Anti-mismatch or near-sized coupling segments

Details Anti-mismatch or near-sized coupling segments Anti-mismatch or near-sized coupling segments

1999-08-05

2003-09-30

Swann, J. J. (Department: 3677)

Pipe joints or couplings

With fluid pressure seal

Flexible lip

C285S093000, C285S364000, C285S365000, C285S366000, C285S367000, C285S420000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06626466

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to segmented pipe couplings for use in securably connecting the ends of pipes, and in particular preventing the inadvertent mixing of near, but different, sized individual arcuate coupling segments in an assembly about the juxtaposed ends of the pipes that are to be connected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Segmented couplings for pipes are well known in the art, and comprise two or more coupling segments each having a recess for the reception of a sealing gasket adapted to extend over the adjacent ends of a pair of pipes, and which are to be compressed by the coupling segments into sealing relation with the external peripheries of the respective pipes.
Each such coupling segment intended to couple the ends of grooved pipe has radially inwardly extending keys at its opposite axial sides, the keys being for reception in grooves in the respective pipe ends to perform the required mechanical interconnection between the pipes.
The coupling segments are drawn towards each other by traction bolts which extend through radially outwardly extending bolting pads at the respective opposite ends of the coupling segments. In this manner, the end faces of the coupling segments are drawn towards each other for them to clamp onto each other in the case of a “flexible” coupling, or, for the coupling segments to clamp directly onto the pipe exterior in the case of a “rigid” coupling. A “flexible” coupling is well known as one which will permit relative movement of the pipes to limited extents and the angling of the axis of one of the pipes relative to the other, whereas a “rigid” coupling is one which will immobilize the pipes against any such movements. Typical of such flexible couplings are those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,969 assigned to the assignee of the present application whose teachings are incorporated by reference herein, as well as the styles
75
,
77
,
72
, and
750
couplings available from Victaulic Company of America, Easton, Pennsylvania. Similarly, typical of such rigid couplings are those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,020, assigned to the assignee of the present invention whose teachings are incorporated by reference therein, as well as the style
07
and
005
couplings available from the Victaulic Company of America.
Segmented pipe couplings are also known for the connection to pipes which do not contain a groove at their connection locations. Such commercially available couplings include: the style
90
and
99
plain pipe end coupling; and style
920
and
929
mechanical T couplings; all available from the Victaulic Company of America.
The aforementioned segmented pipe couplings are commercially available in a successive series of seriatim increasingly sized couplings, which are naturally configured to mate with similarly increased sized pipes.
Through inadvertence it is quite possible for a workman to incorrectly receive and connect two different sized arcuate coupling segments which are relatively close in size to each other. As the incorrectly matched coupling segments are tightened about the pipe end, as by tightening their traction bolts, they will not quite match up and form a circle about their inner diameter, against the exterior, and, in the case of a grooved type coupling, within the peripheral groove of the outer circumference of the pipe ends. Further the outboard corners or surfaces of the improperly mismatched segments of different sizes will not line up evenly. This misalignment, in relatively close size coupling segments (e.g., in the order between one-sixteenth to one-quarter of an inch of each other) is oftentimes difficult to readily visually perceive. Thus the worker may in such situations mismatch the individual coupling segments connected about the pipes being connected thereby, without readily realizing that a mismatch has occurred. This results in less than optimum sealing engagement between the pipe ends. Accordingly it is desirable to prevent such an inadvertent mismatch of the individual coupling segments, while providing a segmented pipe coupling having all the other advantages of presently available segmented pipe couplings, such as typically shown in aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,189,969 and 4,639,020 and available from Victaulic commercial styles
75
,
77
,
07
,
005
,
90
,
99
,
72
,
750
,
920
, or
929
. Further it is desirable to prevent such an inadvertent mismatch by a simple modification of the presently existing coupling segments, which can be accomplished in a low cost manner, and will provide the workman with a readily visual indication that a mismatch is being attempted between closely sized coupling segments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention illustratively shown in conjunction with grooved end pipe couplings provides a series of successively sized segmented pipe couplings each of which is adapted to securably connect similarly configured and sized pipe ends of juxtaposed pipes. Each of the series of segmented pipe couplings comprises two or more arcuate coupling segments, with the number of arcuate segments being determined by the size of the pipe. The segmented pipe couplings are intended to be assembled in arcuate end-to-end relationships for encircling the juxtaposed ends of the pipe to be coupled. Each of the coupling segments includes radially inwardly extending and axially spaced keys which are intended to cooperatively engage peripheral grooves about the outer circumference of the juxtaposed pipe ends being connected thereby. Bolt receiving pads are provided at the ends of each of the coupling segments for receiving bolts, with the tightening of the bolts bringing the bolt pads together to urge the individual coupling segments radially inwardly. This produces a reduction in their internal circumference and causes clamping engagement with the pipe exterior, with the keys of the coupling segments being tightly retained within their respective pipe recesses when the bolts are in their fully tightened condition. In order to prevent a mismatch of different size coupling housings which are relatively close in size, an anti-mismatch means is now provided on individual ones of the arcuate coupling segments for preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of near sized coupling segments. The anti-mismatch means will create an interference relationship which, in addition to preventing the fully bolt tightened connection of the size mismatched coupling segments to each other, gives a readily discernible visual indication to the workman that an attempt is being made to inadvertently connect two differently sized coupling segments.
When two arcuate coupling segments of the same size are brought together in an end-to-end relationship, the ends of the arcuate segments are configured to nest together in close proximity, such that the tightening of their bolts permits the coupling segments to closely encircle the outer periphery of the pipe. However, according to the present invention the ends of a near size arcuate coupling segment are modified such that if an attempt is made to couple two different, but closely sized, arcuate segments together, their ends will abut. This will prevent the desired nesting relationship necessary to properly encircle the pipe ends being connected. This non-nested, or abutting anti-mismatch, relationship between successively sized coupling segments, is provided by including a first member on one of the coupling segments and a second member on the other of the coupling segments. The first and second members of the same size coupling segments will appropriately nest together. However, the orientation of the first and second members on a near-size arcuate coupling segment differs, such that they will abut if improperly mixed with the other sized arcuate coupling segment. This provides an interference relationship, opposing the bolted to connection of two successively, but differently, sized coupling segments. This interference relationship advantageously provides a separation gap between the bolt pads of the differently sized coupling segment

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