Pipe coupling

• US 20050225087A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WANG Components Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: Tyco Water Pty Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Gellie, Richard I, McMahon, John E
• Granted Patent: US 7,219,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/412
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/08 with additional locking means F16L17/035, F16L17/04, F16L21/04, F16L21/06 take precedence; screwed joints F16L19/08; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00

Abstract

There is disclosed a pipe coupling (13) for coupling the ends of pipe sections (10 and 11) together end to end. The coupling includes a barrel member (19) adapted to bridge and surround the ends of the pipe sections to be coupled, and, together with coupling members (20), adapted to engage the ends of the barrel sections, and elastomeric sealing rings (21) adapted to be forced by the coupling members into the ends of the barrel member and expanded radially outwardly and inwardly into tight sealing engagement within the end of the barrel member and around the circumferences of the pipe sections being coupled. Substantially tangentially extending bolts (22) are utilised to couple the respective coupling members to the barrel member, and means (29, 30) on the inside of the coupling members, and on the outside of the barrel member, to interact and progressively twist the coupling members along the barrel member to force the sealing rings into tight sealing engagement with the inside of the barrel member and around the circumference of the pipe sections being coupled. There is also disclosed a coupling which has a barrel member which forms part of one of the pipe sections to be joined and only one coupling member and sealing ring is used to couple the barrel member to the other pipe section.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling for coupling the ends of pipe sections together end to end, said coupling including a barrel member forming part of the end of one of the pipe sections, or adapted to bridge and surround the ends of the pipe sections to be coupled, at least one coupling member, adapted to engage at least one end of the barrel section, and at least one elastomeric sealing ring adapted to be forced by the or each coupling member into at least one end of the barrel member and expanded radially outwardly and inwardly into tight sealing engagement within the end of the barrel member and around the circumference of the pipe section being coupled, wherein a substantially tangentially extending bolt is utilized to couple the or each respective coupling member to the barrel member, and means on the inside of the or each coupling member, and on the outside of the barrel member, to interact and progressively twist the or each coupling member along the barrel member to force the or each sealing ring into tight sealing engagement with the inside of the barrel member and around the circumference of the or each pipe section being coupled.

2. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrel member is adapted to bridge and surround the ends of the pipe sections to be coupled, and two coupling members are provided, one for each end of the barrel ember and for the end of each pipe section, and two sealing rings are provided for positioning between each coupling member and an adjacent end of the barrel member whereby when the pipe coupling is assembled between the ends of the pipe sections and each coupling member is coupled to its adjacent end of the barrel member, by a said tangentially extending bolt for each coupling member, each sealing ring will be expanded radially outwardly and inwardly into tight sealing engagement within the barrel member and around the circumferences of the pipe sections being coupled.

3. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means on the inside of the or each coupling member, and on the outside of the barrel member, to interact and progressively twist the or each coupling member along the barrel member, are one or more radially outwardly directed and helically extending lugs on the outside of the barrel member engaged by one or more radially inwardly directed lugs on the inside of the coupling member.

4. A pipe coupling as claimed in claims 1, wherein the or each substantially tangentially extending bolt coupling the or each coupling member to the barrel member extends between radially outwardly directed lugs on the coupling member and the barrel member.

5. A pipe coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each elastomeric sealing ring are of axially tapering configuration and the adjacent end of the barrel member is matingly internally tapered.

7. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means on the inside of the or each coupling member, and on the outside of the barrel member, to interact and progressively twist the or each coupling member along the barrel member, are one or more radially outwardly directed and helically extending lugs on the outside of the barrel member engaged by one or more radially inwardly directed lugs on the inside of the coupling member.

8. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 2, wherein the or each substantially tangentially extending bolt coupling the or each coupling member to the barrel member extends between radially outwardly directed lugs on the coupling member and the barrel member.

9. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 3, wherein the or each substantially tangentially extending bolt coupling the or each coupling member to the barrel member extends between radially outwardly directed lugs on the coupling member and the barrel member.

6. A pipe coupling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.