Pipe joints or couplings – Movable jaw
Patent
1991-08-15
1993-02-23
Nicholson, Eric K.
Pipe joints or couplings
Movable jaw
285249, 285341, 285330, F16L 4700
Patent
active
051884011
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pipe coupling for connecting a pipe to a fitting.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many different pipe couplings have been proposed in the past for connecting pipes to fittings. The pipes are generally circular in cross-section and the fittings may be of a variety of forms, for example fittings to interconnect two pipes end to end, fittings to connect a pipe to devices such as valve housings, and fitting to form elbows, T-junctions or the like. The present invention is applicable to any situations in which one end of a pipe has to be connected to any other component.
It is highly desirable to be able to make secure connections to plain ended pipes, that is pipes the ends of which do not support formations such as flanges against which the coupling can bear to provide pull-out resistance. Such pipes are often used to convey potentially hazardous fluids such as flammable pressurised gases or liquids. If the couplings at each end of the pipe do not positively grip the pipe ends there is risk that the pipe ends will be pulled from the fittings.
Couplings have been devised which incorporate a sealing ring that not only provides a good fluid-type seal between the fitting and the pipe but also grip the pipe end to provide enhanced pull-out resistance. One example of such a sealing ring is described in British Patent Specification GB 2167145. In this patent specification a sealing ring is described which is fabricated from a resilient material in which gripping members are embedded. When the coupling is assembled the sealing ring is compressed in such a manner that the gripping members are biased radially inwards against the outer wall of the pipe. As the coupling is tightened up the gripping members bite into the pipe wall and provide good pull-out resistance. The manufacture of such sealing rings incorporating embedded gripping members is however a relatively complex procedure and as a result the couplings are relatively expensive. This is of particular importance where a full range of couplings must be provided to enable the user to select from the range couplings appropriate to a variety of different pipe diameters. Economies of scale are therefore difficult to achieve.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe coupling which obviates or mitigates the problems outlined above.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a pipe coupling for connecting a pipe to a fitting, the coupling comprising an annular assembly incorporating a gripping ring for insertion into a radial gap between the pipe and the fitting, and means for applying an axial load to the annular assembly so that the gripping ring is biased radially against the pipe, wherein the gripping ring is defined by a plurality of separable segments, characterized in that adjacent segments of the gripping ring are directly interlocked, and at least a plurality of the segments are gripping segments which are dimensioned such that when the annular assembly is axially compressed the gripping segments are biased against the pipes.
To achieve interlocking, adjacent segments in the gripping ring may be interlocked by loose dovetail interengaging formations. Each segment may be a gripping segment, or alternatively a plurality of spacer segments may be provided, adjacent gripping segments in the gripping ring being interconnected by spacer segments with which the gripping segments are interlocked.
Preferably, the annular assembly comprises a resilient sealing ring. A force transmitting ring is preferably interposed between the gripping ring and the sealing ring. The force transmitting ring and the sealing ring could be incorporated together so that only one component part would be required in the annular assembly to perform both sealing and force transmission functions.
The fitting may define a housing into which one end of the pipe is inserted, the annular assembly extending around the pipe inside the housing. In such an arrangement, the fitting may comprise an a
REFERENCES:
patent: 1788366 (1931-01-01), Anderson
patent: 3158388 (1964-11-01), Marshall
patent: 3189962 (1965-06-01), Hartwell
patent: 3679239 (1972-07-01), Schmitt
patent: 3744824 (1973-07-01), Roos
patent: 3870349 (1975-03-01), Oetiker
patent: 4062572 (1977-12-01), Davis
patent: 4798404 (1989-01-01), Iyanicki
Nicholson Eric K.
WASK-RMF Ltd.
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