Systems and methods for pipe couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100954-B2
Application number	US-201615215547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Oct 27, 2009
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A coupling arrangement that includes a gasket seal and a housing having a first lateral side for receiving a first pipe segment and a second lateral side for receiving a second pipe segment, the second lateral side being spaced from the first lateral side to define a medial axis of the housing. An inner surface of the housing defines a cavity for engaging and housing a gasket seal disposed about the first and second pipe segments. The gasket seal includes a peripheral surface and inner surface which can include features than engage both the housing and the pipe segments to form a fluid tight pipe joint assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling comprising:
a housing having
a first lateral side for receiving a first pipe segment;
a second lateral side for receiving a second pipe segment, the second lateral side being spaced from the first lateral side to define a medial axis of the housing; and
an inner surface defining a cavity, the inner surface extending between the first lateral side and the second lateral side so as to be bisected by the medial axis and define an increasing depth of the cavity from each lateral side to the medial axis, the inner surface having a sidewall portion and a backwall portion; and

a gasket disposed in the housing for forming a seal about a pipe joint, the gasket including:
a first lateral side;
a second lateral side spaced from the first lateral side so as to define a medial axis therebetween;
an exterior surface; and
an inner surface, the exterior and inner surfaces extending between the first and second lateral sides so as to be bisected by the medial axis, the inner surface defining a central leg extending along the medial axis, the inner surface further defining a first sealing lip and a second sealing lip, the first and second sealing lips being disposed about the central leg so as to define a first transition portion of the inner surface extending between the first sealing lip and the central leg and a second transition portion between the second sealing lip and the central leg, the first and second transition portions extending in the direction from the respective sealing lip towards the medial axis and the exterior surface, the exterior surface defining a profile having a pair of end portions disposed about the medial axis with a central portion extending between the two end portions, the end portions defining the maximum diameter of the gasket,

wherein in an assembled configuration, the inner surface of the housing engages the end portions to compress the gasket so as to fold the gasket about a point along the first and second transition portions and direct at least one of the first and second lateral sides of the gasket laterally against the sidewall portion of the inner surface of the housing.

2. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein in the assembled configuration the central portion of the peripheral surface is directed outwardly toward the backwall of the housing.

3. The coupling of claim 2 , wherein in an uncompressed state the central portion is one of substantially linear or substantially arcuate.

4. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the end portions of the gasket are radiused.

5. The coupling of claim 4 , wherein the central portion of the gasket profile is radially inward of the end portions.

6. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the gasket defines a central leg extending along the medial axis.

7. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the transition segment comprises at least one of a radiused portion and a linear portion.

8. The coupling of claim 7 , wherein the transition segment comprises a radiused portion defining a positive slope.

9. The coupling of claim 7 , wherein the transition segment comprises a linear portion defining a positive slope.

10. The coupling of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the housing includes a first radiused portion, a second radiused portion with a straight line segment extending between the first and second radiused portions.

11. The coupling of claim 10 , wherein the first radiused portion has a center of curvature disposed on one side of the straight line, the second radiused portion having a center of curvature disposed on the other side of the straight line, the first radiused portion defines a first cavity depth of the housing and the second radiused portion defines a second cavity depth less than the first cavity depth.

12. The coupling of claim 11 , wherein the backwall portion defines a third cavity depth being any one of:
(i) greater than the second cavity depth;
(ii) less than at least the first cavity depth; or
(iii) equal to the second cavity depth.

13. The coupling of claim 12 , wherein the cavity defines a central axis of the coupling, the backwall portion being substantially linear extending substantially parallel to the central coupling axis.

Assignees

• Tyco Fire Products Lp

Inventors

• Lippka Sandra M

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• F16L17/04 Primary

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16L21/005

  made of elastic material, e.g. partly or completely surrounded by clamping devices (comprising packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure F16L17/04) · CPC title

• F16L17/06

  with sealing rings arranged between the end surfaces of the pipes or flanges or arranged in recesses in the pipe ends or flanges · CPC title

• F16J15/02

  between relatively-stationary surfaces (F16J15/46, F16J15/48 take precedence) · CPC title