Pipe joint restraint
First Claim
1. A pipe joint restraint comprising:
- an annular retainer gland defining a pipe-receiving space therethrough and having an axial centerline;
at least one pocket associated with the annular retaining gland and having an opening confronting the pipe-receiving space and a top wall radially outwardly of the opening, the top wall defining at least one fulcrum fixed a predetermined distance from the axial centerline of the annular retainer gland; and
a gripping element having at least a portion moveable within the pocket and at least one gripping edge adapted to engage a pipe received in the pipe-receiving space;
the gripping element being operatively engaged with the fulcrum so as to move relative to the fulcrum such that the gripping edge moves toward the axial centerline of the annular gland in response to movement, along the axial centerline of the annular gland, of a pipe received in the pipe-receiving space and engaged by the gripping edge of the gripping element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe joint restraint (16) includes a pocket (74) having a fulcrum (92) a fixed distance from the centerline (26) of an annular retaining gland (22) and about which a gripping element (76) pivots to move a gripping edge (75) toward the centerline (26) so as to grip a pipe (14) engaged by the gripping element (76) in response to thrust forces on the pipe (14). The length of gripping edge (75) is selected for the material of pipe (14). Adjustable element (78) operatively connects to the gripping element (76) and fulcrum (92) to pivot with the gripping element (76). Adjustable element (78) and may be torqued to a common, predetermined torque whether the pipe (14) is metal or polymeric.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A pipe joint restraint comprising:
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an annular retainer gland defining a pipe-receiving space therethrough and having an axial centerline;
at least one pocket associated with the annular retaining gland and having an opening confronting the pipe-receiving space and a top wall radially outwardly of the opening, the top wall defining at least one fulcrum fixed a predetermined distance from the axial centerline of the annular retainer gland; and
a gripping element having at least a portion moveable within the pocket and at least one gripping edge adapted to engage a pipe received in the pipe-receiving space;
the gripping element being operatively engaged with the fulcrum so as to move relative to the fulcrum such that the gripping edge moves toward the axial centerline of the annular gland in response to movement, along the axial centerline of the annular gland, of a pipe received in the pipe-receiving space and engaged by the gripping edge of the gripping element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A pipe joint restraint comprising:
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an annular retainer gland defining a pipe-receiving space therethrough;
at least one pocket associated with the annular retaining gland and having an opening confronting the pipe-receiving space and a top wall radially outwardly of the opening and having an aperture;
a gripping element having at least a portion moveable within the pocket and at least one gripping edge for engaging a pipe received in the pipe-receiving space; and
an adjustment member extending into the pocket through the top wall aperture so as to operatively engage the gripping element, the adjustment member including an interior shoulder inside the pocket and an exterior shoulder outside the pocket, the interior and exterior shoulders cooperating to retain the gripping element proximate the pocket without a pipe in the pipe-receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A pipe assembly, comprising:
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a pipe having an outer surface;
an annular retainer gland disposed on the outer surface of the pipe and having an axial centerline;
a plurality of pockets on the retainer gland, each pocket having an opening confronting the pipe and a top wall radially outwardly of the opening, each top wall defining a respective fulcrum fixed a respective predetermined distance from the axial centerline of the annular retainer gland;
a plurality of gripping elements, each gripping element associated with a respective one of the pockets and having at least a portion moveable within the associated pocket;
each gripping element having a gripping edge adapted to engaging the outer surface of the pipe; and
a plurality of adjustment members, each extending within a respective pocket and threadably coupled to a respective gripping element, the adjustment members each operable to move the respective gripping element into engagement with the outer surface of the pipe;
the gripping elements each pivotable about the fulcrum of the associated pocket in response to movement of the pipe in a direction along the axial centerline of the retainer gland. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A pipe assembly, comprising:
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a pipe having an outer surface, the pipe being metal or polymeric;
an annular retainer gland disposed on the outer surface of the pipe and having an axial centerline;
a plurality of pockets on the retainer gland, each pocket having an opening confronting the pipe; and
a plurality of gripping elements, each gripping element associated with a respective one of the pockets and having at least a portion moveable within the respectively associated pocket;
the gripping elements being one of a first type or a second type, the first type configured for use with the metal pipe by a gripping edge of a first length, the second type configured for use with the polymeric pipe by a gripping edge of a second length, longer than the first length;
the number of gripping elements being the same when the pipe is metal as when the pipe is polymeric. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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41. A method of securing a pipe, comprising:
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fitting an annular retainer gland carrying a gripping element over the outer surface of the pipe;
moving the gripping element into engagement with the outer surface of the pipe; and
pivoting the gripping element about a fulcrum defined on the retainer gland a fixed distance from an axial center of the retainer gland. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of securing a pipe, comprising:
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fitting an annular retainer gland over the outer surface of the pipe, the retainer gland having at least one gripping element, the gripping element being one of a first type of gripping element configured for use with metal pipes or a second type of gripping element configured for use with polymeric pipes;
tightening an adjustment member to a predetermined torque to move the gripping element into engagement with an outer surface of the pipe;
the predetermined torque being the same for both the first and second types of gripping elements. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification