Method of using a pipe coupling having movable gripping bodies
First Claim
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1. A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said method comprising:
- using a coupling comprising a plurality of segments connected to one another end to end surrounding a central space, and at least one gripping body positioned between two of said segments, each of said segments having a shoulder positioned in facing relation with a respective end face of said at least one gripping body, each of said segments having projections which extend outwardly from opposite ends thereof;
inserting each of said pipe elements into said central space;
moving said segments toward said central space, said segments each having a plurality of arcuate surfaces engageable with said pipe elements, said arcuate surfaces facing said central space;
engaging each one of said arcuate surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements;
moving said at least one gripping body toward said central space, said at least one gripping body having a plurality of gripping surfaces facing said central space;
engaging each one of said gripping surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements; and
contacting said shoulders of said segments with said respective end faces of said at least one gripping body.
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Abstract
A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relation includes using a coupling having two or more segments connected to one another end to end surrounding a central space. The coupling also has at least one gripping body positioned between two of the segments. The pipe elements are inserted into the central space. The segments and the gripping body or bodies are moved toward the central space. The segments have arcuate surfaces which engage the outer surface of the pipe element. The gripping body or bodies have gripping surfaces which engage the outer surface of the pipe elements.
65 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said method comprising:
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using a coupling comprising a plurality of segments connected to one another end to end surrounding a central space, and at least one gripping body positioned between two of said segments, each of said segments having a shoulder positioned in facing relation with a respective end face of said at least one gripping body, each of said segments having projections which extend outwardly from opposite ends thereof; inserting each of said pipe elements into said central space; moving said segments toward said central space, said segments each having a plurality of arcuate surfaces engageable with said pipe elements, said arcuate surfaces facing said central space; engaging each one of said arcuate surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements; moving said at least one gripping body toward said central space, said at least one gripping body having a plurality of gripping surfaces facing said central space; engaging each one of said gripping surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements; and contacting said shoulders of said segments with said respective end faces of said at least one gripping body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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4. A method of joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said method comprising:
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using a coupling comprising first and second segments connected to one another end to end surrounding a central space, and first and second gripping bodies positioned between said first and second segments, each of said segments having a shoulder positioned in facing relation with a respective end face of said first and second gripping bodies, each of said first and second segments having projections which extend outwardly from opposite ends thereof; inserting each of said pipe elements into said central space; moving said first and second segments toward said central space, said first and second segments each having at least two arcuate surfaces engageable with said pipe elements, said arcuate surfaces facing said central space; engaging each one of said arcuate surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements; moving said first and second gripping bodies toward said central space, said first and second gripping bodies each having at least two gripping surfaces facing said central space; engaging each one of said gripping surfaces with an outer surface of one of said pipe elements; and contacting said shoulders of said first and second segments with said end faces of said first and second gripping bodies. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification