Slip on groove coupling with multiple sealing gasket

• US 8,282,136 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vandal, Peter J., Compton, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/490,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20100001521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/111, 285/110, 285/367, 285/366, 285/365, 285/364, 285/23, 285/411
• US Class Current: 285/112
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 17/04 with longitudinally split or divided sleeve
• 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 21/03 placed in the socket before connection F16L21/022, F16L21/025 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/06 with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe-ends flanged joints F16L23/00; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0447 Including joint or coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49872 Confining elastic part in socket

Abstract

Methods, gaskets, and couplings for connecting two pipes are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of placing the assembled coupling over one end of a pipe, aligning the second pipe with the first pipe, sliding the coupling off the end of the first pipe so that a portion of the coupling is around each pipe, and securing the coupling.

Claims

1. A coupling for joining two pipes, comprising:

an upper housing;

a lower housing;

at least one fastening device coupling the upper housing to the lower housing; and

a gasket positioned within the upper and lower housings and having a concave outer diameter,

wherein the gasket is comprised of two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket, and at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over a pipe end so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening device is selected from the group consisting of bolts, clips, snap-couplings, rivets, and ties.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the pipes.

4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the gripping extension is adapted to grab the end of the pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the pipe.

6. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on the inner surface of the gasket.

7. The coupling of claim 1, wherein a portion of each of the upper housing and the lower housing is chamfered.

8. The coupling of claim 7, wherein the chamfered sections are on the inner surface of each of the upper housing and the lower housing adjacent to where the upper housing and the lower housing meet.

9. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising one or more spacers to separate the upper housing from the lower housing.

10. The coupling of claim 9, wherein the one or more spacers are removable.

11. The coupling of claim 9, wherein the one or more spacers are permanent and compressible.

12. The coupling of claim 11, wherein the one or more spacers are springs.

13. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

14. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the primary seals have interior ends that angle toward the outer surface of the gasket.

15. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the corners of the outer surface of the gasket are concave.

16. The coupling of claim 1, wherein there are three secondary seals.

17. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one slot in the outer surface of the gasket.

18. The coupling of claim 17, wherein there is one continuous slot around the circumference of the gasket.

19. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining device.

20. The coupling of claim 19, wherein each retaining device is a single wire surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing.

21. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the gasket is lubricated.

22. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the lower housing and the at least one fastening device is a single unit coupled to the upper housing.

23. A gasket, comprising:

a concave outer diameter;

two primary seals, one on each outer edge of the gasket; and

at least two secondary seals on a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the primary seals adapted to slide over a pipe end so that at least a portion of the pipe is extending beyond each edge of the gasket.

24. The gasket of claim 23, wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe.

25. The gasket of claim 23, wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

26. The gasket of claim 23, wherein the gripping extension is adapted to grab the end of a pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the pipe.

27. The gasket of claim 23, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on the inner seals of the gasket.

28. The gasket of claim 23, wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.

29. The gasket of claim 23, wherein the primary seals have interior ends that angle toward the outer surface of the gasket.

30. The gasket of claim 23, further comprising an outer surface having concave corners.

31. The gasket of claim 23, wherein there are three secondary seals.

32. The gasket of claim 23, further comprising at least one slot in the outer seals of the gasket.

33. The gasket of claim 32, wherein there is one continuous slot around the circumference of the gasket.