Pipe joints or couplings – Packed – Externally with clamp
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-24
2001-04-24
Arola, Dave W. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Packed
Externally with clamp
C285S906000, C285S910000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220635
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for the assembly of a straight spigot and flange of two pipeline elements, containing an annular axial compression elastomer sealing gasket, this gasket containing a support body for bearing against a pressure counter flange, and in front of this body and interdependent of this body, a support heel for bearing against the flange. An exterior radial surface of the body is designed to rest on the reaction surface of the counter flange; an interior radial surface of the body is designed to rest on the exterior radial surface of the straight spigot; and a forward surface of the heel is designed to press against the flange to insure waterproofness of the assembly of the two pipeline elements.
The words forward and backward are to be understood to refer to the direction of movement of the counter flange during the compression of the gasket.
Such a device is used to assemble pipes, notably ductile cast iron pipes, or for the assembly of a pipe with plumbing such as a shutoff valve. For such an assembly, the counter flange and then the gasket are generally inserted over the straight spigot of a first pipe. Then this is brought close to the flange of another pipe or of a plumbing device. The counter flange is generally linked to the flange by bolts, which, when tightened, bring the flange closer to the counter flange and thus ensure the compression of the gasket. The gasket body then lodges itself in the annular compression chamber delimited by the counter flange reaction surface and the radial exterior surface of the straight spigot.
The sealing gasket must function well in the event that the radial play between the counter flange and the straight spigot and/or the axial play between the flange and the straight spigot are substantial, or in the event that such plays are minimal, in order to be able to adapt to the various configurations generally encountered.
However, these requirements are hardly compatible. Actually, in the first case, the space available for the expansion of the elastomer of the compressed gasket is relatively great. Later on, this gasket must have sufficient size to insure proper function. However, in the second case, the space available for the expansion of the elastomer is relatively small. Then we very frequently notice, especially when radial play is minimal, a poor positioning of the gasket during the compression, notably between the heel and the flange, which leads to weak waterproofness.
For a locked assembly between two pipeline elements, inserts are generally provided in a section of the rear extremity of the body, each insert presenting an interior radial surface into which a catching relief is designed to bear against the exterior radial surface of the straight spigot of the first pipe to lock the two pipes together.
When the play is minimal, notably at minimal radial play, we also notice problems in the positioning of the gasket with, for example, the appearance of rolls of elastomer expansion on the outside of the counter flange, on the rear of the counter flange, and/or with undulation of the elastomer around inserts, which can lead to weak waterproofness between the pipes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the goal of this invention to resolve these problems and to, in particular, furnish a device for a sealing gasket that is easy to install and uninstall, takes up little space, is of low cost, and which insures a good waterproofness between pipe elements with a large range of plays between the assembly elements, and up to relatively high pressures, for example up to 16 bars.
To this effect, the invention has for a goal a device for the assembly of a straight spigot and a flanged end of two pipeline elements, containing an axial compression sealing elastomer gasket, this gasket containing a support body for bearing against a pressure counter flange, and to the front of this body and interdependent of it, a support heel for bearing against the flange, an exterior radial surface of the body designed to support itself against the counter flange's reaction surface, an interior radial surface designed to support itself against the exterior radial surface of the straight spigot, and a forward extremity of the heel being designed to press itself to the flange to insure waterproofness of the connection between the two pipeline elements, characterized in that the body presents at least one recess or section for accommodating the expansion of the elastomer of the compressed gasket, and that the gasket is equipped with a means to limit the radial expansion of the heel toward the outside.
According to the particular modes of implementation, the device may contain one or many of the following characteristics:
The recess is an annular recess formed on the exterior or interior radial surface of the body.
The recess is formed on the interior radial surface of the body. This recess defines a cavity at least partially closed by a part of the gasket forming an annular lip, and the device contains an element which is able to maintain this lip against the exterior radial surface of the straight spigot end, this element being lodged in said cavity.
This element is a split O-ring.
The recess is created on the interior radial surface of the body, and at least one more annular recess is created in the exterior radial surface. These two recesses are axially offset one from the other.
The means to limit the exterior expansion of the heel is a rigid ring, actually metallic, set on the radial exterior of the heel.
The means to limit the expansion of the heel is an annular spring arranged in an exterior radial section of the heel.
The forward extremity surface of the heel has at least one part which angles toward the rear, in order to focus the pressure in a forward radially inner section of the heel during compression, therefore insuring the limitation of the radial expansion of the heel toward the outside.
The exterior radial surface of the body has a form generally tapered toward the end of the gasket.
A front part of the exterior radial surface of the body, which has no grooves or recesses, slopes forward. This forward section is designed to rest against the corresponding reactive section of the counter flange during the compression of the gasket.
At least two parts of the exterior radial surface of the body, without recesses, slope toward the front, respectively, a rear section and the forward section, and the forward section diverges more steeply than the rear section, these two sections being designed to press against the corresponding surface reaction sections of the counter flange during the compression of the gasket.
The interior radial surface of the heel has at least two radial projections forming axial positioning wedges for the device on the straight spigot. These wedges are designed to abut the axial extremity of the straight spigot before the compression of the gasket.
The device consists of at least two metallic blocking inserts, set in the rear section of the body, each insert presenting an interior radial surface with catching relief designed to press against the exterior radial surface of the straight spigot to lock the assembly of the two pipes during gasket compression.
At least one rear frontal recess for the expansion of the elastomer is set between the inserts in a surface at the rear of the body, and
At least one blocking insert shows a slightly radial projection on a radial exterior surface. This projection is designed to cooperate with a butting area that is slightly radial to the surface of reaction of the counter flange to limit the radial movement of the insert during gasket compression.
The invention also aims to provide a waterproof connection between pipeline elements, comprising a straight spigot of a first pipe, a flanged end of a second pipe, and a counter flange surrounding the spigot end and secured to the flange, characterized by the fact that it contains a device such as described above, the mentioned exterior radial surface of the body pressing against a reaction surface o
Bourgin Rene
Favier Noel
Lescot Didier
Schneider Andre
Vitel Jean-Pierre
Arola Dave W.
Pont-A-Mousson SA
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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