PIPE COUPLINGS

• US 20200032934A1
• Filed: 10/02/2019
• Published: 01/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Anvil International Incorporated (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Belen, Jordan Cameron, Borawski, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 11,644,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 23/04 the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane F16L23/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/22 made exclusively of a material other than metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1066 with three or more members surrounding the pipe

Abstract

A pipe coupling includes a first coupling segment defining opposed ends, one end of the first coupling segment defining a first pivotal mount, and another end of the first coupling segment defining a second pivotal mount; a second coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the second coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the first pivotal mount, and a distal end of the second coupling segment configured to receive a fastener; and a third coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the third coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the second pivotal mount, and a distal end of the third coupling segment configured to receive the fastener.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling, comprising:

a first coupling segment defining opposed ends, one end of the first coupling segment defining a first pivotal mount, and another end of the first coupling segment defining a second pivotal mount;

a second coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the second coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the first pivotal mount, and a distal end of the second coupling segment configured to receive a fastener; and

a third coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the third coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the second pivotal mount, and a distal end of the third coupling segment configured to receive the fastener.

2. The pipe coupling of claim 1:

wherein the distal end of the second coupling segment defines a first fastener pad defining a first fastener hole and the distal end of the third coupling segment defines a second fastener pad defining a second fastener hole; and

further comprising the fastener extending through the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole when the pipe coupling assumes a closed position.

3. The pipe coupling of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first coupling segment, the second coupling segment, and the third coupling segment further defines a cross-sectional shape defining a pair of rims and a gasket channel segment formed between the pair of rims, one rim in the pair of rims configured to engage a first connection groove formed into a first pipe segment, and another rim in the pair of rims configured to engage a second connection groove in a second pipe segment.

4. The pipe coupling of claim 3, wherein each of the gasket channel segments are configured to align with one another to form a gasket channel.

5. The pipe coupling of claim 4, further comprising a gasket, the gasket configured to be receivable within the gasket channel.

6. The pipe coupling of claim 5, wherein the gasket defines a mushroom-shaped cross section.

7. The pipe coupling of claim 1, further comprising:

a first connection member extending from the proximal end of the second coupling segment, the first connection member circumferentially overlapping with the first pivotal mount of the first coupling segment; and

a second connection member extending from the proximal end of the third coupling segment, the second connection member circumferentially overlapping with the second pivotal mount of the first coupling segment.

8. The pipe coupling of claim 7,

wherein the first pivotal mount is a first eyelet member, the first eyelet member defining a first eyelet hole,

wherein the second pivotal mount is a second eyelet member, the second eyelet member defining a second eyelet hole,

wherein the first connection member is a third eyelet member, the third eyelet member defining a third eyelet hole, the third eyelet hole configured to axially align with the first eyelet hole in the first eyelet member to define a first set of axially-aligned eyelet holes, and

wherein the second connection member is a fourth eyelet member, the fourth eyelet member defining a fourth eyelet hole, the fourth eyelet hole configured to axially align with the second eyelet hole in second first eyelet member to define a second set of axially-aligned eyelet holes.

9. The pipe coupling of claim 8, further comprising:

a first hinge pin extending through the first set of axially-aligned eyelet holes; and

a second hinge pin extending through the second set of axially-aligned eyelet holes,

wherein the second and third coupling segments are pivotally mounted to the first coupling segment,

wherein the pipe coupling is provided with a dual hinge pin arrangement.

10. The pipe coupling of claim 7,

wherein the first pivotal mount is an upper arcuate slot formed into an arcuate rail member,

wherein the second pivotal mount is a lower arcuate slot formed into the arcuate rail member,

wherein the first connection member comprises a first pair of bearing blocks protruding from a first exterior surface of the second coupling segment proximate the proximal end of the first coupling segment, and

wherein the second connection member comprises a second pair of bearing blocks protruding from a second exterior surface of the third coupling segment proximate the proximal end of the third coupling segment.

11. The pipe coupling of claim 10, wherein the arcuate rail member defines a third exterior surface and a support block extending radially outwardly from the third exterior surface, the support block supporting an upper rail and a lower rail, wherein the arcuate rail member is configured to permit arcuate movement of the second coupling segment along the upper rail, and configured to permit arcuate movement of the third coupling segment along the lower rail.

12. The pipe coupling of claim 10,

wherein the first pair of bearing blocks supports a first guide pin extending through the upper arcuate slot,

wherein the second pair of bearing blocks supports a second guide pin extending through the lower arcuate slot.

13. The pipe coupling of claim 10, wherein the arcuate rail member defines an inner surface, and further comprising a gasket seated within the inner surface, the gasket configured to be positioned within a gap between opposing ends of pipe elements when the pipe elements are inserted into the pipe coupling.

14. The pipe coupling of claim 11,

wherein the arcuate rail member defines a rail member cross-section, the rail member cross-section defining a first leg terminating in a first end configured to engage a first connection groove of a first pipe element;

wherein the rail member cross-section further defines a second leg terminating in a second end configured to engage a second connection groove of a second pipe element,

wherein the rail member cross-section is configured to straddle a gasket cross-section when the pipe coupling is in an assembled state.

15. A method of installing a pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element, comprising the steps of:

bringing a 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate a first pipe element end of the first pipe element and with a second connection groove located proximate a second pipe element end of the second pipe element; and

tightening the 3-piece pipe coupling about the pipe element ends with a fastener extending through a first fastener pad and through a second fastener pad formed at respective distal ends of two of the three pieces comprising the pipe coupling.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a radially outer surface of a gasket; and

causing a portion of the gasket to extend into a gap defined between the pipe element ends.

17. The method of claim 15,

wherein the 3-piece pipe coupling comprises

a first coupling segment defining opposed ends, one end of the first coupling segment defining a first pivotal mount, and another end of the first coupling segment defining a second pivotal mount,

a second coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the second coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the first pivotal mount, and a distal end of the second coupling segment forming the first fastener pad, and

a third coupling segment defining opposed ends, a proximal end of the third coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the second pivotal mount, and a distal end of the third coupling segment forming the second fastener pad,

wherein the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with a second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end comprises the step of pivoting both the second coupling segment and the third coupling segment with respect to the first coupling segment until the first fastener pad and the second fastener pad abut one another.

18. The method of claim 15,

wherein at least one of the three pieces comprising the 3-piece coupling segment defines a cross-sectional shape defining a pair of rims and a gasket channel segment formed between the pair of rims,

wherein the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with a second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end comprises the steps of

engaging the first connection groove with one rim in the pair of rims, and

engaging the second connection groove with another rim in the pair of rims.

19. The method of claim 15,

wherein the 3-piece pipe coupling comprises

a first coupling segment defining opposed ends and defining a first exterior surface, one end of the first coupling segment defining the first fastener pad, the first coupling segment further defining a first pair of bearing blocks protruding from the first exterior surface proximate the other end of the first coupling segment;

a second coupling segment defining opposed ends and defining a second exterior surface, one end of the second coupling segment defining the second fastener pad, the second coupling segment further defining a second pair of bearing blocks protruding from the second exterior surface proximate the other end of the second coupling segment; and

an arcuate rail member along which the first coupling segment and the second coupling segment are slidably mounted, the arcuate rail member defining an upper arcuate slot and a lower arcuate slot,

wherein the first pair of bearing blocks supports a first guide pin extending through the upper arcuate slot,

wherein the second pair of bearing blocks supports a second guide pin extending through the lower arcuate slot,

wherein the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with a second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end comprises the step of moving the first coupling segment and the second coupling segment along the arcuate rail member until the first fastener pad and the second fastener pad abut one another.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the arcuate rail member defines a third exterior surface and a support block extending radially outwardly from the third exterior surface, the support block supporting an upper rail and a lower rail, the arcuate rail member configured to permit arcuate movement of the first coupling segment along the upper rail and configured to permit arcuate movement of the second coupling segment along the lower rail,

wherein the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with a second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end further comprises the step of moving the first coupling segment along the upper rail and moving the second coupling segment along the lower rail until the first fastener pad and the second fastener pad abut one another.