Coupling having angularly oriented cavity
First Claim
1. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:
- a unitary body comprising a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements;
first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces;
first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; and
a concavity extending entirely between end faces of said segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments, said angular orientation of said concavity being measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation is disclosed. The coupling includes interconnectable coupling segments having connection members at opposite ends. The connection members are tightenable for drawing the segments toward one another and into engagement with the pipe elements. Each segment has a concavity positioned between inwardly projecting arcuate surfaces that engage grooves in the pipe elements. The concavities house a sealing member that extends circumferentially around the pipe elements. Angularly oriented surfaces are positioned adjacent to the connection members. The surfaces on facing segments engage one another and cause the segments to rotate in opposite directions about an axis perpendicular to the pipe elements. The concavities are angularly oriented with respect to the axis so that when the segments rotate, the cavities receive the sealing member without distorting it. A method of joining pipe elements end to end is also disclosed.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:
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a unitary body comprising a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; and a concavity extending entirely between end faces of said segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments, said angular orientation of said concavity being measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces.
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2. A pipe coupling positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising:
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first and second coupling segments, each coupling segment comprising a unitary body having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; and a concavity extending entirely between end faces of each respective coupling segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments, said angular orientation of said concavity being measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces.
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3. A pipe coupling positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising:
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first and second coupling segments, each coupling segment comprising a unitary body having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; each said coupling segment having first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; each coupling segment having first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; each coupling segment having first and second angularly oriented surfaces respectively positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members on each said segment, said first angularly oriented surface on each segment having a slope opposite to said second angularly oriented surface, said angularly oriented surfaces on said first segment being positioned in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on said second segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments; and each coupling segment having a concavity extending entirely between said first and second angularly oriented surfaces of each coupling segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being divided into a plurality of sectors, at least one of said sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about said first axis and said angular orientation of said concavity being measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:
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a unitary body having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; means for rotating said segment in a first direction about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members; and a concavity extending entirely between end faces of the segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about said first axis and said angular orientation of said concavity measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A pipe coupling positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, said pipe coupling comprising:
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first and second coupling segments, each coupling segment comprising a unitary body having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; each coupling segment having first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of each of said unitary bodies, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; each said coupling segment having first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; each said coupling segment having means for rotating said first segment in a first direction and said second segment in a second direction relatively to one another about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments, said first direction being opposite to said second direction; and each said coupling segment having a concavity extending entirely between end faces of each coupling segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of each of said segments, each of said concavities being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about said first axis and said angular orientation of said concavity measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Interconnectable pipe coupling segments, each positionable straddling a sealing member and end portions of a pair of pipe elements engaged with said sealing member for securing said pipe elements together in end-to-end relationship, wherein each said segment comprises:
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a unitary body having a pair of arcuate surfaces adapted to interface with the outer surfaces of said pipe elements; first and second essentially planar faces oriented parallel to one another and positioned in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of said unitary body, each of said essentially planar faces being positioned adjacent to one of said arcuate surfaces; first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said arcuate surfaces for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments together; first and second angularly oriented surfaces positioned adjacent to said first and second connection members respectively, said first angularly oriented surface having a slope opposite to said second angularly oriented surface, said angularly oriented surfaces on one said segment being positionable in facing relation with angularly oriented surfaces on another said segment and engaging one another when said segments are drawn together and causing said segments to rotate relatively to one another about a first axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a second axis that extends between said first and second connection members of one of said segments; and a concavity extending entirely between said first and second angularly oriented surfaces of each coupling segment and positioned between said arcuate surfaces and extending along an inner circumference of said segment, said concavity being divided into a plurality of sectors, at least one of said sectors being oriented angularly with respect to said arcuate surfaces about said first axis and said angular orientation of said concavity measured with respect to a datum line positioned between and oriented substantially parallel to said first and second essentially planar faces. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification