Pipe coupling
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pipe coupling, comprising:
- a cylindrical barrel sleeve having at least one circumferential flange with an inner and an outer diameter;
a clamping ring that is adapted to close around said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including first and second separate clamping ring portions that are releasably connected together at a pivot point in a manner so that one clamping ring portion may swing toward and away from the other to respectively close and open said clamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped to retain an annularly-shaped seal outward of said circumferential flange when said ring portions are connected together, each clamping ring portion having a region adjacent to said pivot point, the regions of said clamping ring portions pressing against each other when said clamping ring portions close to a bound position so as to cause said first and second separate clamping ring portions to function as a unitary structural member that will bend inwardly toward the seal as the clamping ring portions close past the bound position to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe; and
an exterior handle connected to a central portion of said cylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position of said pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pipe coupling for connecting pipes of the same or different diameters. The coupling has a barrel sleeve with clamping rings on each end. The clamping rings each carry nested seals. An inner portion of each nested seal may be removed so as to adapt the clamping ring to different pipe diameters. Each clamping ring is hinged, but becomes iron-bound upon tightening, so that each ring eventually bends as a unitary ring member.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A pipe coupling, comprising:
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a cylindrical barrel sleeve having at least one circumferential flange with an inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to close around said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including first and second separate clamping ring portions that are releasably connected together at a pivot point in a manner so that one clamping ring portion may swing toward and away from the other to respectively close and open said clamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped to retain an annularly-shaped seal outward of said circumferential flange when said ring portions are connected together, each clamping ring portion having a region adjacent to said pivot point, the regions of said clamping ring portions pressing against each other when said clamping ring portions close to a bound position so as to cause said first and second separate clamping ring portions to function as a unitary structural member that will bend inwardly toward the seal as the clamping ring portions close past the bound position to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe; and an exterior handle connected to a central portion of said cylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position of said pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A pipe coupling, comprising:
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a sleeve including at least one circumferential flange with an inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to close around said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including first and second separate clamping ring portions, the first and second clamping ring portions each including a curved body that extends from a bolt engagement portion to a coupling portion, the first and second clamping ring portions releasably connected together at the coupling portions of the first and second clamping ring portions so that, in a released state, the first clamping ring portion is movable towards and away from the second clamping ring portion to respectively close and open said clamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped to retain an annularly-shaped seal when said ring portions are connected together, the first and second clamping rings being arranged so that, in a fixed state, the bolt engagement portions of the first and second clamping ring portions are spaced apart from each other and the coupling portions of the first and second clamping ring portions are in abutting contact with each other to constrain relative movement of the coupling portions of the first and second clamping ring portions but to allow relative movement of the bolt engagement portions of the first and second clamping ring portions thereby causing said first and second separate clamping ring portions to function as a unitary structural member that will bend inwardly toward the seal to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A pipe coupling, comprising:
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a sleeve including at least one circumferential flange with an inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to close around said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including a curved body with two opposing bolt engagement portions that are spaced apart from each other, said clamping ring being shaped to retain an annularly-shaped seal, the clamping ring being arranged around the circumferential flange of the sleeve so that drawing the two opposing bolt engagement portions towards each other bends the clamping ring inwardly to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe; and an exterior handle connected to a central portion of said cylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position of said pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A pipe coupling, comprising:
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a hollow sleeve including an opening on a first end, the sleeve including a flange that extends around the opening; a plurality of separate and distinct, curved clamping components that, when fully assembled, form a clamping ring that functions as a single, unitary component, the clamping ring being structured and dimensioned to house an annular seal, the clamping ring including a curved body that terminates in two spaced apart clamp receptacles, the two clamp receptacles arranged to jointly receive a coupling mechanism that includes a bolt that, when tightened, draws the two clamping receptacles towards each other to move the clamping ring from a relaxed state to a tightened state, the clamping ring structured and dimensioned so that, in the relaxed state, the clamping ring extends around the flange and the two clamp receptacles are spaced apart, and so that, in the tightened state, the two clamp receptacles are drawn towards each other but remain spaced apart and the curved body of the clamping ring bends to bring the annular sealing ring into tight sealing contact with a pipe inserted into the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A pipe coupling, comprising:
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a hollow sleeve including an opening on a first end, the sleeve including a flange that extends around the opening; a clamping ring that includes a curved body that terminates in two spaced apart clamp receptacles, the clamping ring being structured and dimensioned to house an annular seal, the two clamp receptacles arranged to receive a coupling mechanism that includes a bolt that, when tightened, draws the two clamping receptacles towards each other to move the clamping ring from a relaxed state to a tightened state, the clamping ring structured and dimensioned so that, in the relaxed state, the clamping ring extends around the flange and the two clamp receptacles are spaced apart, and so that, in the tightened state, the two clamp receptacles are drawn towards each other but remain spaced apart and the curved body of the clamping ring bends to bring the annular ring into tight sealing contact with a pipe inserted into the sleeve; and a handle coupled to the sleeve, the handle arranged on the sleeve to facilitate physically manipulation of the sleeve when the sleeve is used to couple pipes together. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification