Methods of using couplings with projections having angularly oriented surface portions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528642-B2
Application number	US-201414528706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2011
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements has segments joined end to end, each segment having projections with surface portions oriented angularly with respect to other surface portions to serve as a guide for the insertion of pipe elements between the segments when arranged in spaced apart relation around a ring gasket. A method of assembling a pipe joint includes engaging the surfaces with ends of the pipe elements and pivoting the segments relative to one another to permit insertion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for coupling first and second pipe elements in end to end relation, said method comprising:
using a pipe coupling having first and second coupling segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space, said coupling segments being supported in spaced apart relation on an elastic ring gasket, said coupling segments having adjustable connection members at each end for drawing said coupling segments toward said central space when said connection members are tightened, at least one of said coupling segments comprising:
a pair of projections positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said one coupling segment and extending toward said central axis, at least a portion of each of said projections being engageable with a respective one of said pipe elements, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis,
wherein at least a first of said pair of projections comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, said first surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, said first surface portion subtending an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis;

prior to tightening of said connection members, inserting said first pipe element into said central space from one side of said pipe coupling, said first pipe element engaging at least one of said outwardly facing surface portions of said first projection and thereby pivoting said coupling segments relatively to one another about an axis passing through said connection members to provide clearance for inserting said first pipe element;
prior to tightening of said connection members, inserting said second pipe element into said central space from an opposite side of said pipe coupling; and
tightening said connection members and thereby drawing said coupling segments toward one another and into engagement with said first and second pipe elements to couple them in end to end relation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a second of said pair of projections of said one coupling segment comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, wherein said step of inserting said second pipe element into said central space from an opposite side of said pipe coupling comprises engaging at least one of said outwardly facing surface portions of said second projection of said one coupling segment with said second pipe element and thereby pivoting said coupling segments relatively to one another about said axis passing through said connection members to provide clearance for inserting said second pipe element.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of inserting said second pipe element into said central space does not comprise disassembling the pipe coupling.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein, prior to insertion of said first and second pipe elements into said central space, said first and second segments are positioned in their original relative angular positions, and wherein, following insertion of said first and second pipe elements into said central space and tightening of said connection members, said elastic ring gasket is elastically biased to restore said first and second segments toward their original relative angular positions.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first outwardly facing surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from a first line extending between a first end of said one coupling segment and a second end of said one coupling segment.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one projection further comprises a third outwardly facing surface portion, said third outwardly facing surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second outwardly facing surface portion, said third outwardly facing surface portion subtending an angle along said projection of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis, said second outwardly facing surface portion being positioned between said first and third outwardly facing surface portions.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said third outwardly facing surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from said first line.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said third outwardly facing surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second outwardly facing surface portion from about 15° to about 60°.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first outwardly facing surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second outwardly facing surface portion from about 15° to about 60°.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second segments comprise sidewalls from which said projections extend and a back wall extending between said projections, said sidewalls being attached to said back wall, said sidewalls and said back wall together defining a pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive said elastic ring gasket.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe coupling further comprises at least one notch positioned in at least one of said projections of each said segment, each said notch located at an end of one of said segments.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one notch comprises first and second notches positioned on opposite ends of said one segment.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of inserting said first pipe element into said central space does not comprise disassembling the pipe coupling.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second pipe elements have respective flared ends.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said flared ends of said first and second pipe elements define respective circumferential grooves, and wherein said step of tightening said connection members comprises effecting engagement between said projections of each said coupling segment and a corresponding circumferential groove of said first and second pipe elements.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, prior to insertion of said first and second pipe elements into said central space, said first and second pipe elements are not axially aligned with said central axis of said pipe coupling.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe coupling is a rigid pipe coupling.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein each of said first and second coupling segments has respective interfacing surfaces, wherein said interfacing surfaces of each of said coupling segments have opposite angular orientations with respect to one another, and wherein, when said connection members are tightened, said interfacing surfaces of said first coupling segment contact counterpart interfacing surfaces of said second coupling segment and said first and second coupling segments are forced to pivot about a vertical axis in opposite directions relatively to one another.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe coupling is a flexible pipe coupling.

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Bancroft Philip W

Classifications

• Y10T29/49963

  Threaded fastener · 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

• Y10T29/49872

  Confining elastic part in socket · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title

• F16L21/065

  tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins · CPC title