Pipe coupling with gasket locating means

• US 4,391,458 A
• Filed: 04/10/1981
• Issued: 07/05/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Central Sprinkler Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Blakeley Engineering Limited
• Inventors: Blakeley, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US06/252,921
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 285/373, 285/197, 285/112, 411/512, 411/337, 411/360
• US Class Current: 285/112
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/12 using attaching means embracing the pipe

Abstract

A side-outlet pipe coupling having a split housing surrounding split-ring gasket means is provided. Lugs formed at the free ends of the gasket means position said gasket means within the coupling housing such that abutting free ends of the gasket means are off-set from the plane of splitting of the housing.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling device comprising

two arcuate housing segments, each having opposable ends and a continuous inner wall surface, said housing segments being movable from an open position to a closed position in which said opposable ends are brought into opposition, said housing segments thereby defining a generally cylindrical coupling housing which is adapted to engage the pipes to be coupled;

arcuate gasket means of generally C-shaped cross-section within the coupling housing, said gasket means having radially enlarged free ends defining substantially planar surfaces adapted to abut along an axially extending sealing line;

a recess defined in the closed position of said housing segments by adjacent radially outwardly extending depressions in the end region of the inner wall surfaces of the two opposing housing segments;

radially outwardly projecting lugs on said gasket means adjacent to and co-extensive with the enlarged free ends, wherein the lugs interact with the recess to position the gasket means within the coupling housing in the closed position of the housing segments so that the radially outer side of said sealing line is spaced circumferentially from the opposed ends of said housing segments and is in contact with the inner wall surface of one of said segments;

a sealing lip formed at axially opposite ends of the interior of the gasket means, said sealing lip comprising a radially inwardly extending portion terminating at at least one enlarged free end of the gasket means in a projection extending circumferentially from and beyond the generally planar surface of said enlarged free end, whereby circumferential retraction of said sealing lip is compensated for to maintain a complete circumferential surface to seal under internal pressure; and

releasable locking means cooperating with the housing segments for locking the segments together in the closed position.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the enlarged free ends of the gasket means form a solid end wall for abutment.

3. A coupling according to claim 1 in which:

at least one of the arcuate housing segments has a radially upwardly extending hollow boss thereon, said hollow boss being in communication with the interior of the coupling housing;

means are provided on the hollow boss for the connection of a side-outlet pipe;

an upwardly projecting recess surrounding the opening of the hollow boss into the interior of the coupling housing is provided in the inner wall surface of the housing segment; and

at least one hollow outwardly extending resilient boss is formed on the gasket means, said resilient boss having outer and inner side-walls, said outer side-wall being generally complimentary to, and adapted to be received within, the upwardly projecting recess of the corresponding housing segment, said side-walls terminating at their outer axial extents in an annular sealing lip which is adapted to form a seal between itself and the confronting complimentary surfaces of said recess.

4. A coupling according to claim 3 wherein the inner side-wall of the resilient boss is provided with a circumferential groove defined by an upper and a lower face, the upper portion of the resilient boss being deflectable from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition in which said upper face is in contact with said lower face.

5. A coupling according to claim 1 in which said housing segments are pivoted together at one end and are provided at the opposite end with releasable locking means comprising:

first and second bolt pads on the two housing segments, respectively;

a nut and a bolt having a threaded shaft and a head, one end of said nut and bolt connected by resilient pivoting means to the first bolt pad; and

an inclined cam surface on the second bolt pad which contacts the other end of said nut and bolt upon closing of the housing segments for outward pivoting of the nut and bolt.