Slip on groove coupling with multiple sealing gasket

• US 9,297,482 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• 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 Joseph, Compton, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/677,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20150211664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 285/112, 285/367, 285/111, 285/110, 285/366, 285/365, 285/364, 285/23, 285/411
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Couplings and gaskets are disclosed. Couplings may include 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, the gasket including two primary seals and a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals.

Claims

1. A coupling for joining a first pipe and a second pipe, the coupling 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, the gasket including

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket,

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface,

the gasket slideable over the first pipe end such that at least a portion of the first pipe extends axially beyond each edge of the gasket, a first primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the first pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end, and a second primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the second pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

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

4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of each of the upper housing and the lower housing adjacent to where the upper housing and the lower housing meet include chamfered sections.

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

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

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

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

10. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one continuous slot around an outer surface of the gasket.

11. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising at least one retaining device, wherein each retaining device is a single wire surrounding the upper housing and the lower housing.

12. 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.

13. A gasket for sealing a first pipe and a second pipe, the gasket comprising:

a concave outer diameter;

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket;

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface defining a first axially outer edge, a second axially outer edge, and a cylindrical section facing radially inward, the cylindrical section being cylindrical when the gasket is in an uncompressed condition, the cylindrical section defined between the first axially outer edge and the second axially outer edge;

the gasket slideable over the first pipe end such that at least a portion of the first pipe extends axially beyond each edge of the gasket, a first primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the first pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end, and a second primary seal of the two primary seals and the sealing surface of the rib contactable with an exterior surface of the second pipe when the first pipe and the second pipe are joined end-to-end.

14. The gasket of claim 13, wherein the inner diameter of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

15. The gasket of claim 13, wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension shaped to grab the end of the first pipe as the gasket slides over the end of the first pipe.

16. The gasket of claim 13, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

17. The gasket of claim 13, wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends which angle toward an outer surface of the gasket.

18. The gasket of claim 13, further comprising an outer surface having concave corners.

19. The gasket of claim 13, further comprising at least one slot in an outer surface of the gasket.

20. A gasket for sealing a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe and the second pipe having an outer diameter, the gasket comprising:

a concave outer diameter;

two primary seals, each primary seal formed on an outer edge of the gasket;

a rib protruding from an inner surface of the gasket and between the two primary seals, the rib having a sealing surface; and

an innermost diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe and the second pipe.

21. The gasket of claim 20, wherein each primary seal includes a gripping extension.

22. The gasket of claim 20, wherein each primary seal has stepped ribs on a radially inner surface of each primary seal.

23. The gasket of claim 20, wherein the primary seals have rounded interior ends.