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Coupling with tongue and groove

  • US 9,631,746 B2
  • Filed: 10/03/2014
  • Issued: 04/25/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship comprising:

  • obtaining a coupling, the coupling includingan annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly;

    at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, a first end and a second end, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, the first end including a tongue and the second end including a groove, each tongue including an inner surface and protruding circumferentially from each first end, each groove comprising two side walls and defined circumferentially in each second end, each groove defining a groove shoulder surface extending between the two side walls, each tongue sized to be received between the two side walls of the groove, each tongue defining a tongue outer surface facing radially outwardly towards the groove shoulder surface, the tongue outer surface angled at a non-zero angle relative to the groove shoulder surface, the tongue outer surface being nonparallel to the groove shoulder surface; and

    at least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment;

    slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element;

    aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element;

    engaging each fastener with the at least one fastener hole of each segment to bring each segment into contact with an outer surface of each of the first and second pipe elements; and

    deforming each segment around the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements to reduce a radius of each segment wherein deforming each segment aligns the tongue outer surface of each tongue with the groove shoulder surface of a one of each groove and positions the tongue outer surface of each tongue parallel and flush to the groove shoulder surface of a one of each groove.

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