Gaskets for fluid conduits

Details Gaskets for fluid conduits Gaskets for fluid conduits

1998-09-08

2001-01-16

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Seal for a joint or juncture

Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...

Contact seal for a pipe, conduit, or cable

C277S606000, C277S626000, C277S651000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06173967

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to sealed connections for fluid conduits and is particularly directed to gaskets for connecting a tapping sleeve or branch to a fluid conduit in a sealed manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tapping saddles are used in fluid bearing conduits to support an extension pipe positioned in close proximity to and in alignment with a hole tapped in a main supply conduit. The tapping sleeve is typically provided in two sections adapted for attachment to the main supply conduit, with one sleeve section including the extension pipe, or side branching outlet. The outer sleeve sections are disposed around the main conduit and are secured together by means of bolts or welded-on studs. Various gasket arrangements are disposed between the two tapping saddle sleeves and the main conduit about the side opening in the conduit. The inner and outer surfaces of these types of gaskets are typically provided with an O-ring concentrically disposed adjacent to and about the aperture in the main conduit for providing a seal between the tapping saddle sleeves and the main conduit. These types of gasket arrangements have offered only limited sealing capability in prevent leaks in the tapping saddle installation. Examples of tapping saddle arrangements can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 873,689; 3,471,176; 3,840,255; 4,018,464; 4,059,291; 4,350,371; 4,708,373; 4,895,397; and 5,040,828.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing a branch gasket for a tapping sleeve or saddle in a fluid conduit which includes a hydraulic lip, a steel ring reinforcing insert and a double O-ring seal on its inner and outer surfaces. This invention further contemplates a mat gasket for a tapping saddle having a steel ring reinforcing insert, a concentric rib seal on its inner surface, and a double O-ring seal on its outer surface.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved branch gasket for a tapping sleeve of a fluid conduit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a branch gasket for a fluid conduit which includes a hydraulic lip, a steel ring reinforcing insert, and a double O-ring seal on its inner and outer surfaces.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tapping saddle of a fluid conduit having a mat gasket including a steel ring reinforcing insert, a concentric rib seal on its inner surface, and a double O-ring seal on its outer surface.
This invention contemplates a branch gasket disposed between a main conduit and a tapping sleeve disposed about the main conduit, wherein the branch gasket is further disposed about a side opening in the main conduit and the tapping sleeve includes a side branch disposed adjacent to and aligned with the side opening, the branch gasket comprising a generally circular compressible, resilient member having an aperture disposed about the side opening in the main conduit and further including a first inner portion in contact with the main conduit and a second outer portion in contact with the tapping sleeve; a hydraulic lip disposed on a first inner edge of the compressible, resilient member in facing relation to the side opening in the main conduit; a first pair of concentrically spaced O-rings disposed on the first outer portion of the compressible, resilient member about the aperture therein for engaging the tapping sleeve in a sealed manner; and a second pair of concentrically spaced O-rings disposed on the second inner portion of the compressible, resilient member about the aperture therein for engaging and forming a double seal with the main conduit.
This invention further contemplates a mat gasket for a tapping saddle disposed between an outer shell and an inner main conduit and further disposed about aligned apertures in the outer shell and the inner main conduit, the mat gasket comprising a flexible, compressible, resilient member having first outer and second inner opposed surfaces and an aperture therein, wherein the first outer surface engages the outer shell and the second inner surface engages the inner main conduit about the respective aligned apertures therein; a pair of concentric O-rings disposed on the first outer surface of the flexible, compressible, resilient member about and adjacent to the aperture therein, wherein said pair of concentric O-rings engage and form a double seal with the outer shell; and a generally circular ribbed portion disposed on the second inner surface of the flexible, compressible, resilient member about and adjacent to the aperture therein, wherein said generally circular ribbed portion engages and forms a seal with the inner main conduit.


REFERENCES:
patent: 873689 (1907-12-01), Van Winkle
patent: 3204665 (1965-09-01), Faint
patent: 3471176 (1969-10-01), Gilchrist
patent: 3840255 (1974-10-01), Daghe
patent: 4018464 (1977-04-01), Acda et al.
patent: 4059291 (1977-11-01), Acda et al.
patent: 4350371 (1982-09-01), Lochte et al.
patent: 4368894 (1983-01-01), Parmann
patent: 4664428 (1987-05-01), Bridges
patent: 4708373 (1987-11-01), Morriss, Jr.
patent: 4895397 (1990-01-01), Miller
patent: 5040828 (1991-08-01), Kane
patent: 5806896 (1998-09-01), Sato et al.

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