Deformable mechanical pipe coupling

• US 7,086,131 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Dole, Douglas R., Gibb, John, Pigott, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David
• Application Number:
  US11/124,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 285/110, 285/111, 285/112, 285/364, 285/420, 285/411, 292/82
• US Class Current: 29/282
• 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 21/02 with elastic sealing rings between pipe and sleeve or between pipe and socket, e.g. with rolling or other prefabricated profiled rings F16L21/06, F16L21/08 take precedence ; sealing ring with radial ribs F16L17/025; sealing ring with axial lips F16L17/03; if adjustability is essential F16L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/08 connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/18 the sealing means being rings
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 25/14 Joints for pipes of different diameters or cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule

Abstract

A deformable mechanical pipe coupling is disclosed. The coupling has a plurality of interconnectable segments that straddle the ends of pipe elements to be joined. The segments have arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements. The outer surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180° and have radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the pipe element outer surfaces. The segments have adjustably tightenable connection members for connecting the segments to one another. When the connection members are tightened, the arcuate surfaces deform and conform to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the pipe elements.

Claims

1. A method of securing facing end portions of pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein said end portions of said pipe elements have an outer surface of substantially cylindrical profile, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a pipe coupling having a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end-to-end surrounding a central space, said coupling segments having arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipes;

inserting said end portions of said pipe elements into said central space; and

deforming said coupling segments so as to conform the curvature of said arcuate surfaces of said coupling segments to said outer surfaces of said pipe elements.