Coupling Having Angularly Oriented Shoulder Surfaces

• US 20100289257A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Wilk, Charles E., Henry, Vance W., Madara, Scott D., Dole, Douglas R., Pierce, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,136,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/1012 Flanged joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has a circumferentially extending cavity facing the central space flanked by arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Two arcuate shoulder surfaces are positioned on each segment. The arcuate shoulder surfaces face the central space and are positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the cavity between the cavity and the arcuate keys. The arcuate shoulder surfaces are angularly oriented with respect to an axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. The coupling is used to couple pipe elements having a circumferential ring located at the ends of the pipe elements. The angular orientation of the arcuate shoulder surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements having circumferential rings is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:

a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment;

said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space;

said one segment further comprising a first arcuate shoulder surface extending lengthwise along said one segment, said first arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned between said cavity and said arcuate key, said first arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said first arcuate shoulder surface being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said one pipe element is positioned within said central space.

2. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface is oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

3. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface is oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

4. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface has an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

5. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface has an orientation angle of about 3°

.

6. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface has a curved cross sectional profile.

7. The coupling according to claim 1, further comprising a second arcuate shoulder surface positioned between said first arcuate shoulder surface and said central space, said second arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to said axis and having a slope opposite to a slope of said first arcuate shoulder surface.

8. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surface has an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

9. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surface has an orientation angle of about 3°

.

10. The coupling according to claim 1 comprising two said segments.

11. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

12. The coupling according to claim 1, further comprising a seal located within said cavity.

13. The coupling according to claim 1, further comprising:

connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said arcuate shoulder surface into engagement with said outer surface of said pipe element; and

wherein said first arcuate shoulder surface subtends an angle of less than 180° and

has a minimum radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe element, at least said one segment being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said first arcuate shoulder surface to the outer surface of said pipe element.

14. The coupling according to claim 13, wherein said arcuate key subtends an angle of less than 180°

and has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe element.

15. The coupling according to claim 14, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

16. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:

a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, each said segment having a cavity therein, each said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along each said segment;

each said segment further comprising a pair of arcuate keys extending lengthwise along each said segment and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said arcuate keys being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity;

each said segment further comprising a pair of first arcuate shoulder surfaces extending lengthwise along each said segment and facing said central space, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity, each said first arcuate shoulder surface being positioned between one of said arcuate keys and said cavity, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being engageable with an outer surface of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space.

17. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces on each of said segments are oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

18. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces on each of said segments are oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

19. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

20. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°

.

21. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have a curved cross sectional profile.

22. The coupling according to claim 16, wherein each said segment further comprises a pair of second arcuate shoulder surfaces, each positioned between one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said central space, said second arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to said axis and having a slope opposite to a slope of an adjacent one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces.

23. The coupling according to claim 22, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

24. The coupling according to claim 22, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°

.

25. The coupling according to claim 16 comprising two said segments.

26. The coupling according to claim 25, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

27. The coupling according to claim 16 further comprising a seal positioned in said cavity.

28. The coupling according to claim 16, further comprising:

connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting said coupling segments to one another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said arcuate shoulder surfaces into engagement with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements; and

wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180° and

have a minimum 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 connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces to the outer surfaces of said pipe elements.

29. The coupling according to claim 28, wherein said arcuate keys subtend an angle of less than 180°

and have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe elements.

30. The coupling according to claim 29 comprising two said segments.

31. The coupling according to claim 30, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

32. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:

a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment;

said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space;

said one segment further comprising an arcuate shoulder surface extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned between said cavity and said arcuate key, said arcuate shoulder surface having a first boundary adjacent to said key and a second boundary adjacent to said cavity, said first boundary having a first radius of curvature, said second boundary having a second radius of curvature, said first radius of curvature being different from said second radius of curvature.

33. The coupling according to claim 32, wherein said first radius of curvature is greater than said second radius of curvature.

34. The coupling according to claim 32, wherein said first radius of curvature is less than said second radius of curvature.

35. The coupling according to claim 32, wherein said arcuate shoulder surface has a curved cross sectional profile.

36. In combination, a pair of pipe elements and a coupling joining the pipe elements together in end to end relation, each of said pipe elements comprising:

a circumferential ring located at an end of each pipe element and extending radially outwardly therefrom;

and wherein said coupling comprises;

a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, each said segment having a cavity therein, each said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along each said segment;

each said segment further comprising a pair of arcuate keys extending lengthwise along each said segment and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said arcuate keys being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity;

each said segment further comprising a pair of first arcuate shoulder surfaces extending lengthwise along each said segment and facing said central space, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity, each said first arcuate shoulder surface being positioned between one of said arcuate keys and said cavity, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to an outer surface of said circumferential rings, said ends of each of said pipe elements being positioned in end to end relation within said central space, a portion of each of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being engaged with said outer surface of one of said circumferential rings positioned at said ends of said pipe elements.

37. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces on each of said segments are oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said outer surface of said ring increases with increasing distance in a direction away from said central space.

38. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces on each of said segments are oriented such that the distance between said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said outer surface of said ring increases with increasing distance in a direction toward said central space.

39. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

40. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°

.

41. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have a curved cross sectional profile.

42. The combination according to claim 36, wherein each of said segments further comprises a pair of second arcuate shoulder surfaces, each positioned between one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said central space, said second arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to said axis and having a slope opposite to a slope of an adjacent one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces.

43. The combination according to claim 42, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

44. The combination according to claim 42, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°

.

45. The combination according to claim 36 comprising two said segments.

46. The combination according to claim 36, further comprising:

connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting said coupling segments to one another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said first arcuate shoulder surfaces into engagement with said outer surfaces of said circumferential rings; and

wherein said first arcuate shoulder 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 circumferential rings, said segments being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces to the outer surfaces of said circumferential rings.

47. The combination according to claim 46, wherein said arcuate keys subtend an angle of less than 180°

and have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe elements.

48. The combination according to claim 47 comprising two said segments.

49. A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relationship using a coupling formed of a plurality of segments connected end to end by a plurality of adjustably tightenable fasteners, said segments being connected to one another in spaced apart relation, said segments surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment, said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said one segment further comprising an arcuate shoulder surface extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned between said cavity and said arcuate key, said arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said method comprising:

inserting said pipe elements into said central space from opposite sides of said coupling;

tightening said fasteners so as to draw said segments toward one another and thereby engaging said arcuate shoulder surface with an outer surface of at least one of said pipe elements.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein said arcuate shoulder surface subtends an angle of less than 180°

and has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said one pipe element, said method further comprising deforming at least said one segment upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said arcuate shoulder surface to the outer surface of said one pipe element.

51. The method according to claim 49, wherein said coupling further comprises a seal positioned within said cavity, inserting said pipe elements into said central space from opposite sides of said coupling including engaging said seal with said pipe elements from opposite sides of said seal.