Mechanical Pipe Coupling Having Spacers

• US 20080290652A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Dole, Douglas R., Gibb, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,654,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/22
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/005 made of elastic material, e.g. partly or completely surrounded by clamping devices comprising packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure F16L17/04, F16L11/20; hose clips F16L33/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/02 with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings F16L21/06, F16L21/08 take precedence ; sealing ring with radial ribs F16L17/025; sealing ring with axial lips F16L17/03; if adjustability is essential F16L27/00
• 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 23/18 the sealing means being rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/14 Joints for pipes of different diameters or cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule

Abstract

A preassembled mechanical pipe coupling having spacers is disclosed. The coupling has a plurality of interconnectable segments that straddle the ends of pipe elements to be joined. The segments have arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements. Spacers, positioned between the segments, maintain them in spaced apart relation sufficient to allow the pipe elements to be inserted between the segments. The segments have adjustably tightenable connection members for connecting the segments and drawing them to one another. When the connection members are tightened and the effect of the spacers is overcome, the arcuate surfaces are brought into engagement with the outer surfaces of the pipe elements.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling positionable straddling facing end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile and wherein said pipe coupling comprises:

a plurality of coupling segments, each coupling segment having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the cylindrically profiled outer surfaces of said pipe elements, said arcuate surfaces being in spaced apart relation lengthwise of one another;

each said coupling segment having connection members for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another;

a spacer positioned between said coupling segments, said spacer for maintaining said coupling segments in spaced apart relation, said end portions of said pipe elements being insertable between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship; and

said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together, said spacer being configured to be removable from between said segments, removal of said spacer allowing for tightening of said connection members permitting said arcuate surfaces to engage said outer surfaces of said pipe elements when said portions of said pipe elements are inserted between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship.

2. A pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said spacer comprises a block-shaped body positioned between said connection members.

3. A pipe coupling according to claim 2, wherein said block shaped body is releasibly attached to one of said connection members.

4. A pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said arcuate surfaces subtends an angle of less than 180°

and has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surfaces of said pipe elements, at least one of said segments being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to conform the curvature of said arcuate surfaces to the outer surfaces of said pipe elements.

5. A pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein said arcuate surfaces project radially inwardly from said segments, at least one notch being formed in at least one of said arcuate surfaces proximate to one end of said segment, said notch providing clearance for insertion of said end portions of said pipe elements between said segments.

6. A pipe coupling positionable straddling facing end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile and wherein said pipe coupling comprises:

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, said arcuate surfaces being in spaced apart relation lengthwise of one another;

each said coupling segment having a pair of lugs projecting outwardly from opposite ends thereof, said lugs on said first segment being in facing relation with said lugs on said second segment;

a pair of fasteners extending between each of said lugs in said facing relationship;

a pair of spacers, one said spacer positioned between each of said lugs in said facing relationship, said spacers maintaining said coupling segments in spaced apart relationship so as to allow said end portions of said pipe elements to be inserted between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship; and

said fasteners being adjustably tightenable against said lugs for drawing said segments together, said spacers being removable from between said lugs with said fasteners extending between each of said lugs to permit said segments to be drawn together upon tightening of said fasteners, said arcuate surfaces engaging said outer surfaces of said pipe elements upon tightening of said fasteners when said end portions of said pipe elements are inserted between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship.

7. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein said spacers are releasibly attached to said segments.

8. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein said spacers comprise block-shaped bodies positioned between said lugs in said facing relation.

9. A pipe coupling according to claim 8, wherein said block-shaped bodies are releasibly attached to said lugs.

10. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein said arcuate surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180°

and have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surfaces of said pipe elements, said segments being deformable upon removal of said spacers from between said segments and adjustable tightening of said fasteners so as to conform the curvature of said arcuate surfaces to the outer surfaces of said pipe elements.

11. A pipe coupling according to claim 6, wherein said arcuate surfaces project radially inwardly from said segments, a pair of notches being formed in each of said arcuate surfaces proximate to each end of said segments, said notches providing clearance for insertion of said end portions of said pipe elements between said segments when said segments are in said predetermined spaced apart relationship.

12. A pipe coupling positionable straddling facing end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile and wherein said pipe coupling comprises:

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, said arcuate surfaces being in spaced apart relation lengthwise of one another;

each said coupling segment having a pair of lugs projecting outwardly from opposite ends thereof, said lugs on said first segment being in facing relation with said lugs on said second segment;

a pair of fasteners extending between each of said lugs in said facing relationship;

a pair of spacers, each said spacer comprising a spring element, one said spring element being positioned between each of said lugs in said facing relationship, said spring elements maintaining said coupling segments in spaced apart relationship, said end portions of said pipe elements being insertable between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship; and

said fasteners being adjustably tightenable against said lugs for drawing said segments together, said spring elements being deformable in response to tightening of said fasteners to permit said arcuate surfaces to engage said outer surfaces of said pipe elements when said end portions of said pipe elements are inserted between said coupling segments in said end-to-end relationship.

13. A pipe coupling according to claim 12, wherein said spring elements are substantially elastically deformable upon tightening of said connection members.

14. A pipe coupling according to claim 12, wherein each of said spring elements comprises a coil spring.

15. A pipe coupling according to claim 12, wherein each of said spring elements comprises an elastic cylinder.

16. A pipe coupling according to claim 12, wherein said arcuate surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180°

and have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surfaces of said pipe elements, said segments being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said fasteners so as to conform the curvature of said arcuate surfaces to the outer surfaces of said pipe elements upon collapse of said spacers.

17. A pipe coupling according to claim 12, wherein said arcuate surfaces projecting radially inwardly from said segments, a pair of notches being formed in each of said arcuate surfaces proximate to each end of said segments, said notches providing clearance for insertion of said end portions of said pipe elements between said segments.

18. 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 plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end-to-end surrounding a central space, said coupling segments having arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements, said coupling segments being maintained in spaced apart relationship by a spacer positioned between two of said coupling segments, said spacer being configured to allow said segments to be drawn toward one another;

inserting said end portions of said pipe elements into said central space;

removing said spacer from between said segments; and

drawing said coupling segments toward one another sufficiently to engage said arcuate surfaces of said coupling with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements.