COUPLING HAVING ANGULARLY ORIENTED CAVITY

• US 20070090646A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Madara, Scott, Porter, Michael, Dole, Douglas, Nagle, William, Pierce, John, McPoyle, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/413
• 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: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation is disclosed. The coupling includes interconnectable coupling segments having connection members at opposite ends. The connection members are tightenable for drawing the segments toward one another and into engagement with the pipe elements. Each segment has a concavity positioned between inwardly projecting arcuate surfaces that engage grooves in the pipe elements. The concavities house a sealing member that extends circumferentially around the pipe elements. Angularly oriented surfaces are positioned adjacent to the connection members. The surfaces on facing segments engage one another and cause the segments to rotate in opposite directions about an axis perpendicular to the pipe elements. The concavities are angularly oriented with respect to the axis so that when the segments rotate, the cavities receive the sealing member without distorting it. A method of joining pipe elements end to end is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:

a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements;

first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together;

means for rotating said segment about an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements; and

a concavity positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending circumferentially around said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

2. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said concavity has an orientation angle less than 4°

.

3. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said concavity has an orientation angle between ¼

° and

4°

.

4. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said orientation angle is oriented opposite to the rotation of said segments.

5. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate surfaces project radially inwardly from said segments.

6. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 5, wherein said arcuate surfaces are substantially continuous along said segments.

7. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said concavity comprises first and second sidewalls positioned in spaced relation to one another and a back wall attached to said sidewalls.

8. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said connection members comprise a pair of projections extending outwardly from the ends of each of said segments, said projections being adapted to receive fasteners for adjustably connecting said segments to one another, said fasteners being adjustably tightenable for drawing said arcuate surfaces of said segments together into engagement with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements.

9. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said projections comprises a lug having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive said fastener.

10. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means comprises first and second angularly oriented surfaces positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members respectively, said angularly oriented surfaces having opposite slopes, said angularly oriented surfaces on one said segment being positionable in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on another said segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about said axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements.

11. A pipe coupling positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising:

first and second coupling segments, each coupling segment having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements;

first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together;

means for rotating said segments relatively to one another about an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements; and

a concavity positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending circumferentially around said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

12. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said concavity has an orientation angle less than 4°

.

13. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said concavity has an orientation angle between ¼

° and

4°

.

14. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said orientation angle is oriented opposite to the rotation of said segments.

15. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said arcuate surfaces project radially inwardly from said segments.

16. A pipe coupling according to claim 15, wherein said arcuate surfaces are substantially continuous along said segments.

17. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said concavity comprises first and second sidewalls positioned in spaced relation to one another and a back wall attached to said sidewalls.

18. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said connection members comprise a pair of projections extending outwardly from the ends of each of said segments, said projections being adapted to receive fasteners for adjustably connecting said segments to one another, said fasteners being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together.

19. A pipe coupling according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said projections comprises a lug having an aperture therethrough adapted to receive said fastener.

20. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, in combination with said sealing member, said sealing member comprising a flexible, resilient seal, said seal being a substantially circular ring having an inner diameter sized to receive said pipe elements, said seal being positioned within said concavities of said first and second coupling segments.

21. A pipe coupling according to claim 11, wherein said rotating means comprises first and second angularly oriented surfaces respectively positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members on each said segment, said angularly oriented surfaces on each segment having opposite slopes, said angularly oriented surfaces on one said segment being positioned in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on another said segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about said axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements.

22. A method of securing facing end portions of pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a pipe coupling having a pair of coupling segments attached to one another end-to-end, said coupling segments each having arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipes, said coupling segments each having a concavity positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending circumferentially around said segments, said concavity being adapted to receive a sealing member, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements;

positioning said end portions of said pipe elements between said segments;

drawing said coupling segments into engagement with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; and

rotating said coupling segments in opposite directions about said axis relatively to one another thereby orienting said cavities substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements.

23. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:

a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements;

first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together;

first and second angularly oriented surfaces positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members respectively, said angularly oriented surfaces having opposite slopes, said angularly oriented surfaces on one said segment being positionable in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on another said segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements; and

a concavity positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending circumferentially around said segment, said concavity being divided into a plurality of sectors, at least one of said sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

24. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 23, wherein said concavity is divided into first and second end sectors respectively positioned adjacent to opposite ends of said segment, and a middle sector positioned between said end sectors, said end sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

25. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 24, wherein said end sectors each subtend an angle of 45°

and said middle sector subtends an angle of 90°

.

26. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 24, wherein said end sectors have an orientation angle less than 6°

.

27. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments according to claim 24, wherein said end sectors have an orientation angle between ¼

° and

6°

.

28. A pipe coupling positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising:

first and second coupling segments, each coupling segment having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements;

first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together;

first and second angularly oriented surfaces respectively positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members on each said segment, said angularly oriented surfaces on each segment having opposite slopes, said angularly oriented surfaces on one said segment being positioned in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on another said segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about an axis oriented substantially perpendicular to said pipe elements; and

a concavity positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending circumferentially around said segment, said concavity being divided into a plurality of sectors, at least one of said sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

29. A pipe coupling according to claim 28, wherein said concavity is divided into first and second end sectors respectively positioned adjacent to opposite ends of said segment, and a middle sector positioned between said end sectors, said end sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said axis to receive said sealing member.

30. A pipe coupling according to claim 28, wherein said end sectors each subtend an angle of 45°

and said middle sector subtends an angle of 90°

.

31. A pipe coupling according to claim 28, wherein said end sectors have an orientation angle less than 6°

.

32. A pipe coupling according to claim 28, wherein said end sectors have an orientation angle between ¼

° and

6°

.