Mis-adjustment limiting segmented pipe coupling

• US 5,758,907 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company of America
• Inventors: DeRaymond, Peter George, Dole, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arola, Dave W.
• Application Number:
  US08/687,732
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/367, 285/410, 285/373, 285/419, 285/328, 24/279
• US Class Current: 285/112
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/06 with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends flanged joints F16L23/00; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00

Abstract

Coupling segments having angled end faces are provided with stop members at their respective ends which prevent mis-alignment of the coupling segments during their assembly onto the adjacent ends of pipes or fittings. The stop member being crushed down during final tightening of the coupling to permit further limited lateral movement of the ends of the coupling segment, thus to provide a truly ridged coupling in which angling of the axes of the respective pipes or fittings is eliminated.

Claims

1. A coupling segment for a segment pipe coupling, including an arcuate body configured to compressively retain a sealing gasket in sealing engagement with adjacent ends of pipes, and which includes oppositely inclined end faces at respective opposite ends of said arcuate body, further including:

at least one stop member at each said respective opposite ends of said arcuate body, said stop members being configured to limit the initial extent of movement of a said end along a Y--Y axis of the coupling segment relative to a juxtaposed end of another said coupling segment;

said stop members each being comprised of a member cast integrally with said arcuate body;

at least one end of each said stop member being in an unfinished as-cast condition and at least initially presenting a rough surface capable of crushing down to a limited extent under an applied compressive force after contacting a corresponding rough surface of a stop member of said juxtaposed end of another said coupling segment, resistance to said crushing down increasing as said rough surface and said corresponding rough surface move toward each other under said applied compressive force, thereby limiting the further movement of said end of said arcuate body along the Y--Y axis of the coupling segment relative to said juxtaposed end of another said coupling segment.

2. The coupling segment according to claim 1, in which said stop members each provide a surface lying in an X-Z plane of the coupling segment.

3. The coupling segment of claim 1, in which said stop members each provide a surface extending parallel to an X-Z plane of said coupling segment.

4. The coupling segment of claim 1, in which said stop members provide a surface extending parallel to an X--X axis of the coupling segment, and which is inclined relative to an X-Z plane of the coupling segment.

5. The coupling segment of claim 1, including dual said stop members at each said respective ends of said arcuate body, said stop members being positioned respectively adjacent to opposite side edges of said coupling segment.

6. The coupling segment of claim 1, in combination with at least one additional said coupling segment, to provide a segmented pipe coupling.

7. The coupling segment of claim 6, in which said stop members are operative to limit lateral sliding movement of said respective end faces of said respective coupling segments, crushing down of said end faces of said stop members under compressive loading permitting limited further relative lateral movement of said ends of said respective coupling segments.