Coupling having angularly oriented key surfaces

• US 8,267,432 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Victaulic Company
• Inventors: Madara, Scott D., Pierce, John W., Dole, Douglas R., Porter, Michael V., Wilk, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNWOODY, AARON M
• Application Number:
  US12/707,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/367, 285/373, 285/419, 285/420
• US Class Current: 285/112
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/025 the sealing rings having radially directed ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/02 Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction

Abstract

A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Each key is formed of a pair of side surfaces and a mid surface between them. The mid surface is angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. When used to couple pipe elements having grooves the angular orientation of the mid surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements end to end is also disclosed.

Claims

1. In combination, pipe elements and a coupling for joining said 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;

connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another;

at least one of said segments including an arcuate key extending along said segment and projecting inwardly toward said central space, said key comprising two oppositely disposed side surfaces and a first mid surface positioned therebetween, said first mid surface facing radially inwardly toward said central space, said first mid surface being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, a portion of said first mid surface being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said first mid surface into engagement with said outer surface of said one pipe element; and

wherein said first mid surface subtends an angle of less than 180° and

has a minimum radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe element, at least said one segment being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of said first mid surface to the outer surface of said pipe element.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first mid surface is oriented such that the distance between said first mid surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first mid surface is oriented such that the distance between said first mid surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first mid surface has an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first mid surface has an orientation angle of about 3°

.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first mid surface is curved, said first mid surface having an orientation angle measured between a chord line through end points of said first mid surface and said axis.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said first mid surface has a convex curvature.

8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said first mid surface has a concave curvature.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said key further comprises a second mid surface positioned contiguous with said first mid surface, said second mid surface projecting radially inwardly toward said central space, said second mid surface being angularly oriented with respect to said axis, said second mid surface being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface has an orientation angle with a slope opposite to the slope of said first mid surface.

11. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface is oriented such that the distance between said second mid surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

12. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface is oriented such that the distance between said second mid surface and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

13. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface has an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

14. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface has an orientation angle of about 3°

.

15. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said second mid surface is curved, said second mid surface having an orientation angle measured between a chord line through end points of said second mid surface and said axis.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said second mid surface has a convex curvature.

17. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said second mid surface has a concave curvature.

18. The combination according to claim 1 comprising two said segments.

19. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

20. The combination according to claim 1, wherein each of said segments has a cavity therein, said cavity on each said segment extending lengthwise along said segment and facing said central space, a seal being located within said cavity.

21. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.

22. In combination, pipe elements and 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;

connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for adjustably connecting one coupling segment to another;

each of said segments having a pair of arcuate keys extending along each of said segments and projecting radially inwardly toward said central space, said keys of each said pair being in spaced apart relation to one another, each of said keys comprising two oppositely disposed side surfaces and a first mid surface, each of said first mid surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to an axis oriented perpendicularly to a plane containing said segments, portions of said first mid surfaces being engageable with outer surfaces of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said first mid surfaces into engagement with said outer surfaces of said pipe elements; and

wherein said first mid surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180° and

have a minimum radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface of said pipe elements, each of said segments being deformable upon adjustable tightening of said connection members so as to substantially conform the curvature of a portion of each of said first mid surfaces to the outer surfaces of said pipe elements.

23. The combination according to claim 22, wherein said first mid surfaces on each of said pairs of said keys are oriented such that the distance between said first mid surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

24. The combination according to claim 22, wherein said first mid surfaces on each of said pairs of said keys are oriented such that the distance between said first mid surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

25. The combination according to claim 22, wherein said first mid surfaces have an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

.

26. The combination according to claim 22, wherein each of said first mid surfaces has an orientation angle of about 3°

.

27. The combination according to claim 22, wherein each of said keys further comprises a second mid surface positioned contiguous with said first mid surface, said second mid surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to said axis, said second mid surfaces being engageable with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements when said pipe elements are positioned within said central space.

28. The combination according to claim 27, wherein each of said second mid surfaces has an orientation angle with a slope opposite to the slope of said first mid surface with which it is contiguous.

29. The combination according to claim 27, wherein each of said second mid surfaces is oriented such that the distance between each of said second mid surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction away from said central space.

30. The combination according to claim 27, wherein each of said second mid surfaces is oriented such that the distance between each of said second mid surfaces and said axis increases with increasing distance along said axis in a direction toward said central space.

31. The combination according to claim 27, wherein each of said second mid surfaces has an orientation angle between about 1°

and about 5°

degrees.

32. The combination according to claim 27, wherein each of said second mid surfaces has an orientation angle of about 3°

degrees.

33. The combination according to claim 22 comprising two said segments.

34. The combination according to claim 22, wherein each of said segments has a cavity therein, said cavity on each said segment extending lengthwise along said segment and facing said central space, a seal being located within said cavity.

35. The combination according to claim 22, wherein said segments are attached to one another in spaced apart relation.