Quick-connect coupling for thin-walled pipes

• US 4,471,979 A
• Filed: 03/15/1982
• Issued: 09/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Co. of Canada Ltd. (Victaulic Company)
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Co. of Canada Ltd. (Victaulic Company)
• Inventors: Gibb, John, Horvath, Jozsef
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/358,361
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/373, 285/419, 285/415, 285/414, 285/367, 285/411
• US Class Current: 285/373
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/032 characterised by the shape or composition of the flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/22 made exclusively of a material other than metal

Abstract

A quick-connect coupling is disclosed for thin-walled pipes which can accommodate pipes of the same internal diameter but of differing wall thickness, the coupling member being constructed to deform pipes of less than maximum wall thickness into a substantially elliptical condition in which the coupling is fully seated, bolting pads of the coupling being spaced from each other to induce deformation and seating of the pipes upon tightening of the coupling.

Claims

1. A quick-connect coupling for thin-walled pipes of resiliently deformable cross-section, said coupling comprising:

plural arcuate coupling members each having a radial internal groove for the reception of an elastomeric gasket;

a radially outwardly extending pad at each circumferential end of each said coupling member, each said radially extending pad being adapted to receive securing means for securing said coupling members to each other in clamping engagement with said pipes;

each said radially extending pad having an end face which, in the assembled condition of the coupling, is spaced from and extends substantially parallel to a plane which includes the central longitudinal axis of said coupling member and which lies beyond the associated end of said coupling member; and

, internal grooves at each axial end of said coupling members for the reception of arcuate projections on the outer periphery of the respective pipes.

2. A quick-connect coupling as claimed in claim 1 for use with thin-walled pipe the thickness of the wall thereof falls within the range of a minimum thickness T1 and a maximum thickness T2, in which the curvature of the inner peripheral wall of the coupling member is of a radius, ##EQU2## where D is the internal diameter of the pipe, and, the combined lengths of the inner peripheral walls of all of the coupling members comprising said coupling is not more than π

(D+2T1).

3. The quick-connect coupling of claim 1, further comprising arcuate coupling member halves constituting said coupling members each having an internal groove for the reception of an elastomeric gasket;

said radially extended pads of each said coupling member half having end faces which lie generally in a single plane which is spaced from the central axis of said coupling member, said axis lying on that side of said plane which is opposite to the side facing said coupling member half.

4. The quick-connect coupling according to claim 3 further comprising grooves at each axial end of said coupling member halves for the reception of arcuate projections on the outer periphery of the respective pipes.

5. A quick-connect coupling for thin-walled pipes of resiliently deformable cross-section, said coupling comprising:

plural arcuate coupling members each having an internal groove;

an elastomeric gasket member positioned within said groove;

a radially outwardly extending pad at each circumferential end of each said coupling member;

means securing respective adjacently positioned pairs of pads to each other and securing said coupling members in clamping engagement with said pipes;

each said radially extended pad having an end face spaced from and extending substantially parallel to a plane including the central longitudinal axis of said coupling member and which lies beyond the associated end of said coupling member; and

, grooves at each axial end of said coupling members for the reception of arcuate projections on the outer periphery of the respective pipes.

6. The quick-connect coupling of claim 5, further comprising a rigid retainer surrounding said elastomeric gasket member and which spans any existing gap between each adjacent pair of end faces of said radially outwardly extending pads.

7. A quick-connect coupling as claimed in claim 5 for use with thin-walled pipe the thickness of the wall thereof falls within the range of a minimum thickness T1 and a maximum thickness T2, in which the curvature of the inner peripheral wall of the coupling member is of a radius, ##EQU3## where D in the internal diameter of the pipe, and, the combined lengths of the inner peripheral walls of all of the coupling members comprising said coupling is not more than π

(D+2T1).

8. A quick-connect coupling for thin-walled pipes of resiliently deformable cross-section, said coupling comprising:

arcuate coupling member halves, each having an internal groove;

an elastomeric gasket member received within said internal groove;

a radially outwardly extending pad at each circumferential end of said coupling member half;

securing means securing adjacent radially extending pads to each other and securing said coupling members in clamping engagement with said pipes;

said radially extending pads of each coupling member half having end faces which lie generally in a single plane which is spaced from the central axis of said coupling member half, said axis lying on that side of said plane which is opposite to the side of said plane facing said coupling member half; and

,

grooves at each axial end of said coupling member halves for the reception of arcuate projections on the outer periphery of the respective pipes.

9. The quick-connect coupling of claim 8, further comprising a rigid retainer surrounding said elastomeric gasket member and which spans any existing gap between each adjacent pair of end faces of said radially outwardly extending pads.

10. A quick-connect coupling as claimed in claim 8 for use with thin-walled pipe the thickness of the wall thereof falls within the range of a minimum thickness T1 and a maximum thickness T2, in which the curvature of the inner peripheral wall of the coupling member is of a radius, ##EQU4## where D is the internal diameter of the pipe, and, the combined lengths of the inner peripheral walls of all of the coupling members comprising said coupling is not more than π

(D+2T1).