Universal mechanical coupling with interfitting ends
First Claim
1. A coupling segment comprising:
- an arcuate body having a first end, a second end;
a concave surface extending between the first end and the second end;
a longitudinal central plane extending from the first end to the second end;
a tongue and a recess pair located side-by-side on each end, the tongue being generally on an opposite side of the longitudinal central plane from the recess, wherein the positioning of the tongue and recess are reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment, each recess being slightly larger than the tongue to receive the tongue of an identical coupling segment and form a tongue-recess interfit when the coupling segment is coupled together with an identical coupling segment; and
each tongue having a tongue inner sidewall and each recess having a recess inner sidewall, the tongue inner sidewall and the recess inner sidewall for each side-by-side tongue and recess pair forming a generally circumferentially and radially extending common surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Segmented pipe couplings are formed by two or more identical arcuate pipe coupling segments. Each end of each segment is matable to either end of each other segment. Each end has a tongue and a recess generally on opposite sides of a longitudinal central plane of the segment. The positioning of the tongue and recess is reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment. Each recess is slightly larger than the tongue to receive the tongue of an identical coupling. A double tongue-double recess interfit is formed when any coupling segment is coupled together with an identical coupling segment. Either end of any coupling segment can mate with either end of other coupling segment and form a proper connection between segments.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A coupling segment comprising:
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an arcuate body having a first end, a second end; a concave surface extending between the first end and the second end; a longitudinal central plane extending from the first end to the second end; a tongue and a recess pair located side-by-side on each end, the tongue being generally on an opposite side of the longitudinal central plane from the recess, wherein the positioning of the tongue and recess are reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment, each recess being slightly larger than the tongue to receive the tongue of an identical coupling segment and form a tongue-recess interfit when the coupling segment is coupled together with an identical coupling segment; and each tongue having a tongue inner sidewall and each recess having a recess inner sidewall, the tongue inner sidewall and the recess inner sidewall for each side-by-side tongue and recess pair forming a generally circumferentially and radially extending common surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A circular segmented pipe coupling comprising:
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a plurality of identical coupling segments, each segment having an arcuate body, each arcuate body having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal central plane extending from the first end to the second end, each end having a tongue and a recess pair located side-by-side on each end, the tongue being generally on an opposite side of the longitudinal central plane from the recess, wherein the positioning of the tongue and the recess are reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment, the plurality of identical segments, joined end-to-end, with the tongue of each end of each coupling segment interfitted into the recess of an adjoining end of each adjacent identical coupling segment of the plurality; a mechanical fastener located on an outer circumference of the coupling defined by the plurality of coupling segments; and each tongue having a tongue inner sidewall and each recess having a recess inner sidewall, the tongue inner sidewall and the recess inner sidewall for each side-by-side tongue and recess pair forming a generally circumferentially and radially extending common surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A coupling segment comprising:
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an arcuate body having a first end, a second end; a concave surface extending between the first end and the second end; a longitudinal central plane extending from the first end to the second end; a tongue and a recess pair located side-by-side on each end, the tongue being generally on an opposite side of the longitudinal central plane from the recess, wherein the positioning of the tongue and recess are reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment, each recess being slightly larger than the tongue to receive the tongue of an identical coupling segment and form a tongue-recess interfit when the coupling segment is coupled together with an identical coupling segment; and each tongue having a tongue inner sidewall adjoining the central plane and each recess having a recess inner sidewall adjoining the central plane and adjoining the inner sidewall of the tongue of the pair sufficiently closely to the inner sidewall of the tongue of the pair that another tongue inner sidewall from an identical coupling segment contacting the tongue inner sidewall of the pair is positioned directly opposite the recess of the pair.
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22. A circular segmented pipe coupling comprising:
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a plurality of identical coupling segments, each segment having an arcuate body, each arcuate body having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal central plane extending from the first end to the second end, each end having a tongue and a recess pair located side-by-side on each end, the tongue being generally on an opposite side of the longitudinal central plane from the recess, wherein the positioning of the tongue and the recess are reversed with respect to the central plane at opposite ends of each segment, the plurality of identical segments, joined end-to-end, with the tongue of each end of each coupling segment interfitted into the recess of an adjoining end of each adjacent identical coupling segment of the plurality; a mechanical fastener located on an outer circumference of the coupling defined by the plurality of coupling segments; and each tongue having a tongue inner sidewall adjoining the central plane and each recess having a recess inner sidewall adjoining the central plane and adjoining the inner sidewall of the tongue of the pair sufficiently closely to the inner sidewall of the tongue of the pair that another tongue inner sidewall from an identical coupling segment contacting the tongue inner sidewall of the pair is positioned directly opposite the recess of the pair.
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Specification