Insulated pipe couplings

• US 4,538,841 A
• Filed: 06/14/1984
• Issued: 09/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coupling Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Royston, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/620,429
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 285/337, 285/372, 285/53, 285/31, 285/382.7, 285/343, 285/369
• US Class Current: 285/337
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/04 in which sealing rings are compressed by axially-movable members for joints using a threaded member F16L19/07; quick acting couplings F16L37/00; devices for covering leaks from inside a pipe F16L55/162
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/08 with additional locking means F16L17/035, F16L17/04, F16L21/04, F16L21/06 take precedence; screwed joints F16L19/08; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/01 specially adapted for realising electrical conduction between the two pipe ends of the joint or between parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/025 for joints with sleeve or socket

Abstract

A coupling is provided for spaced coaxial pipe ends to be connected having a sleeve or middle ring with frusto-conical enlarged ends receiving the pipe ends to be connected coaxially thereof, elastomeric gaskets having a frusto-conical portion fitting the ends of the middle ring, follower members bearing on the gaskets to urge them into the middle ring ends, tightening members drawing the follower members toward each other, an insulating sleeve surrounding at least one pipe end with a depending radially inward spacer member and an insulating member having the shape of the follower member between the follower member and the pipe and middle ring and having a flange coaxial of the pipe extending through said follower member around the pipe. An electrical connector means may be metallurgically bonded to the middle ring. In cases when the pipe ends are anchored, one or two back-up rings may be added adjacent one or both followers with frusto-conical jaws in a frusto-conical opening in the back-up ring and an insulating member therebetween. An elastomer seal ring may be placed between the back-up rings and adjacent follower.

Claims

1. A coupling for joining two spaced coaxial pipe ends anchored against longitudinal movement comprising an elongate sleeve adapted to receive coaxially two opposing pipe ends to be connected, said sleeve having frusto-conical enlarged ends opening outwardly, a pair of cylindrical elastomeric gaskets having frusto-conical end portions adapted to fit in the frusto-conical ends of said sleeve in sliding engagement around the pipe ends to be connected, a follower member bearing on each of said gaskets to force them into the sleeve ends, tightening means acting on the follower member to move at least one of the follower members toward the other axially whereby the gaskets are forced into the frusto-conical ends of the sleeve in sealing engagement with said ends and the pipe ends to be connected, an insulating generally cylindrical sleeve means surrounding at least one of said pipe ends between said pipe end and said elongated sleeve, said insulating sleeve having radially inwardly extending spacer means spacing said insulating sleeve from the pipe, at least one of said follower members having a frusto-conical opening surrounding the pipe ends being connected, said opening in said at least one follower member having its large end opening toward the large end of the frusto-conical end of said sleeve, a frusto-conical split jaw member permitting expansion and contraction thereof around one of said pipe ends to be connected with the frusto-conical opening in said at least one follower, surface engaging means on the jaw member adapted to engage the outer surface of said one pipe end and an insulating member provided in said follower member having a frusto-conical opening, said insulating member having the shape of the follower member and with an annular frusto-conical flange corresponding to the frusto-conical opening of said follower member and adapted to extend through said opening between the follower member and jaw member.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein a back-up ring is provided at the end opposite said one follower means spaced from the other follower means, said back-up ring having a frusto-conical opening therein surrounding the other pipe end, a second frusto-conical jaw means in said frusto-conical opening in the back-up ring and surrounding said other pipe end, surface engaging means on said second jaw means adapted to engage the exterior surface of said other pipe end and auxiliary tightening means between the other follower means and the back-up ring for drawing said back-up ring axially toward the said other follower means to force the second frusto-conical jaw means into tight radial engagement with said other pipe end.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insulating sleeve and insulating member are made of nylon.

4. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate sleeve carries a metallurgically bonded electrical connector.

5. A coupling as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electrical connector is bifurcated.

6. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 or 3 or 4 or 5 having a back-up ring surrounding each pipe end spaced from each of said follower members opposite the elongate sleeve, each said back-up ring having a frusto-conical opening therein surrounding the other pipe end, a second frusto-conical jaw means in said frusto-conical opening in the back-up ring and surrounding said other pipe end, surface engaging means on said second jaw means adapted to engage the exterior surface of said other pipe end and auxiliary tightening means between the other follower means and the back-up ring for drawing said back-up ring axially toward the said other follower means to force the second frusto-conical jaw means into tight radial engagement with said other pipe end.

7. A coupling for joining two spaced coaxial pipe ends anchored against longitudinal movement comprising an elongate sleeve adapted to receive coaxially two opposing pipe ends to be connected, said sleeve having frusto-conical enlarged ends opening outwardly, a pair of cylindrical elastomeric gaskets having frusto-conical end portions adapted to fit in the frusto-conical ends of said sleeve in sliding engagement around the pipe ends to be connected, a follower member bearing on each of said gaskets to force them into the sleeve ends, tightening means acting on the follower member to move at least one of the follower members toward the other axially whereby the gaskets are forced into the frusto-conical ends of the sleeve in sealing engagement with said ends and the pipe ends to be connected, an insulating generally cylindrical sleeve means surrounding at least one of said pipe ends between said pipe end and said elongated sleeve, said insulating sleeve having radially inwardly extending spacer means spacing said insulating sleeve from the pipe and an insulating member having the shape of the follower members between at least one follower member, the elastomeric gasket and pipe, said insulating member having an annular flange coaxial with the pipe extending through the opening in the follower member between the follower member and the pipe, at least one of said follower members having a frusto-conical opening surrounding the pipe ends being connected, said opening in said at least one follower member having its large end opening toward the large end of the frusto-conical end of said sleeve, a frusto-conical split jaw member permitting expansion and contraction thereof around one of said pipe ends to be connected with the frusto-conical opening in said at least one follower, and surface engaging means on the jaw member adapted to engage the outer surface of said one pipe end, a back-up ring provided at the end opposite said one follower member spaced from the other follower member, said back-up ring having a frusto-conical opening therein surrounding the other pipe end, a second frusto-conical jaw means in said frusto-conical opening in the back-up ring and surrounding said other pipe end, surface engaging means on said second jaw means adapted to engage the exterior surface of said other pipe end and auxiliary tightening means between the other follower member and the back-up ring for drawing said back-up ring axially toward the said other follower member to force the second frusto-conical jaw means into tight radial engagement with said other pipe end, and having a generally cylindrical elastomer seal ring sealingly compressed between the back-up ring and adjacent follower member around the pipe end.

8. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein the insulating sleeve and insulating member are made of nylon.

9. A coupling as claimed in claim 7 wherein the elongate sleeve carries a metallurgically bonded electrical connector.

10. A coupling as claimed in claim 9 wherein the electrical connector is bifurcated.

13. A coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein the elongate sleeve carries a metallurgically bonded electrical connector.

14. A coupling as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electrical connector is bifurcated.

11. A coupling for joining two spaced coaxial pipe ends anchored against longitudinal movement comprising an elongate sleeve adapted to receive coaxially two opposing pipe ends to be connected, said sleeve having frusto-conical enlarged ends opening outwardly, a pair of cylindrical elastomeric gaskets having frusto-conical end portions adapted to fit in the frusto-conical ends of said sleeve in sliding engagement around the pipe ends to be connected, a follower member bearing on each of said gaskets to force them into the sleeve ends, tightening means acting on the follower member to move at least one of the follower members toward the other axially whereby the gaskets are forced into the frusto-conical ends of the sleeve in sealing engagement with said ends and the pipe ends to be connected, an insulating generally cylindrical sleeve means surrounding at least one of said pipe ends between said pipe end and said elongated sleeve, said insulating sleeve having radially inwardly extending spacer means spacing said insulating sleeve from the pipe and an insulating member having the shape of the follower members between at least one follower member, the elastomeric gasket and pipe, said insulating member having an annular flange coaxial with the pipe extending through the opening in the follower members between the follower members and the pipe, a back-up ring surrounding each pipe end spaced from each of said follower members opposite the elongate sleeve, each said back-up rings having a frusto-conical opening therein surrounding each pipe end, a frusto-conical jaw means in said frusto-conical opening in the back-up ring and surrounding each said pipe end, surface engaging means on said jaw means adapted to engage the exterior surface of each said pipe end and auxiliary tightening means between the other follower member and the back-up ring for drawing said back-up ring axially toward the said other follower member to force the frusto-conical jaw means into tight radical engagement with each said pipe end, and a second insulating member configurated so as to extend between said jaw means, said back-up ring and said other follower, and a generally cylindrical elastomer seal ring sealingly compressed between the back-up ring and adjacent follower member around the pipe end.

12. A coupling as claimed in claim 11 wherein the insulating sleeve and insulating member are made of nylon.