Rigid or flexible coupling for pipes
First Claim
1. A pipe coupling for either rigidly or flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of aligned pipes with abutment means thereon, comprising:
- a circular casting for encircling adjacent pipe ends and formed of a pair of generally coplanar, aligned, semicircular segments;
radially outwardly extending projections are formed on the opposite ends of the segments and are aligned with the adjacent projections of the opposite segment;
at least one pair of adjacent projections are provided with aligned bolt receiving holes which are partially enlarged sockets that open towards each other;
a bolt extending through the aligned bolt holes and enlarged sockets and having a nut-like fastener for bolting the projections together for causing the segments to clamp radially inwardly against the aligned pipe ends which the casing encircles for connecting the pipe ends together with some limited degree of relative movement permissible;
a double ended plug having opposite end portions which are each removably positioned within one of the sockets and which is shaped to closely fit within such sockets;
said plug having a generally central bolt hole through which said bolt extends and is closely fitted;
and with the plug end portions being slightly offset relative to each other in a generally axial direction relative to the coupling axis, so that tightening of the nut causes the plug to position the projections apart in a generally axial direction which causes the segments to shift moving apart in a generally axial direction for clamping the segments against the abutment means of said pipes in both axial and radial directions for rigidly coupling the pipe ends together.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling for either rigidly or flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of aligned pipes, is formed of a circular casing made of a pair of aligned, semi-circular segments which surround a resilient pipe gasket. The opposite ends of the segments have radially outwardly extending lugs which form pairs of overlapping fastening lugs. The lugs of at least one pair each have transversely aligned bolt holes and opposed sockets that are generally concentric with the bolt holes and open towards each other. A bolt extending through the sockets and bolt holes fasten the lugs together and cause the segments to clamp radially inwardly towards the pipes for coupling the pipes together with some permissible flexibility of relative movement. A plug having opposite end portions and a central bolt hole is removably fitted within the opposed lug sockets, with the bolt extending through its central bolt hole. The plug end portions are offset from each other in an axial direction, relative to the axis of the coupling, so that tightening a nut on the bolt wedges the overlapped pair of lugs apart in an axial direction for causing the segments to clamp axially and radially against the pipes and rigidly hold them against relative movement.
105 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A pipe coupling for either rigidly or flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of aligned pipes with abutment means thereon, comprising:
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a circular casting for encircling adjacent pipe ends and formed of a pair of generally coplanar, aligned, semicircular segments; radially outwardly extending projections are formed on the opposite ends of the segments and are aligned with the adjacent projections of the opposite segment; at least one pair of adjacent projections are provided with aligned bolt receiving holes which are partially enlarged sockets that open towards each other; a bolt extending through the aligned bolt holes and enlarged sockets and having a nut-like fastener for bolting the projections together for causing the segments to clamp radially inwardly against the aligned pipe ends which the casing encircles for connecting the pipe ends together with some limited degree of relative movement permissible; a double ended plug having opposite end portions which are each removably positioned within one of the sockets and which is shaped to closely fit within such sockets; said plug having a generally central bolt hole through which said bolt extends and is closely fitted; and with the plug end portions being slightly offset relative to each other in a generally axial direction relative to the coupling axis, so that tightening of the nut causes the plug to position the projections apart in a generally axial direction which causes the segments to shift moving apart in a generally axial direction for clamping the segments against the abutment means of said pipes in both axial and radial directions for rigidly coupling the pipe ends together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A coupling fastening lug plug for a pipe coupling including a pair of semi-circular segments that are aligned, generally coplanar, to form a circular casing for surrounding and connecting together the adjacent ends of a pair of pipes, with means for mechanically fastening the segments together, and said means including a bolt lug formed on one end of each coupling, with the lugs overlapping and having aligned bolt holes therethrough, and with the bolt holes enlarged at the adjacent surfaces of the lugs to form opposed sockets generally concentric with the bolt holes and through which a bolt passes, comprising:
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a double ended plug having a pair of opposite end portions each shaped to closely fit into the opposed sockets and with the plug having a generally central bolt hole through which the fastening bolt extends and is closely fitted; with the plug end portions being offset relative to each other in a direction generally along the axial direction of the coupling; whereby the lugs and, therefore, the segments are axially offset by the offset plug end portions when the bolt is extended through the plug bolt hole and lug bolt holes and is fastened by a mechanical fastening means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification