Coupling for plain end pipe

• US 6,302,450 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company of America (Victaulic Company)
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company of America (Victaulic Company)
• Inventors: Shultz, Charles W., Dole, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Application Number:
  US09/177,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/373, 285/419, 285/328, 285/340, 285/423
• US Class Current: 285/328
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/005 made of elastic material, e.g. partly or completely surrounded by clamping devices comprising packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure F16L17/04, F16L11/20; hose clips F16L33/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/08 with additional locking means F16L17/035, F16L17/04, F16L21/04, F16L21/06 take precedence; screwed joints F16L19/08; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00

Abstract

A segmented pipe coupling is disclosed which includes a successive series of circumferentially discontinuous teeth which extend radially inward along the interior arcuate surface of the coupling and are intended to securely engage a plain ended pipe without cutting into the pipe exterior. The teeth are preferably formed by superimposed multi-lead right hand and left hand threads along the inner arcuate portion of the segmented pipe coupling.

Claims

1. A segmented coupling device for coupling two pipe elements selected from the group consisting of two plain-ended sections of pipe;

and one plain ended section of pipe and a pipe fitting, the segmented coupling comprising a plurality of arcuate coupling segments, each of the arcuate coupling segments including;

a successive series of circumferentially discontinuous teeth extending radially inward along the interior arcuate surface of the coupling segment;

each of the teeth including end sections and a central, radially innermost flat section;

the flat sections of the successive series of teeth providing a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous and spaced gripping surfaces for securely engaging at least one plain ended pipe section without cutting into the pipe exterior;

and each arcuate coupling segment having means for being detachably attached to at least one other adjacent arcuate coupling segment in surrounding relationship around an outer circumference of the abutting ends of the two pipe elements to be coupled.

2. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, wherein, successive circumferentially adjacent teeth are axially spaced.

3. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, wherein the teeth include a plurality of individual circumferentially aligned and axially spaced teeth.

4. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, wherein, the teeth include a plurality of individual circumferentially aligned and axially spaced teeth, and successive circumferentially adjacent teeth are axially spaced.

5. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, wherein, the teeth are formed within an axially seriatim plurality of circumferential rows, each of the rows including a successive series of spaced individual teeth, and the flat surfaces of adjacent teeth within a circumferential row being separated by an end section forming a juncture and spacing between the adjacent teeth within a circumferential row.

6. The arcuate coupling segment according to claim 5, wherein the teeth in spaced alternate circumferential rows are in circumferential alignment.

7. The arcuate coupling segment according to claim 6, wherein the teeth in adjacent rows are circumferentially spaced.

8. The arcuate coupling segment according to claim 7, wherein the teeth are formed of superimposed multi-lead right and left handed threads along an interior arcuate surface of the segment.

9. The arcuate coupling segment according to claim 5, wherein the teeth in adjacent rows are circumferentially spaced.

10. The arcuate coupling segment according to claim 5, wherein the teeth are formed of superimposed multi-lead right and left handed threads along an interior arcuate surface of the segment.

11. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, wherein the teeth are formed of superimposed multi-lead right and left handed threads along an interior arcuate surface of the segment.

12. An arcuate coupling segment according to claim 1, which is formed of iron and is intended for use with plain-ended PVC pipe.

13. A segmented pipe coupling comprising a plurality of arcuate coupling segments, each of the arcuate coupling segments including:

a successive series of circumferentially discontinuous teeth extending radially inward along an interior arcuate surface of the coupling segment;

each of the teeth including radially inclined end sections and a central, radially innermost, flat section;

the flat sections of the successive series of teeth providing a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous and spaced griping surfaces for securely engaging a plain ended pipe without cutting into the pipe exterior;

each of the arcuate coupling segments including at least one flange at its arcuate end, the flange including a fastener receiving aperture at its outward radial end for detachably attaching adjacent arcuate coupling segments together around the outer circumference of the ends of abutting pipe segments selected from the group consisting of the two plain-ended pipes; and

one plain-ended pipe and a pipe fitting, and a radially inward shoulder, such that the shoulders of arcuately adjacent coupling segments are predeterminedly configured to meet as the adjacent arcuate coupling segments are fastened together in order to limit radially inward movement of the fastened coupling segments about the coupled ends of the pipe segments.

14. A segmented pipe coupling for attachment to a first pipe section and a PVC pipe section, the pipe coupling including:

a successive series of circumferentially discontinuous teeth extending radially inward along an interior arcuate surface of the coupling segment;

each of the teeth including end sections and a central, radially innermost, flat section;

the flat sections of the successive series of teeth providing a plurality of circumferentially discontinuous and spaced gripping surfaces for securely engaging the PVC pipe section without cutting into the pipe exterior; and

means for detachably attaching the coupling around an outer circumference of abutting ends of the two pipe sections to be coupled.

15. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 14, wherein the first pipe section is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.

16. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 15, wherein the material is plastic.

17. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 15, wherein the material is metal.

18. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 17, wherein the metal is iron.

19. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 17, wherein the plastic is PVC.

20. A segmented pipe coupling comprising a plurality of arcuate coupling segments, each of the arcuate coupling segments including:

a successive series of circumferentially discontinuous teeth extending radially inward along the interior arcuate surface of each coupling segment;

each of the teeth including a substantially flat gripping surface;

the substantially flat gripping surfaces of the successive series of teeth providing a plurality of spaced gripping surfaces for securely engaging a plain ended pipe without cutting into the pipe exterior.

21. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 20, wherein the teeth are formed of superimposed multi-lead right and left handed threads along an interior arcuate surface of the coupling.

22. The segmented pipe coupling according to claim 20 wherein:

each of the arcuate coupling segments includes at least one flange at an arcuate end, the flange further including a fastener receiving aperture at an outward radial end thereof for detachably attaching adjacent arcuate coupling segments together around the outer circumference of the ends of the abutting plain ended pipes, and a radially inward shoulder, such that the shoulders of arcuately adjacent coupling segments are predeterminedly configured to met as the adjacent coupling segments are fastened together in order to limit radially inward movement of the fastened coupling segments about the coupled ends of the plain ended pipes.