Pipe joint assembly

• US 5,695,224 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Rovac Corp.
• Original Assignee: The Rovac Corp.
• Inventors: Grenier, Wilfred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US08/514,868
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 285/340, 285/84, 285/104, 285/308
• US Class Current: 285/104
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/091 by means of a ring provided with teeth or fingers

Abstract

A coupling assembly for a first tubular member, comprising: a receiving member defining an opening adapted to receive the first tubular member, and having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive an end portion of the first tubular member, and an outer portion defining a first internal annular cavity communicating with the inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner bore; an annular locking member having an outer rim portion fitted within the first internal annular cavity, and having an inner portion of generally frustoconical shape angled inboard from its outer rim portion such that its inner rim extends in its relaxed position into the inner bore so that the inner rim contacts and penetrates the outer surface of the first tubular member when the first tubular member is inserted into the inner bore, to inhibit separation of the first tubular member from the receiving member; a stop member abutting the outboard side of the outer rim portion of the locking member and adapted to prevent the locking member from longitudinal outboard movement along the internal annular cavity; and a deformable annular sealing member within the receiving member inboard of the locking member, and extending in a relaxed position into the inner bore to contact the first tubular member when the first tubular member is inserted into the inner bore, to inhibit fluid leakage from the first tubular member toward the annular locking member.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly for a first tubular member, comprising:

a receiving member defining an opening adapted to receive said first tubular member, and having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive an end portion of said first tubular member, an outer portion defining a first internal annular cavity communicating with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore, and an intermediate portion between said inner portion and said outer portion defining a second internal annular cavity communicating with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore and less than the diameter of said first internal annular cavity;

an annular locking member having an outer rim portion fitted within said first internal annular cavity, and having a slotted inner portion of generally frustoconical shape angled inboard from its outer rim portion such that its inner rim extends in its relaxed position into said inner bore, said inner rim including a circumferentially-extending knife edge for penetrating the external wall of said first tubular member to inhibit longitudinal movement of said first tubular member relative to said receiving member;

a rigid annular stop member seated within said first internal annular cavity and abutting the outboard side of said outer rim portion of said locking member, including tongue members projecting toward said inner bore, to prevent longitudinal outboard movement of said locking member, and to prevent said locking member inner portion from bending back toward said receiving member opening;

a deformable longitudinally sliding annular sealing member seated in said second internal annular cavity, and extending in a relaxed position into said inner bore to contact said first tubular member when said first tubular member is inserted into said inner bore to inhibit fluid leakage from said first tubular member toward said annular locking member;

a longitudinally sliding stay member between said locking member and sealing member to prevent contact between said sealing member and said locking member and having an inner diameter nearly equal to the diameter of the inner bore; and

a closing lip abutting the outboard side of said stop member to prevent said stop member from longitudinal outboard movement.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 in which said stop member includes tongue members projecting toward said inner bore to prevent said locking member inner portion from bending back toward said receiving member opening.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 in which said locking member is angled at approximately 30°

from said line perpendicular to said inner portion of said receiving member.

4. A coupling assembly for a first tubular member, comprising:

a receiving member defining an opening adapted to receive said first tubular member; and

having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive an end portion of said first tubular member, and an outer portion defining a first internal annular cavity communicating with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore;

an annular locking member having an outer rim portion fitted within said first internal annular cavity, and having a slotted inner portion of generally frustoconical shape angled inboard from its outer rim portion such that its inner rim extends in its relaxed position into said bore so that said inner rim contacts and penetrates the outer surface of said first tubular member when said first tubular member is inserted into said inner bore, to inhibit separation of said first tubular member from said receiving member;

a rigid stop member abutting the outboard side of said outer rim portion of said locking member and adapted to prevent said locking member from longitudinal outboard movement along said internal annular cavity, wherein said stop member is seated within said first internal annular cavity and includes tongue members projecting toward said inner bore to prevent said locking member inner portion from bending back toward receiving member opening;

a deformable longitudinally sliding annular sealing member within said second internal annular cavity inboard of said locking member, and extending in a relaxed position into said inner bore to contact said first tubular member when said first tubular member is inserted into said inner bore, to inhibit fluid leakage from said first tubular member toward said annular locking member; and

a longitudinally sliding stay member between said locking member and said sealing member to prevent contact between said sealing member and said locking member.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 4 in which said receiving member further includes an intermediate portion between said inner portion and said outer portion defining a second internal annular cavity communicating with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore and less than the diameter of said first internal annular cavity.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 4 in which said locking member inner rim includes a circumferentially-extending knife edge for penetrating the external wall of said first tubular member to inhibit longitudinal movement of said first tubular member relative to said receiving member.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 4 in which said receiving member further includes a closing lip abutting the outboard side of said stop member to prevent said stop member from longitudinal outboard movement.

8. A coupling assembly for a first tubular member, comprising:

a receiving member defining an opening adapted to receive said first tubular member; and

having an inner portion defining an inner bore dimensioned to receive an end portion of said first tubular member, an outer portion defining a first internal annular cavity communicating with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore, and an intermediate portion between said inner portion and said outer portion defining a second internal annular cavity communication with said inner bore and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said inner bore and less than the diameter of said first internal annular cavity;

an annular locking member having an outer rim portion fitted within said first internal annular cavity, and having a slotted inner portion of generally frustoconical shape angled inboard from its outer rim portion such that its inner rim extends in its relaxed position into said inner bore so that said inner rim contacts and penetrates the outer surface of said first tubular member when said first tubular member is inserted into said inner bore, to inhibit separation of said first tubular member from said receiving member;

a stop member abutting the outboard side of said outer rim portion of said locking member and adapted to prevent said locking member from longitudinal outboard movement along said internal annular cavity;

a deformable longitudinally sliding annular sealing member within said second internal annular cavity inboard of said locking member, and extending in a relaxed position into said inner bore to contact said first tubular member when said first tubular member is inserted into said inner bore, to inhibit fluid leakage from said first tubular member toward said annular locking member; and

a longitudinally sliding stay member said locking member and said sealing member to prevent contact between said sealing member and said locking member; and

wherein said receiving member further defines a shoulder between said second internal annular cavity and said inner bore, and an annular tapered wall portion between said shoulder and said inner bore, creating a tapered cavity adapted to accept a portion of said sealing member to allow said sealing member to deform as said first tubular member is inserted into said receiving member.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said stop member is a rigid annular stop member seated within said first internal annular cavity.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said sealing member and stay member are seated in said second internal annular cavity.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said stay member is an annular washer.

12. The coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said receiving member includes a stop shoulder defining the inner end of said inner bore, said stop should have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of said first tubular member to stop the inboard movement along said inner bore of said first tubular member.

13. The coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said receiving member includes a flange defining the inner end of the outer portion upon which to seat said locking member.

14. A coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said stay member has an inner diameter nearly equal to the diameter of the inner bore.

15. A coupling assembly of claim 8 in which said stay member has a rectangular cross-section.