SLIP-ON COUPLING

• US 20130187379A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beagen, Joseph William Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,194,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/337
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/025 the sealing rings having radially directed ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/022 used with sleeves or nipples for pipes of the same diameter, or with reduction pieces F16L21/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/04 the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane F16L23/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49893 Peripheral joining of opposed mirror image parts to form a hollow body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49954 Fastener deformed after application

Abstract

A coupling includes at least one segment, each segment including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, at least two ends, and a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each fastener hole having an axial length and a transverse length, wherein the transverse length is longer than the axial length; an annular gasket contacting the inner surface of at least one segment, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; and at least one fastener disposed within at least one fastener hole, each fastener including a head portion and a shaft portion, each shaft portion including at least one of a threaded portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion, wherein at least one portion of the shaft portion is sized to engage at least one fastener hole.

Claims

1. A slip-on coupling comprising:

at least one segment, each segment including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, at least two ends, and a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole about centered on each fastener pad, each fastener hole having an axial length and a transverse length, wherein the transverse length is longer than the axial length;

an annular gasket contacting the inner surface of at least one segment, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; and

at least one fastener disposed within at least one fastener hole, each fastener including a head portion and a shaft portion, each shaft portion including at least one of a threaded portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion, wherein at least one portion of the shaft portion is sized to engage at least one fastener hole.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each segment includes two contact surfaces.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the annular gasket includes at least one center rib and at least two sealing ridges.

4. The coupling of claim 3, wherein the center rib includes two sealing surfaces and wherein each sealing ridge includes a sealing surface.

5. The coupling of claim 4, wherein a central groove separates the two sealing surfaces of the center rib.

6. The coupling of claim 3, wherein each sealing ridge is disposed between an axially inner drafted edge and an axially outer drafted edge.

7. The coupling of claim 3, wherein the sealing surfaces of the sealing ridges are substantially parallel.

8. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the gasket includes at least two gasket channels.

9. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each segment includes at least one of a tongue and a groove.

10. The coupling of claim 9, wherein each segment includes one tongue and defines one groove.

11. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each fastener includes a collar portion and wherein each collar portion includes an axial length and a transverse length, and wherein each axial length is smaller than each transverse length.

12. The coupling of claim 11, wherein each axial length of each collar portion is smaller than each axial length of each fastener hole, wherein each transverse length of each collar portion is smaller than each transverse length of each fastener hole, and wherein each axial length of each fastener hole is smaller than each transverse length of each collar portion.

13. A slip-on coupling comprising:

at least one segment, each segment including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, at least two ends, and a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each fastener hole having an inner surface, an axial length, and a transverse length, wherein the transverse length is longer than the axial length;

an annular gasket contacting the inner surface of at least one segment, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; and

at least one fastener disposed within at least one fastener hole, each fastener including a head portion and a shaft portion, each shaft portion including at least one of a threaded portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion, wherein at least one portion of the shaft portion is sized to engage at least one fastener hole and wherein the inner surface of each fastener hole is in close proximity to at least one fastener.

14. The coupling of claim 13, wherein each segment includes two contact surfaces.

15. The coupling of claim 13, wherein the annular gasket includes at least one center rib and at least two sealing ridges.

16. The coupling of claim 13, wherein each segment includes at least one of a tongue and a groove.

17. The coupling of claim 16, wherein each segment includes one tongue and defines one groove.

18. The coupling of claim 13, wherein each fastener includes a collar portion and wherein each collar portion includes an axial length and a transverse length, and wherein each axial length is smaller than each transverse length.

19. The coupling of claim 18, wherein each axial length of each collar portion is smaller than each axial length of each fastener hole, wherein each transverse length of each collar portion is smaller than each transverse length of each fastener hole, and wherein each axial length of each fastener hole is smaller than each transverse length of each collar portion.

20. A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship comprising:

obtaining a coupling, the coupling including

at least one segment, each segment including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, at least two ends, and a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, each fastener hole having an axial length and a transverse length, wherein the transverse length is longer than the axial length;

an annular gasket contacting the inner surface of at least one segment, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly; and

at least one fastener disposed within at least one fastener hole, each fastener including a head portion and a shaft portion, each shaft portion including at least one of a threaded portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion, wherein at least one portion of the shaft portion is sized to engage at least one fastener hole;

slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element beyond any groove proximate the end of the first pipe element;

aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element;

slipping the coupling onto the second pipe element such that the segments of the coupling straddle the ends of the first and second pipe elements; and

engaging each fastener to deform each segment in contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements.