Coupling having angularly oriented shoulder surfaces
First Claim
1. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
- a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment;
said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space;
said one segment further comprising a first arcuate shoulder surface extending circumferentially along the length of said one segment, said first arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between said cavity and said arcuate key, said first arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said first arcuate shoulder surface being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said one pipe element is positioned within said central space.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has a circumferentially extending cavity facing the central space flanked by arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Two arcuate shoulder surfaces are positioned on each segment. The arcuate shoulder surfaces face the central space and are positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the cavity between the cavity and the arcuate keys. The arcuate shoulder surfaces are angularly oriented with respect to an axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. The coupling is used to couple pipe elements having a circumferential ring located at the ends of the pipe elements. The angular orientation of the arcuate shoulder surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements having circumferential rings is also disclosed.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
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a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment; said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space; said one segment further comprising a first arcuate shoulder surface extending circumferentially along the length of said one segment, said first arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between said cavity and said arcuate key, said first arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said first arcuate shoulder surface being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said one pipe element is positioned within said central space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
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a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, each said segment having a cavity therein, each said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along each said segment; each said segment further comprising a pair of arcuate keys extending lengthwise along each said segment and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said arcuate keys being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity; each said segment further comprising a pair of first arcuate shoulder surfaces extending circumferentially along the length of each said segment and facing said central space, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity, each said first arcuate shoulder surface being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between a respective one of said keys and said cavity, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being engageable with an outer surface of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A coupling for joining pipe elements together in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
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a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment; said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space; said one segment further comprising an arcuate shoulder surface extending circumferentially along the length of said one segment, said arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between said cavity and said arcuate key, said arcuate shoulder surface having a first boundary adjacent to said key and a second boundary adjacent to said cavity, said first boundary having a first radius of curvature, said second boundary having a second radius of curvature, said first radius of curvature being different from said second radius of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. In combination, a pair of pipe elements and a coupling joining the pipe elements together in end to end relation, each of said pipe elements comprising:
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a circumferential ring located at an end of each pipe element and extending radially outwardly therefrom; and wherein said coupling comprises; a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space, each said segment having a cavity therein, each said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along each said segment; each said segment further comprising a pair of arcuate keys extending lengthwise along each said segment and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said arcuate keys being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity; each said segment further comprising a pair of first arcuate shoulder surfaces extending circumferentially along the length of each said segment and facing said central space, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being positioned in spaced relation to one another on opposite sides of said cavity, each said first arcuate shoulder surface being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between a respective one of said arcuate keys and said cavity, said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to an outer surface of said circumferential rings, said ends of each of said pipe elements being positioned in end to end relation within said central space, a portion of each of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces being engaged with said outer surface of one of said circumferential rings positioned at said ends of said pipe elements. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°
- and about 5°
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- and about 5°
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40. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°
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41. The combination according to claim 36, wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces have a curved cross sectional profile.
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42. The combination according to claim 36, wherein each of said segments further comprises a pair of second arcuate shoulder surfaces, each positioned between a respective one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces and said cavity, said second arcuate shoulder surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to said axis and having a slope opposite to a slope of an adjacent one of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces.
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43. The combination according to claim 42, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°
- and about 5°
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- and about 5°
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44. The combination according to claim 42, wherein said second arcuate shoulder surfaces have an orientation angle of about 3°
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45. The combination according to claim 36 comprising two said segments.
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46. The combination according to claim 36, further comprising:
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connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting said coupling segments to one another, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said first arcuate shoulder surfaces into engagement with said outer surfaces of said circumferential rings; and wherein said first arcuate shoulder surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180° and
have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surfaces of said circumferential rings, said segments being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said first arcuate shoulder surfaces to the outer surfaces of said circumferential rings.
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47. The combination according to claim 46, wherein said arcuate keys subtend an angle of less than 180°
- and have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe elements.
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48. The combination according to claim 47 comprising two said segments.
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49. A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relationship using a coupling formed of a plurality of segments connected end to end by a plurality of adjustably tightenable fasteners, said segments being connected to one another in spaced apart relation, said segments surrounding a central space, at least one of said segments having a cavity therein, said cavity facing said central space and extending lengthwise along said one segment, said one segment further comprising an arcuate key extending lengthwise along said one segment, said arcuate key being positioned in spaced relation to said cavity and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said one segment further comprising an arcuate shoulder surface extending circumferentially along the length of said one segment, said arcuate shoulder surface facing said central space and being positioned contiguous with said cavity and between said cavity and said arcuate key, said arcuate shoulder surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, said method comprising:
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inserting said pipe elements into said central space from opposite sides of said coupling; tightening said fasteners so as to draw said segments toward one another and thereby engaging said arcuate shoulder surface with an outer surface of at least one of said pipe elements.
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50. The method according to claim 49, wherein said arcuate shoulder surface subtends an angle of less than 180°
- and has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said one pipe element, said method further comprising deforming at least said one segment upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said arcuate shoulder surface to the outer surface of said one pipe element.
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51. The method according to claim 49, wherein said coupling further comprises a seal positioned within said cavity, inserting said pipe elements into said central space from opposite sides of said coupling including engaging said seal with said pipe elements from opposite sides of said seal.
Specification