments are positioned circumferentially around said pipes.

26. A combination according to claim 25, wherein one of said keys has a wedge shaped cross sectional shape.

27. A combination according to claim 26, wherein said one key has an inner surface facing said space and an outer surface facing away from said space, said outer surface being angularly oriented relative to said inner surface thereby defining said wedge shaped cross section of said one key.

28. A combination according to claim 27, wherein said outer surface is oriented at an angle up to 70 degrees relatively to an axis oriented coaxially with a longitudinal axis of said pipes.

29. A combination according to claim 25, wherein said keys have a convexly curved cross sectional shape.

30. In combination, a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting said pipes end to end, said pipes having circumferential grooves proximate to each said end, said coupling comprising a plurality of segments positionable circumferentially around said pipes and means for attaching said segments end to end, one of said segments having a first key projecting radially inwardly toward one of said pipes for engagement with said circumferential groove on said one pipe, another of said segments having a second key projecting radially inwardly toward the other of said pipes for engagement with said circumferential groove on said other pipe, said keys having a wedge-shaped cross section, said grooves having a complementary shape to said keys for receiving said keys when said segments are positioned circumferentially around said pipes.