Pre-assembled coupling assembly with cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11209107-B2
Application number	US-201816044080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2018
Priority date	Jul 28, 2017
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A cap configured for engagement with a coupling can comprise an annular ring extending circumferentially around an outer portion of the cap, the cap defining an inner end and an outer end disposed opposite from the inner end, the annular ring defining a sealing surface between the inner end and the outer end, the annular ring defining a raised lip at the inner end, the raised lip extending radially outward from the sealing surface; and a web, the web enclosing the annular ring.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A cap configured for engagement with a coupling, the cap comprising:
an annular ring extending circumferentially around an outer portion of the cap, the cap defining an inner end and an outer end disposed opposite from the inner end, the annular ring defining a raised lip between the inner end and the outer end, the annular ring defining a groove between the raised lip and the outer end, the annular ring defining a sealing surface positioned between the raised lip and the groove, the raised lip extending radially outward from the sealing surface, the groove extending radially inward from the sealing surface; and
a web positioned within the annular ring, the web at least partially axially positioned between the groove and the raised lip, the web enclosing the annular ring.

2. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the annular ring defines a pressure relief channel extending into the raised lip.

3. A pre-assembled coupling assembly comprising:
a coupling, the coupling defining a coupling bore extending through the coupling, the coupling bore defining an axis, the coupling comprising a gasket disposed within the coupling bore between a first ridge and a second ridge of the coupling, the coupling being selectively repositionable about and between a relaxed position and a tensioned position, the gasket being relaxed and uncompressed when the coupling is in the relaxed position; and
a cap, the cap defining a first end and a second end, the first end inserted into the coupling bore, the coupling retained on the first end of the cap when the coupling is in the relaxed position, the cap defining a raised lip between the first end and the second end, the cap defining a groove between the raised lip and the second end, the groove receiving the ridge in the tensioned position, the cap defining a sealing surface positioned between the raised lip and the groove, the gasket forming a seal with the sealing surface in the tensioned position, at least a portion of the raised lip being positioned radially outward from the sealing surface with respect to the axis.

4. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein the raised lip extends radially outward from the sealing surface relative to the axis.

5. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 4 further comprising a pipe, and wherein:
the pipe defines an outer surface;
a sealing portion of the outer surface forms a seal with the gasket when the coupling is in the tensioned position; and
the raised lip is disposed radially outward from the sealing portion of the outer surface.

6. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the gasket defines a first sealing ridge and a second sealing ridge; and
the raised lip is positioned axially between the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge with respect to the axis.

7. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 4 , wherein the gasket defines a rib that contacts the raised lip when the coupling is in the tensioned position.

8. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the gasket defines a sealing ridge;
the gasket defines a sealing channel between the rib and the sealing ridge;
the cap defines a pressure relief channel extending through the raised lip; and
the pressure relief channel is in fluid communication with the sealing channel.

9. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein a portion of the raised lip is disposed radially outward from a portion of the gasket with respect to the axis when the coupling is in the relaxed position.

10. The pre-assembled coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein the cap defines an outer lip, and wherein the outer lip is configured to locate the ridge of the coupling above the groove of the cap.

11. A method for using a pre-assembled coupling assembly, the method comprising:
providing a cap, the cap defining an inner end and an outer end, the cap defining a raised lip between the outer end and the inner end, the cap defining a sealing surface positioned between the outer end and the raised lip, the raised lip extending radially outward from the sealing surface, the cap defining an axis;
axially inserting the inner end of the cap into a gasket, the gasket defining a first sealing ridge, a second sealing ridge, and a central portion, the central portion of the gasket extending between the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge, a radially outermost portion of the raised lip positioned radially outward from a portion of the first sealing ridge and a portion of the second sealing ridge, the central portion of the gasket positioned radially outward from the radially outermost portion of the raised lip, axially inserting the inner end of the cap into the gasket comprising:
positioning the raised lip axially between the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge; and
axially aligning the first sealing ridge with the sealing surface; and

assembling a housing around the gasket, the housing and the gasket comprising a coupling, the coupling retained on the inner end of the cap when the coupling is in a relaxed position.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein axially inserting the inner end of the cap into the gasket further comprises positioning the first sealing ridge of the gasket axially between the inner end and the outer end.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein axially inserting the inner end of the cap into the gasket further comprises stretching the first sealing ridge of the gasket over the raised lip of the cap.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein assembling a housing around the gasket comprises fastening at least one segment around the gasket, the at least one segment defining a gasket groove, the gasket seated within the gasket groove.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first sealing ridge is axially spaced apart from the second sealing ridge.

Assignees

• Asc Eng Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Mcnamara Matthew William
• Belen Jordan Cameron
• Scott Stephen Eric

Classifications

• F16L21/02

  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; if adjustability is essential F16L27/00) · 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

• F16L17/04

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16L21/022

  used with sleeves or nipples for pipes of the same diameter, or with reduction pieces (F16L21/025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16J15/022

  characterised by structure or material · CPC title