Pipe couplings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049967-B2
Application number	US-202318125261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2023
Priority date	Dec 14, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A method of installing a 3-piece pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element includes the steps of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate a first pipe element end of the first pipe element and with a second connection groove located proximate a second pipe element end of the second pipe element, the 3-piece pipe coupling comprising three pieces; and tightening the 3-piece pipe coupling about the first and second pipe element ends with a fastener extending through a first fastener pad and through a second fastener pad formed at respective distal ends of two pieces of the three pieces comprising the 3-piece pipe coupling.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method of installing a 3-piece pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element, comprising the steps of:
bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate a first pipe element end of the first pipe element and with a second connection groove located proximate a second pipe element end of the second pipe element, the 3-piece pipe coupling comprising three pieces; and
tightening the 3-piece pipe coupling about the first and second pipe element ends with a fastener extending through a first fastener pad and through a second fastener pad formed at respective distal ends of two pieces of the three pieces comprising the 3-piece pipe coupling;
wherein the 3-piece pipe coupling comprises:
a first coupling segment defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the first coupling segment defining a first pivotal mount, and the second end of the first coupling segment defining a second pivotal mount;
a second coupling segment defining a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the first pivotal mount, and the distal end of the second coupling segment forming the first fastener pad; and
a third coupling segment defining a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the third coupling segment configured to pivotally connect to the second pivotal mount, and the distal end of the third coupling segment forming the second fastener pad; wherein the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with the first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with the second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end comprises the step of pivoting both the second coupling segment and the third coupling segment with respect to the first coupling segment until the first fastener pad and the second fastener pad abut one another;

wherein the 3-piece pipe coupling further comprises:
a first connection member extending from the proximal end of the second coupling segment, the first connection member circumferentially overlapping with the first pivotal mount of the first coupling segment; and
a second connection member extending from the proximal end of the third coupling segment, the second connection member circumferentially overlapping with the second pivotal mount of the first coupling segment; and

wherein the first pivotal mount is an upper arcuate slot formed into an arcuate rail member; and
the second pivotal mount is a lower arcuate slot formed into the arcuate rail member.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the three pieces of the 3-piece pipe coupling comprise a first coupling segment, a second coupling segment, and a third coupling segment, and wherein the first coupling segment is disposed substantially between the second coupling segment and the third coupling segment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a radially outer surface of a gasket; and
causing a portion of the gasket to extend into a gap defined between the first and second pipe element ends.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gasket defines a mushroom-shaped cross section.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first connection member comprises a first pair of bearing blocks protruding from a first exterior surface of the second coupling segment proximate the proximal end of the second coupling segment; and
the second connection member comprises a second pair of bearing blocks protruding from a second exterior surface of the third coupling segment proximate the proximal end of the third coupling segment.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the arcuate rail member defines a third exterior surface and a support block extending radially outwardly from the third exterior surface, the support block supporting an upper rail and a lower rail, wherein the arcuate rail member is configured to permit arcuate movement of the second coupling segment along the upper rail, and configured to permit arcuate movement of the third coupling segment along the lower rail.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the first pair of bearing blocks supports a first guide pin extending through the upper arcuate slot; and
the second pair of bearing blocks supports a second guide pin extending through the lower arcuate slot.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the arcuate rail member defines an inner surface, and further comprising a gasket seated within the inner surface, the gasket configured to be positioned within a gap between opposing ends of pipe elements when the pipe elements are inserted into the 3-piece pipe coupling.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the arcuate rail member defines a rail member cross-section, the rail member cross-section defining a first leg terminating in a first end configured to engage the first connection groove of a first pipe element;
the rail member cross-section further defines a second leg terminating in a second end configured to engage the second connection groove of a second pipe element; and
the rail member cross-section is configured to straddle a gasket cross-section when the 3-piece pipe coupling is in an assembled state.

10. A method of installing a 3-piece pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element, comprising the steps of:
bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with a first connection groove located proximate a first pipe element end of the first pipe element and with a second connection groove located proximate a second pipe element end of the second pipe element, the 3-piece pipe coupling comprising three pieces; and
tightening the 3-piece pipe coupling about the first and second pipe element ends with a fastener extending through a first fastener pad and through a second fastener pad formed at respective distal ends of two pieces of the three pieces comprising the 3-piece pipe coupling;
wherein:
the 3-piece pipe coupling comprises:
a first coupling segment defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end and defining a first exterior surface, the first end of the first coupling segment defining the first fastener pad, the first coupling segment further defining a first pair of bearing blocks protruding from the first exterior surface proximate the second end of the first coupling segment;
a second coupling segment defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end and defining a second exterior surface, the first end of the second coupling segment defining the second fastener pad, the second coupling segment further defining a second pair of bearing blocks protruding from the second exterior surface proximate the second end of the second coupling segment; and
an arcuate rail member along which the first coupling segment and the second coupling segment are slidably mounted, the arcuate rail member defining an upper arcuate slot and a lower arcuate slot;

the first pair of bearing blocks supports a first guide pin extending through the upper arcuate slot;
the second pair of bearing blocks supports a second guide pin extending through the lower arcuate slot; and
the step of bringing the 3-piece pipe coupling into engagement with the first connection groove located proximate the first pipe element end and with the second connection groove located proximate the second pipe element end comprises the step of moving the first coupling segment and the second coupling segment along the arcuate rail member until the first fastener pad and the second fastener pad abut one another.

11. The method of c

Assignees

• Asc Eng Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Belen Jordan Cameron
• Borawski Thomas
• Mcnamara Matthew William

Classifications

• F16L23/04

  the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane (F16L23/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L17/04

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16L3/1066

  with three or more members surrounding the pipe · CPC title

• F16L21/005 Primary

  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

• F16L23/22

  made exclusively of a material other than metal · CPC title