SLIP ON GROOVE COUPLING WITH MULTIPLE SEALING GASKET

• US 20120124804A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vandal, Peter Joseph, Compton, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,615,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• 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 21/03 placed in the socket before connection F16L21/022, F16L21/025 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/06 with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends flanged joints F16L23/00; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0447 Including joint or coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket

Abstract

Methods, gaskets, and couplings for connecting two pipes are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of placing the assembled coupling over one end of a pipe, aligning the second pipe with the first pipe, sliding the coupling off the end of the first pipe so that a portion of the coupling is around each pipe, and securing the coupling.

Claims

1. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe, wherein the coupling comprises;

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing; and

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings, wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over the end of the first pipe so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket,

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and

securing the coupling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing an assembled coupling over the end of the first pipe is completed without disassembling the coupling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of securing the coupling is completed by tightening the fastening devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of aligning the coupling with a groove in each pipe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening device is selected from the group consisting of bolts, clips, snap-couplings, rivets, and ties.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the two pipes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the gasket is concave.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gripping extension is adapted to grab the end of the first pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the first pipe.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on the inner surface of the gasket.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the upper housing and the lower housing is chamfered.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the chamfered sections are on the inner surface of each of the upper housing and the lower housing adjacent to where the upper housing and the lower housing meet.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer to separate the upper housing from the lower housing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one spacer are removable.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one spacer are permanent and compressible.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one spacer are springs.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary seals have interior ends that angle toward the outer surface of the gasket.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the corners of the outer surface of the gasket are concave.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein there are three secondary seals.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one slot in the outer surface of the gasket.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein there is one continuous slot around the circumference of the gasket.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein there are a plurality of slots around the circumference of the gasket.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each retaining device is a single wire surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the gasket is lubricated.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower housing and the at least one fastening device is one element coupled to the upper housing.

28. A method of coupling two pipes, comprising:

placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe;

aligning a second pipe with the first pipe;

sliding the coupling so that at least a portion of the coupling is around each pipe; and

securing the coupling.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of placing an assembled coupling over one end of a first pipe is completed without disassembling the coupling.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of securing the coupling is completed by tightening the fastening devices.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of aligning the coupling with a groove in each pipe.