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Pipe coupler

  • US 6,758,501 B2
  • Filed: 06/21/2001
  • Issued: 07/06/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a coupler for connecting a pair of pipes, said coupler comprising a clamp which includes a clamp band adapted to encircle the pair of pipes which are of substantially the same diameter at a juncture of adjoining ends and are disposed in axial alignment with each other, said clamp band being wide enough to overlap the respective adjoining ends of the pair of pipes, said clamp also including a tightening mechanism connected with said clamp band for tightening said clamp band, and a split sealing sleeve inside said clamp band and having first and second circumferential ends in confronting relationship for contact with each other when the sealing sleeve is collapsed circumferentially by said clamp band, the improvement wherein:

  • said sealing sleeve includes first and second tongue-and-groove sealing joints located on said circumferential ends in axially spaced relation so that said sealing sleeve can be located on said pipes with said sealing joints disposed on opposite sides of said juncture of said adjoining pipe ends, each of said sealing joints comprising a V-shaped groove having first and second oppositely disposed groove edges defined at one circumferential end of the sealing sleeve and a V-shaped tongue having first and second oppositely disposed tongue edges defined at the other circumferential end of the sealing sleeve, said tongue being disposed opposite said groove for mating with said groove when said sealing sleeve is collapsed circumferentially, said tongue having an interference fit with said groove throughout a range of penetration extending from initial engagement to a point of maximum penetration, said tongue of each of said sealing joints having a relief slot that bisects said tongue into first and second side-by-side spring members adapted to yieldably engage said first and second groove edges, respectively, when said sealing sleeve is collapsed circumferentially, each of said members terminating in a blunt arcuate nose portion for engagement with the adjacent groove edge, whereby a portion of said blunt arcuate nose maintains said engagement with the adjacent groove edge when the tongue-and-groove of a sealing joint become cocked at an angle relative to each other during tightening of said clamp.

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