Pipe element having wedging groove

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10550971-B2
Application number	US-201715409688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A pipe element has a circumferential groove with a surface portion oriented at an angle with respect to its longitudinal axis. A surface portion of the groove adjacent to the angled surface portion is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A mechanical coupling has projecting keys that engage the groove. The keys have mating surfaces that contact both the perpendicular and angled surface portions of the groove. When the pipe element and coupling are used in combination to form a pipe joint, axial load on the pipe, resisted by the mechanical coupling, is shared between the perpendicular and angled surface portions which results in a pipe joint that can withstand higher internal pressure than if the axial load were borne by the perpendicular surface portion alone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pipe element having first and second oppositely disposed ends and a coupling, said pipe element comprising:
a sidewall surrounding a longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said sidewall having an outer surface;
a first groove positioned in said outer surface, said first groove extending circumferentially around said bore and positioned proximate to said first end, said first groove being defined by a first plurality of sub-surfaces of said outer surface including:
a first sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and facing away from said first end;
a second sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second sub-surface being in spaced relation away from and facing toward said first sub-surface;
a third sub-surface contiguous with said first sub-surface, said third sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and sloping toward said second sub-surface; and
a fourth sub-surface contiguous with said third and second sub surfaces, said fourth sub-surface being oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;

said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding said first end of said pipe element;
adjustable attachment members positioned at each end of said segments for attaching said segments to one another;
at least one arcuate projection positioned on one side of each of said segments and engaged with said first groove, said at least one arcuate projection comprising a plurality of mating surfaces including:
a first mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said first sub-surface;
a second mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said second sub-surface;
a third mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and contacting said third sub-surface; and
a fourth mating surface in facing relation with said fourth sub-surface; wherein
said at least one arcuate projection comprises a recess therein forming a gap between fourth mating surface and said fourth sub-surface.

2. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling comprises no more than two said segments.

3. In combination, a pipe element having first and second oppositely disposed ends and a coupling, said pipe element comprising:
a sidewall surrounding a longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said sidewall having an outer surface;
a first groove positioned in said outer surface, said first groove extending circumferentially around said bore and positioned proximate to said first end, said first groove being defined by a first plurality of sub-surfaces of said outer surface including:
a first sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and facing away from said first end;
a second sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second sub-surface being in spaced relation away from and facing toward said first sub-surface;
a third sub-surface contiguous with said first sub-surface, said third sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and sloping toward said second sub-surface; and
a fourth sub-surface contiguous with said third and second sub surfaces, said fourth sub-surface being oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;

said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding said first end of said pipe element;
adjustable attachment members positioned at each end of said segments for attaching said segments to one another;
at least one arcuate projection positioned on one side of each of said segments and engaged with said first groove, said at least one arcuate projection comprising a plurality of mating surfaces including:
a first mating surface oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said first sub-surface;
a second mating surface oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said second sub-surface;
a third mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and contacting said third sub-surface; and
a fourth mating surface in facing relation with said fourth sub-surface; wherein
said at least one arcuate projection comprises a recess therein forming a gap between said fourth mating surface and said fourth sub-surface.

4. The combination according to claim 3 , wherein said coupling comprises no more than two said segments.

5. In combination, a pair of pipe elements and a coupling for joining said pipe elements, said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space for receiving said pipe elements;
adjustable attachment members positioned at each end of said segments for attaching said segments to one another;
at least a first arcuate projection positioned on a first side of each of said segments, said first arcuate projections comprising a plurality of mating surfaces including:
a first mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis extending through said central space coaxially with said segments;
a second mating surface in spaced relation from said first mating surface and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;
a third mating surface contiguous with said first mating surface and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis; and
a fourth mating surface between said third and second mating surfaces and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;

each of said pipe elements comprising:
a sidewall surrounding said longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said sidewall having an outer surface;
a first groove positioned in said outer surface, said first groove extending circumferentially around said bore and positioned proximate to said first end, said first groove being defined by a first plurality of sub-surfaces of said outer surface including:
a first sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said first mating surface;
a second sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and in facing relation with said second mating surface;
a third sub-surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and contacting said third mating surface; and
a fourth sub-surface in facing relation with said fourth mating surface; wherein
said first arcuate projection comprises a recess therein forming a gap between said fourth mating surface and said fourth sub-surface.

6. The coupling according to claim 5 , said coupling further comprising:
a second arcuate projection positioned on a second side of each of said segments, said second arcuate projections comprising a plurality of mating surfaces including:
a fifth mating surface oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;
a sixth mating surface in spaced relation from said fifth mating surface and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;
a seventh mating surface contiguous with said fifth mating surface and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis; and
an eighth mating surface between said sixth and seventh mating surfaces and oriented at an angle with respect to said longitudinal axis.

7. The coupling according to claim 6 , wherein said first and fifth mating surfaces have an orientation angle from 80° to 90° with respect to said longitudinal axis.

8. The coupling according to claim 6 , wherein said first and fifth mating

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Madara Scott D
• Shah Amit R
• Dole Douglas R

Classifications

• B21D17/04

  by rolling · 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

• F16L17/04 Primary

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16L21/065 Primary

  tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins · CPC title

• F16L21/06 Primary

  with a divided sleeve or ring clamping around the pipe ends (flanged joints F16L23/00; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00) · CPC title