Fire resistant seal

• US 4,702,500 A
• Filed: 09/04/1986
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
• Inventors: Thau, Lawrence W. Jr., Dole, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US06/903,663
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/111, 285/110, 285/187, 285/910, 285/373, 285/105, 285/104, 277/235, 277/26, 277/179, 277/228, 277/180, 277/205
• US Class Current: 285/112
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/065 fire resistant
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/00 Constructive types of pipe joints not provided for in groups F16L13/00 - F16L23/00 adjustable or allowing movement F16L27/00; with fluid cut-off means F16L29/00; quick-acting F16L37/00; for double-walled or multi-channel pipes F16L39/00; connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00 ; Details of pipe joints not otherwise provided for, e.g. electrically conducting or insulating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 58/185 for joints with sleeve or socket in general F16L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/931 Seal including temperature responsive feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/91 Gaskets

Abstract

An elastomeric seal for incorporation into a pipe coupling includes a fire-ring which acts to retain a residual portion of a radial flange of the seal in sealing relationship with the pipe ends in the event of thermal destruction of the remainder of the seal.

Claims

1. A fail-safe fire retardant seal assembly for use in a segmented pipe-coupling of the type including plural coupling segments adapted to be secured in encircling relationship about the juxtaposed ends of pipes, and which provide an internal annular channel for the reception of said seal assembly, said seal assembly including:

an annular seal member formed from a thermally destructible elastomeric material, said seal member comprising an annular body having axially aligned sealing surfaces on an inner periphery thereof which seal against the outer circumferential surfaces of the ends of the pipes, with said sealing surfaces defining a circumferentially extending slot in the inner periphery of said annular body;

a radial flange of said seal member extending radially inwardly of said annular body and located between said sealing surfaces; and

an annular ring of fire resistant material incorporated into said radial flange, said annular ring having axially spaced and radially inwardly extending legs for engagement with the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective pipes to be sealed, and defining a continuous cage in which the radially innermost portion of said radial flange is confined and protected against thermal destruction in the event of thermal destruction of the remainder of said seal member, said radially innermost portion of said flange being for engagement by the radial end faces of said pipes in sealing relationship therewith.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1, in which said annular ring is formed from metal.

3. The seal assembly of claim 2, in which said annular ring is formed from stainless steel.