Pipe joint assembly

• US 5,328,215 A
• Filed: 09/14/1992
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Rovac Corp.
• Original Assignee: The Rovac Corp.
• Inventors: Grenier, Wilfred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knapp, Jeffrey T.
• Application Number:
  US07/944,373
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 285/318, 285/105, 285/232, 285/323, 285/322
• US Class Current: 285/318
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0925 with rings which bite into the wall of the pipe

Abstract

A coupling assembly for use in connecting one end of a first tubular member to a component of a piping system includes a receiving tubular member defining an opening adapted to receive the first tubular member, the receiving tubular member having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive the one end and an outer portion defining an internal annular cavity intersecting the inner bore and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, the annular cavity comprising an annular wall portion tapered radially inwardly and projecting longitudinally toward the opening. Also included in the assembly is an annular seal member and a lock ring both disposed in the annular cavity between the first tubular member and the receiving tubular member, the lock ring having an outer circumferential surface portion adapted to engage said tapered wall portion and an inner circumferential surface portion adapted to engage an external wall portion of the first tubular member.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly comprising:

a first tubular member;

a rigid receiving tubular member defining an opening adapted to receive said first tubular member, said receiving tubular member having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive one end of said first tubular member and an outer portion defining an internal annular cavity intersecting said inner bore and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said annular cavity comprising an annular tapered wall portion tapered radially inwardly and projecting longitudinally toward said opening;

an annular sealing member disposed in said annular cavity and dimensioned to be engaged between said first tubular member and said receiving tubular member; and

a split lock ring formed from a length of spring material having a substantially circular transverse cross-section and disposed in said annular cavity between said annular sealing member and said opening, said lock ring having an outer circumferential surface portion adapted to engage said tapered wall portion and an inner circumferential surface portion adapted to engage an external wall portion of said first tubular member, said lock ring being adapted to expand circumferentially into said annular cavity during insertion of said first tubular member into said receiving tubular member and to be compressed between said tapered wall portion and said external wall portion in response to relative longitudinal separating movement between said first tubular member and said receiving tubular member, and said inner circumferential surface portion defining circumferentially extending knife edge means for penetrating said external wall portion so as to prevent longitudinal movement of said first tubular member relative to said receiving tubular member; and

wherein said receiving tubular member further defines an annular divider means projecting radially into said cavity between said sealing member and said split lock ring, and said tapered wall portion terminates with a radially inwardly directed integrally formed rim defining a shoulder stop portion at an outer end of said receiving tubular member, and said shoulder stop portion is adapted to engage said lock ring in response to said separating movement.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said knife edge means is a circumferential edge formed by a circumferential groove in said lock ring.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said groove defines one wall terminated by said circumferential edge and oriented transversely to said external wall portion.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said one wall is substantially perpendicular to said external wall portion.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said groove further defines another wall extending between said one wall and an outer surface of said lock ring.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said another wall is substantially perpendicular to said one wall.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lock ring has first and second ends normally axially displaced with said lock ring in a relaxed condition, and said first and second ends are forced toward axial alignment in response to compression of said lock ring between said tapered wall portion and said external wall portion.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein said knife edge means is a circumferential edge formed by a circumferential groove in said lock ring.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said groove defines one wall terminated by said circumferential edge and oriented transversely to said external wall portion.

10. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said split ring has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said first tubular member.

11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receiving tubular member further defines an annular transitional wall portion tapered between said cavity and said inner bore.

12. An assembly according to claim 1 including an auxiliary ring disposed in said annular cavity between said lock ring and said sealing member, said auxiliary ring being engaged between an inner surface of said cavity and said external wall portion, and wherein an inner circumference of said auxiliary ring defines longitudinal edges projecting substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first tubular member and adapted to penetrate the outer surface thereof.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said auxiliary ring is a cut ring having separated ends.

21. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said annular cavity further comprises a cylindrical wall portion extending between said tapered wall portion and said inner bore, and said auxiliary ring and said sealing member are adapted for engagement between said cylindrical wall portion and said first tubular member.

22. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein said lock ring is dimensioned so as to prevent engagement thereof with said cylindrical wall portion during said circumferential expansion by said first tubular member.

23. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said tapered wall portion terminates with a radially inwardly directed rim forming a shoulder stop portion at an outer end of said receiving tubular member, and said stop portion is adapted to engage said lock ring in response to said separating movement.

14. A coupling assembly comprising:

a first tubular member;

a receiving tubular member defining an opening adapted to receive said first tubular member, said receiving tubular member having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive one end of said first tubular member and an outer portion defining an internal annular cavity intersecting said inner bore and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said annular cavity comprising an annular tapered wall portion tapered radially inwardly and projecting longitudinally toward said opening;

an annular sealing member disposed in said cavity and dimensioned to be engaged between said first tubular member and said receiving tubular member; and

a split lock ring formed from spring material and disposed in said annular cavity between said annular sealing member and said opening, said lock ring having an outer circumferential surface portion adapted to engage said tapered wall portion and an inner circumferential surface portion adapted to engage an external wall portion of said first tubular member, said lock ring being adapted to expand circumferentially into said annular cavity during insertion of said first tubular member into said receiving tubular member and to be compressed between said tapered wall portion and said external wall portion in response to relative longitudinal separating movement between said first tubular member and said receiving tubular member, and said inner circumferential surface portion defining circumferentially extending knife edge means for penetrating said external wall portion so as to prevent longitudinal movement of said first tubular member relative to said receiving tubular member; and

wherein said lock ring has first and second ends normally axially displaced with said lock ring in a relaxed condition, and said first and second ends are forced toward axial alignment in response to compression of said lock ring between said tapered wall portion and said external wall portion.

15. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said knife edge means is a circumferential edge formed by a circumferential groove in said lock ring.

16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein said groove defines one wall terminated by said circumferential edge and oriented transversely to said external wall portion.

17. An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said split ring has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said first tubular member.

18. An assembly according to claim 14 wherein said lock ring has a substantially circular cross-section.

19. An assembly according to claim 18 wherein said annular cavity includes a longitudinal ridge, and said first and second ends and said separated ends are disposed on opposite sides of said ridge.

20. An assembly according to claim 19 wherein said receiving member defines an annular rib projecting radially into said annular cavity and disposed between said auxiliary ring and said sealing member.