Coupling seal having ramp surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10760698-B2
Application number	US-201615355536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

A seal for a coupling joining pipe elements has angularly oriented ramp surfaces on an outer surface. The ramp surfaces are arranged in diametrically opposite pairs which are positioned at the three o'clock and nine o'clock positions at the interface between segments forming the coupling. The ramps are expected to mitigate pinching of the seals between the segments as the segments are drawn together, compressing the seals to form a fluid tight pipe joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a seal and a coupling for joining pipe elements, said seal comprising:
an outer ring surrounding an axis oriented coaxially with said outer ring, said outer ring having an outer surface facing away from said axis;
first and second ramp surfaces monolithically formed with said outer ring, said first and second ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface, said first and second ramp surfaces being contiguous along a first apex projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said first and second ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a first line extending radially from said axis to said first apex, and
said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding and in direct contact with said seal, said segments fully enclosing said seal within a central space defined by said segments, each said segment having attachment members located at opposite ends, each said segment having arcuate surfaces positioned on opposite sides thereof for engagement with said pipe elements.

2. The seal according to claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface, said third and fourth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a second apex projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said third and fourth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a second line extending radially from said axis to said second apex.

3. The seal according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second apexes are diametrically opposite to one another.

4. The seal according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a lobe extending circumferentially around a first side of said outer ring, said lobe having an outer surface facing away from said axis and a sealing surface facing toward said axis.

5. The seal according to claim 4 , further comprising fifth and sixth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said lobe, said fifth and sixth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a third apex projecting from said outer surface of said lobe, said fifth and sixth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a third line extending radially from said axis to said third apex.

6. The seal according to claim 5 , wherein said first and third apexes are aligned with one another.

7. The seal according to claim 5 , further comprising seventh and eighth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said lobe, said seventh and eighth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a fourth apex projecting from said outer surface of said lobe, said seventh and eighth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a fourth line extending radially from said axis to said fourth apex.

8. The seal according to claim 7 , wherein said second and fourth apexes are aligned with one another.

9. The seal according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a rim extending circumferentially around a side of said outer ring opposite said lobe, said rim having an outer surface facing away from said axis and offset from said outer surface of said outer ring;
ninth and tenth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said rim, said ninth and tenth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a fifth apex projecting from said outer surface of said rim, said ninth and tenth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a fifth line extending radially from said axis to said fifth apex.

10. The seal according to claim 9 , further comprising eleventh and twelfth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said rim, said eleventh and twelfth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a sixth apex projecting from said outer surface of said rim, said eleventh and twelfth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a sixth line extending radially from said axis to said sixth apex.

11. The seal according to claim 10 , wherein said fifth and sixth apexes are diametrically opposite one another.

12. The seal according to claim 11 , wherein said fifth apex is aligned with said first apex and said sixth apex is aligned with said second apex.

13. The seal according to claim 4 , further comprising an inner ring positioned between said outer ring and said axis, said inner ring being attached between said outer ring and said lobe and defining oppositely facing surfaces oriented perpendicular to said axis.

14. The seal according to claim 4 , further comprising an inner ring positioned between said outer ring and said axis, said inner ring being attached to said lobe and defining oppositely facing surfaces oriented perpendicular to said axis.

15. In combination, a seal and a coupling for joining pipe elements, said seal comprising:
an outer ring surrounding an axis oriented coaxially with said outer ring, said outer ring having an outer surface facing away from said axis;
first and second ramp surfaces monolithically formed with said outer ring, said first and second ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface, said first and second ramp surfaces being contiguous along a first apex projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said first and second ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a first line extending radially from said axis to said first apex;
third and fourth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface, said third and fourth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a second apex projecting outwardly from said outer surface, said third and fourth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a second line extending radially from said axis to said second apex,
wherein said first and second apexes are diametrically opposite to one another; and
said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding and in direct contact with said seal, said segments fully enclosing said seal within a central space defined by said segments, each said segment having attachment members located at opposite ends, each said segment having arcuate surfaces positioned on opposite sides thereof for engagement with said pipe elements.

16. The seal according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a lobe extending circumferentially around a first side of said outer ring, said lobe having an outer surface facing away from said axis and a sealing surface facing toward said axis;
fifth and sixth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said lobe, said fifth and sixth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a third apex projecting from said outer surface of said lobe, said fifth and sixth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a third line extending radially from said axis to said third apex; and
seventh and eighth ramp surfaces positioned adjacent to one another on said outer surface of said lobe, said seventh and eighth ramp surfaces being contiguous along a fourth apex projecting from said outer surface of said lobe, said seventh and eighth ramp surfaces being angularly oriented with respect to a fourth line extending radially from said axis to said fourth apex.

17. The seal according to claim 16 , wherein said first and third apexes are aligned with one another and said second and fourth apexes are aligned with one another.

18. The seal according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a rim extending circumferentially around a side of said outer ring opposite said lobe, said rim having an outer surface facing away from sa

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Park Yang Bae

Classifications

• F16K1/2263 Primary

  the sealing being arranged on the valve seat · CPC title

• F16L21/06

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

• F16K27/02 Primary

  of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) · CPC title

• F16K27/00 Primary

  Construction of housing (methods for welding housings B23K); Use of materials therefor · CPC title

• F16K1/224

  Details of bearings for the axis of rotation · CPC title