Coupling and seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958095-B2
Application number	US-201514844395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2015
Priority date	Sep 11, 2014
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements end to end has a channel that receives a ring seal. The channel is defined by oppositely disposed sidewalls and the ring seal has lobes on opposite sides. The lobes have surfaces facing the side surfaces of the channel. When the ring seal is seated within the channel, each lobe surface contacts a respective side surface such that the lobes deform inwardly toward the center of the channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface;
a first gland attached to said first lobe and a second gland attached to said second lobe, said first and second glands extending circumferentially about said ring, said first gland having a first sealing surface, said second gland having a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces facing said central space;
a first spring element positioned on said first gland opposite to said first sealing surface;
a second spring element positioned on said second gland opposite to said second sealing surface, said spring elements extending circumferentially around said ring and biasing said first and second sealing surfaces toward said central space; wherein
when said seal is in an undeformed state, said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface; and
connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another and seating said ring within said channel, thereby deforming said lobes.

2. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said connection members on each of said segments comprise a pair of projections, one said projection being positioned on each of said opposite ends of said segments, said projections having holes to receive a fastener, said fastener being adjustably tightenable.

3. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling comprises two of said segments.

4. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said first lobe surface has an orientation angle relative to said first side surface from 1° to 20°.

5. The coupling according to claim 4 , wherein said orientation angle of said first lobe surface is 8°.

6. The coupling according to claim 4 , wherein said second lobe surface has an orientation angle relative to said second side surface from 1° to 20°.

7. The coupling according to claim 6 , wherein said orientation angle of said second lobe surface is 8°.

8. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said second lobe surface has an orientation angle relative to said second side surface from 1° to 20°.

9. The coupling according to claim 8 , wherein said orientation angle of said second lobe surface is 8°.

10. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said seal is formed of a rubber material.

11. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said seal is formed of a material having low elasticity.

12. The coupling according to claim 11 , wherein said seal is formed of a material having an elastic limit from 0.05% to 20%.

13. The coupling according to claim 11 , wherein said seal is formed of a material having an elastic limit from 0.5% to 10%.

14. The coupling according to claim 11 , wherein said seal is formed of a material having an elastic limit from 1% to 5%.

15. The coupling according to claim 11 , wherein said material having low elasticity is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resins, thermosets, epoxies and composites including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polystyrene, acetals, acrylics, fluoropolymers and combinations thereof.

16. The coupling according to claim 1 , wherein each of said segments further comprises first and second keys positioned on opposite sides of said segments, each of said keys extending circumferentially around and projecting toward an axis extending through said central space.

17. The coupling according to claim 16 , wherein said first keys on each of said segments are positioned in spaced relation to said first side surfaces of said segments.

18. The coupling according to claim 17 , wherein said second keys on each of said segments are positioned in spaced relation to said second side surfaces of said segments.

19. The coupling according to claim 16 , wherein each of said keys comprises an arcuate surface facing said axis.

20. In combination, first and second pipe elements and a coupling for joining said pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, said pipe elements being received within said central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring surrounding said pipe elements, said ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface;
a first gland attached to said first lobe and a second gland attached to said second lobe, said first and second glands extending circumferentially about said ring, said first gland having a first sealing surface facing said central space, said second gland having a second sealing surface facing said central space, said sealing surfaces defining an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of said pipe elements;
a first spring element positioned on said first gland opposite to said first sealing surface;
a second spring element positioned on said second gland opposite to said second sealing surface, said spring elements extending circumferentially around said ring and biasing said first and second sealing surfaces toward said pipe elements; wherein
when said seal is in an undeformed state, said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface; and
connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another and seating said ring within said channel, thereby deforming said lobes.

21. The combination according to claim 20 , wherein said connection members on each of said segments comprise a pair of projections, one said projection being positioned on each of said opposite ends of said segments, said projections having holes to receive a fastener, said fastener being adjustably tightenable.

22. The combination according to claim 20 , wherein said coupling comprises two of said segments.

23. The combination according to claim 20 , wherein said first lobe surface has an orientation angle relative to said first side surface from 1° to 20°.

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Blease Kevin J
• Brandt Justin P
• Haney Craig
• Wortmann Steve A
• Dole Douglas R

Classifications

• F16L17/04 Primary

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16L21/005

  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

• F16L21/065 Primary

  tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins · CPC title

• F16L23/08

  connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut · CPC title

• F16L19/06

  in which radial clamping is obtained by wedging action on non-deformed pipe ends · CPC title