Coupling gaskets and associated methods

• US 8,646,814 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Anvil International Incorporated (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lippka, Sandra M., Horgan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bochna, David E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRIGGERS, GWENDOLYN YVONNE
• Application Number:
  US12/245,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20090146417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 285/148.17, 285/255, 285/364, 285/421, 285/910, 277607-609, 277/615, 277/616, 277626-627, 277/630, 277/644, 277/648
• US Class Current: 285/421
• 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 23/22 made exclusively of a material other than metal

Abstract

Coupling devices for joining pipe ends include annular gaskets. Example gaskets include pipe interface profiles for sealing performance and manufacturability.

Claims

1. A coupling device for joining two pipes positioned end to end in substantial axial alignment and a joint there between comprising:

a housing having a plurality of segments, wherein the housing defines an annular groove;

a plurality of fasteners connecting the plurality of segments together; and

an annular gasket within the housing and having a substantially C-shaped cross-section that defines a housing interface portion and two sealing portions directed inwardly,

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a first tapered rib and a second tapered rib, each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib having a vertical surface extending substantially in a radial direction when not engaged and a horizontal surface extending substantially in an axial direction when not engaged, wherein the vertical surface is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, wherein an axial length of the horizontal surface is at least substantially as long as a radial length of the vertical surface, wherein the first tapered rib is axially inwards from the second tapered rib, wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib has a diameter less than the diameter of the second tapered rib, and wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib has a first end that terminates at the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib and a second end that terminates at a diameter equal to or less than a diameter of the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib and the vertical surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions are substantially parallel with a cross-sectional centerline of the seal prior to engagement with the respective outer surfaces of the two pipes;

wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib of each of the sealing portions is not coannular with the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions when not engaged;

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a horizontal section in addition to the first tapered rib and the second tapered rib; and

wherein the horizontal section of each of the sealing portions is radially outward from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib and adjacent to an axially outer edge of each of the sealing portions.

2. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the annular gasket is substantially symmetrical about the centerline.

3. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the sealing portions include a transition surface extending between the vertical surface of the first tapered rib of each of the sealing portions and the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions.

4. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein the sealing portions are asymmetrical about the centerline when not engaged.

5. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein:

the axial length of the horizontal surface of each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib is approximately ¼

of the axial length of the sealing portion; and

the radial length of the vertical surface of each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib is approximately ¼

of the radial length of the sealing portion.

6. An annular gasket comprising:

a substantially C-shaped cross-section that defines a housing interface portion formed on the outer surface of the C-shaped cross-section; and

two sealing portions formed on the outer surface of the C-shaped cross-section proximate respective termination portions of the C-shaped cross section,

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a first tapered rib and a second tapered rib, each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib having a vertical surface extending substantially in a radial direction when not engaged and a horizontal surface extending substantially in an axial direction when not engaged, wherein the vertical surface is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, wherein an axial length of the horizontal surface is at least substantially as long as a radial length of the vertical surface, wherein the first tapered rib is axially inwards from the second tapered rib,

wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib has a diameter less than the diameter of the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib has a first end that terminates at the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib and a second end that terminates at the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib extends radially inwards from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib of each of the sealing portions is not coannular with the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions when not engaged;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib intersects substantially perpendicularly with the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a horizontal section in addition to the first tapered rib and the second tapered rib;

wherein the horizontal section of each of the sealing portions intersects the second tapered rib and is not coannular with the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib when not engaged; and

wherein the horizontal section of each of the sealing portions is radially outward from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib and adjacent to an axially outer edge of each of the sealing portions.

7. The annular gasket of claim 6, wherein the cross-section of the annular gasket is substantially symmetrical about a centerline.

8. The annular gasket of claim 7, wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib and the vertical surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions are substantially parallel with the centerline.

9. The gasket of claim 6, wherein:

the axial length of the horizontal surface of each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib is approximately ¼

of the axial length of the sealing portion; and

the radial length of each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib of the vertical surface is approximately ¼

of the radial length of the sealing portion.

10. An annular gasket comprising:

a substantially C-shaped cross-section that defines a housing interface portion formed on the outer surface of the C-shaped cross-section; and

two sealing portions formed on the outer surface of the C-shaped cross-section proximate respective termination portions of the C-shaped cross section,

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a first tapered rib and a second tapered rib, each first tapered rib and each second tapered rib having a vertical surface extending substantially in a radial direction when not engaged and a horizontal surface extending substantially in an axial direction when not engaged, wherein the vertical surface is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, wherein an axial length of the horizontal surface is at least substantially as long as a radial length of the vertical surface, wherein the first tapered rib is axially inwards from the second tapered rib, wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib extends radially inwards from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib, wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib has a diameter less than the diameter of the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib has a first end that intersects the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib and a second end that intersects a transition surface between the first tapered rib and the second tapered rib, the transition surface extending at least partially radially inward from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib;

wherein the vertical surface of the first tapered rib and the vertical surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions are substantially parallel with the centerline prior to engagement with the respective outer surfaces of the two pipes;

wherein the horizontal surface of the first tapered rib of each of the sealing portions is not coannular with the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions when not engaged;

wherein each of the sealing portions includes a horizontal section in addition to the first tapered rib and the second tapered rib;

wherein the horizontal section of each of the sealing portions is radially outward from the horizontal surface of the second tapered rib and adjacent to an axially outer edge of each of the sealing portions; and

wherein a second transition surface extends at least partially radially inward from the horizontal section of each of the sealing portions to intersect the vertical surface of the second tapered rib of each of the sealing portions.