Coupler for conduits

• US 6,921,114 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arnco Corp. (California) (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Original Assignee: Arnco Corp. (California) (Orbia Advance Corporation, S.A.B. de C.V.)
• Inventors: Herron, Charles R., Washburn, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US10/325,183
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 285/403, 285/369, 285/321, 285/305, 285/330
• US Class Current: 285/321
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/10 Sleeveless joints between two pipes, one being introduced into the other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/148 the securing element being flexible F16L37/144 takes precedence

Abstract

A coupling assembly including a coupler body having a generally cylindrical shape and an opening at one end. The coupler body has an inner wall with an inner circumference and an outer wall. An abutment extends from the inner wall of the coupler body. The coupling assembly further includes a conduit having a generally cylindrical shape complementary to the coupler body. A coupler key groove extends along the inner circumference of an inner wall of the coupler body and is shaped like part of a parallelogram. The conduit has a conduit key groove and is generally shaped like part of a parallelogram. When the coupler key groove and the conduit key groove are aligned they form a pathway shaped like a parallelogram with two acute angles. An aperture in the wall of the coupler provides access to the pathway for a locking strip or flexible key. The locking key has a cross-section, which is a complementary shaped parallelogram. A sealing groove is also provided along the inner wall of the coupler to hold an O-ring.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly comprising;

a coupler body having a generally cylindrical shape and an opening at one end, the coupler body having an inner wall with an inner circumference and an outer wall;

a conduit having a generally cylindrical shape complementary to the coupler body, the conduit having an inner wall and an outer wall with an outer circumference and an opening at its end, the outer wall of the conduit having dimensions and shape so that it fits snugly inside the inner wall of the coupler body;

an abutment extending from the coupler body or the conduit to limit the extent to which the conduit may be extended into the coupler body;

a coupler key groove extending along the inner circumference of the inner wall of the coupler body, the coupler key groove being located axially away from the opening in the coupler body;

an aperture connecting the coupler key groove with the outer wall of the coupler;

a conduit key groove extending along the outer circumference of the outer wall of the conduit, the conduit key groove having a shape that is complementary to the coupler key groove, the conduit key groove being spaced from its end a distance which allows it to align with the coupler key groove when the end of the conduit abuts against the abutment along the inner wall of the coupler body;

the coupler key groove and conduit key groove, when they are aligned forming a parallelogram passageway with acute angles; and

a locking key which fits therein having a parallelogram cross section with acute angles that is complementary with of the coupler key groove and conduit key groove, each acute angle of the locking key being greater or less than the complementary acute angle of the coupler body key groove so that the acute angles of the locking key tend to engage tightly the coupler key groove and the conduit key groove if tensile forces are applied to separate the coupler, and the locking key has a length so that it may be inserted into the aperture and engage the coupler key groove and the conduit key groove.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler and the conduit are made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyolefins and PVC.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 wherein the conduit is made of high density polyethylene.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 2 wherein the conduit is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyolefins and PVC.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking key is made of a polyamide.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the acute angle of coupler key groove faces at least partially along the axis of the coupler toward the opening at its end and the acute angle of the locking key fits into the acute angle of the coupler.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 6, wherein the acute angle of the conduit key groove faces at least partially along the axis of the conduit in a direction generally opposite the acute angle in the coupler key groove whereby axial forces trying to separate the coupler and the conduit cause the compression of locking key into the acute angle of the conduit key groove.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 7, wherein the coupler has a sealing groove along the circumference of the inner wall of the coupler.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 7, wherein a sealing groove is spaced axially between the abutment and the coupler key groove and a sealing ring is located in the sealing groove.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler has a second opening at its other end and a second coupler key groove with an acute angle.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one acute angle of the locking key is smaller than the acute angle of the passageway it engages.

12. A coupler, comprising:

a locking key having a parallelogram shaped cross section with acute angles;

a coupler body having a generally cylindrical shape and a first opening at one end, the coupler body having an inner wall with an inner circumference and an outer wall;

a coupler key groove extending along the inner circumference of the inner wall of the coupler body, a portion of the coupler key groove forming part of a complimentary parallelogram with a complimentary acute angle with the locking key, the coupler key groove being located axially away from the opening in the coupler body;

an aperture connecting the coupler key groove with the outer wall of the coupler in order that the locking key can be inserted therein;

wherein at least one acute angle of the locking key is greater or less than the complementary acute angle of the coupler body key groove so that the at least one acute angle of the locking key engages tightly with the complementary acute angle of the coupler key groove when the coupler assembly is engaged with a conduit key groove.

13. The coupler of claim 12, wherein there is an abutment extending from the inner wall of the coupler body to limit the extent to which a conduit may be extended into the coupler body.

14. The coupler of claim 13, wherein the coupler body has a second opening at a second end and a second coupler key groove spaced from the second opening, the second coupler key groove having a portion thereof being an acute angle.

15. The coupler of claim 14, wherein there is at least one sealing groove along the inner circumference of the inner wall of the coupler body.

16. The coupler of claim 14, wherein the second coupler key groove is shaped in part like a parallelogram.

17. The coupler of claim 14 wherein the coupler is made of high density polyethylene.

18. The coupler of claim 12 wherein at least one of the acute angles of the locking key is smaller than the acute angle of the passageway it engages.

19. A coupling assembly comprising;

a coupler body having a generally cylindrical shape and an opening at one end, the coupler body having an inner wall and an outer wall;

a conduit having a generally cylindrical shape complementary to the coupler body, the conduit having an inner wall and an outer wall with an opening at its end, the conduit having dimensions and shape so that it fits snugly with the coupler body;

a coupler key groove extending along the circumference of one of the walls of the coupler body, the coupler key groove being located axially away from the opening in the coupler body;

a conduit key groove extending along the circumference of one of the walls of the conduit, the conduit key groove having a shape that is complementary to the coupler key groove;

a locking key that is complementary with the coupler key groove;

the coupler key groove and conduit key groove when they are aligned, form a parallelogram with acute angles and the locking key has a cross section of a complementary parallelogram with acute angles which fits therein, each acute angle of the locking key being greater or less than the complementary acute angle of the coupler body key groove and the conduit key groove so that the acute angles of the locking key tend to engage tightly the coupler key groove and the conduit key groove if tensile forces are applied to separate the coupler and the conduit.

20. The coupling assembly of claim 19, wherein the coupler and the conduit are made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

polyolefins and PVC.

21. The coupling assembly of claim 19, wherein there is an abutment extending from the coupler body or the conduit to limit the extent to which the coupler body may overlap with a conduit.

22. The coupling assembly of claim 19 wherein at least one of the acute angles of the locking key is smaller than the acute angle of the passageway it engages.