Fitting having receptacle of varying depth
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fitting for connecting at least two pipe elements together, said fitting comprising:
- first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining at least first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively defining first and second openings for receiving said pipe elements, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first opening, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second opening, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, said housing portions further defining a fluid path extending between said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, each of said housing portions comprising;
a first arcuate surface extending circumferentially about said first opening, at least a portion of said first arcuate surface being engageable with one of said pipe elements, said first arcuate surface facing said first axis; and
a first back wall positioned eccentric to said first arcuate surface, as manifest by said first back wall having an arcuate surface facing said first axis, a distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said first arcuate surface, as measured along a radially projecting line extending from said first axis, being a first value at a first point midway between ends of said housing portion, and a second value at a second point proximate to at least one of said ends of said housing portion, said first value being less than said second value; and
at least one adjustable fastener attaching said first and second housing portions to one another, said housing portions being supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit said pipe elements to be inserted into said eccentrically shaped receptacles while said housing portions are attached to one another, each said fastener being adjustably tightenable so as to draw said housing portions toward one another and bring said first arcuate surfaces of said housing portions into engagement with said pipe elements so as to affix said pipe elements together, whereby said first arcuate surface is positioned concentric with said first axis, and said arcuate surface of said first back wall is positioned eccentric to said first axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Elbow and tee fittings for joining pipe elements together include housing portions held preassembled in spaced apart relation to permit pipe elements to be inserted without disassembly of the fitting, the fittings having a receptacle of varying depth for receiving a sealing element.
88 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A fitting for connecting at least two pipe elements together, said fitting comprising:
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first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining at least first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively defining first and second openings for receiving said pipe elements, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first opening, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second opening, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, said housing portions further defining a fluid path extending between said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, each of said housing portions comprising; a first arcuate surface extending circumferentially about said first opening, at least a portion of said first arcuate surface being engageable with one of said pipe elements, said first arcuate surface facing said first axis; and a first back wall positioned eccentric to said first arcuate surface, as manifest by said first back wall having an arcuate surface facing said first axis, a distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said first arcuate surface, as measured along a radially projecting line extending from said first axis, being a first value at a first point midway between ends of said housing portion, and a second value at a second point proximate to at least one of said ends of said housing portion, said first value being less than said second value; and at least one adjustable fastener attaching said first and second housing portions to one another, said housing portions being supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit said pipe elements to be inserted into said eccentrically shaped receptacles while said housing portions are attached to one another, each said fastener being adjustably tightenable so as to draw said housing portions toward one another and bring said first arcuate surfaces of said housing portions into engagement with said pipe elements so as to affix said pipe elements together, whereby said first arcuate surface is positioned concentric with said first axis, and said arcuate surface of said first back wall is positioned eccentric to said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A fitting for connecting at least two pipe elements together, said fitting comprising:
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first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining at least first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively defining first and second openings for receiving said pipe elements, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first opening, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second opening, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, said housing portions further defining a fluid path extending between said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, each of said housing portions comprising; a first arcuate surface extending circumferentially about said first opening, at least a portion of said first arcuate surface being engageable with one of said pipe elements, said first arcuate surface facing said first axis, said first arcuate surface having a first radius of curvature measured from a first center of curvature; and a first back wall positioned eccentric to said first arcuate surface, as manifest by said first back wall having an arcuate surface facing said first axis, said arcuate surface of said back wall having a second radius of curvature measured from a second center of curvature, said second center of curvature being non-coincident with said first center of curvature as measured in a plane perpendicular to said first axis; and at least one adjustable fastener attaching said first and second housing portions to one another, said housing portions being supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit said pipe elements to be inserted into said eccentrically shaped receptacles while said housing portions are attached to one another, each said fastener being adjustably tightenable so as to draw said housing portions toward one another and bring said first arcuate surfaces of said housing portions into engagement with said pipe elements so as to affix said pipe elements together, whereby said first arcuate surface is positioned concentric with said first axis, and said arcuate surface of said first back wall is positioned eccentric to said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A fitting for connecting at least two pipe elements together, said fitting comprising:
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first and second housing portions attached to one another and defining at least first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively defining first and second openings for receiving said pipe elements, said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles respectively surrounding first and second axes, said first axis oriented coaxially with said first opening, said second axis oriented coaxially with said second opening, said first axis being angularly oriented with respect to said second axis, said housing portions further defining a fluid path extending between said first and second eccentrically shaped receptacles, each of said housing portions comprising; a first arcuate surface extending circumferentially about said first opening, at least a portion of said first arcuate surface being engageable with one of said pipe elements, said first arcuate surface facing said first axis; and a first back wall positioned eccentric to said first arcuate surface, as manifest by said first back wall having an arcuate surface facing said first axis, a distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said first arcuate surface, as measured along a radially projecting line extending from said first axis, being a first value at a first point midway between ends of said housing portion, and a second value at a second point proximate to a first end of said housing portion, and a third value at a third point proximate to an opposite end of said housing portion, said first value being less than said second value and said third value; and at least one adjustable fastener attaching said first and second housing portions to one another, said housing portions being supported in spaced apart relation sufficient to permit said pipe elements to be inserted into said eccentrically shaped receptacles while said housing portions are attached to one another, each said fastener being adjustably tightenable so as to draw said housing portions toward one another and bring said first arcuate surfaces of said housing portions into engagement with said pipe elements so as to affix said pipe elements together, whereby said first arcuate surface is positioned concentric with said first axis, and said arcuate surface of said first back wall is positioned eccentric to said first axis. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification