Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-03
2001-02-13
Nicholson, Eric K. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
C285S308000, C285S321000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186560
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The invention is in the field of pipe couplings to couple the end portion of pipes, hoses, valves, pipe fittings and expansion joints.
2. State of the Art
There are couplings patented under U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,274; 5,374,088; 5,653,475 and 4,856,823. Except for U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,274, invented by Kevin R. Bass, all other inventions use partial rings which are driven by radial force. Because of their partial locking range around the pipe, they are rendered weak for high pressure piping systems. The invention by Kevin R. Baas uses lugs attached to the ends of the ring for bell end joint wherein, a bolt and a nut are manipulated separately to expand or to contract the split ring. The invention of Bass works in a single mode to make or unmake the pipe bell joint and there is no coupling so to speak which can be removed to disconnect one pipe from an other pipe. The superiority of my invention over other inventions lies in the circumferential vise in conjunction with the ends of the open ended ring where, said open ends of said ring remain in free state, and they are not attached or welded to any extended lugs or arms. Further, my invention provides two modes of connecting the coupling to the pipe, and the coupling is can be disconnected from the single pipe or both pipes. In the first mode the pipe simply is pushed toward the center of the coupling where, the pipe and the coupling are joined with a simply click of the open ended ring. In the second mode the ring can be expanded by means of a screw vise to any desirable extent before the pipe is pushed into the coupling to minimize an extent of encountering of the ring with the pipe. The other advantage of this new invention is the superior self energizing diaphragm gasket which can work safely against very high pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From here on the word groove will also be understood to include the shoulder in the end portion of the pipe and also the plain end portion of the pipe. It will also be understood that the word pipe includes the oval pipe as well. This new invention is an improvement on my invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,988. The ring which is used in new invention is the same but it is expanded by means two jaws of a circumferential vise, which spreads apart the two open ends of the ring. The jaws of the vise and its fixers move concentric about the axis of the coupling. The open ends of said ring are positioned against the two adjacent ribs of the two jaws where, these ribs make dead ended walls of two circumferentially partially rotatable jaws of the vise. When compared with other couplings this invention shortens the over all diameter of the coupling, which is valued in tight spots. The invention operates on principle 3.1416(D1−D2), where D1 is the inner diameter of the ring and D2 is the diameter to which the D1 is expanded beyond the outer diameter of pipe into the inner groove in the end portion of the pipe to release the pipe from the coupling. The required enlargement of the D1 to make a ring joint is very small. The minute expansion of the open ended resilient ring to a greater diameter does not require much travel of the two open ends of the ring in assuming a new position.
According to this invention, a coupling to couple the end of a pipe having an inner circumferential groove housing an open ended ring includes a coupling body with a receiving opening therein so that the coupling body closely receives and surrounds the end portion of a pipe to be coupled. Each open end of each ring is positioned against a dead end wall of the movable jaw. The two dead ended walls of these two movable jaws are abutted and they are used as the jaws of the screw vise to spread apart said two open ends of the ring. The jaws are rotated in the opposite directions about the axis of the coupling to a pre-determined distance to expand the ring to desirable extent to receive the pipe by the coupling or to disconnect the ring from the groove of the pipe. The vise includes a bolt held by two nuts, where each nut is mounted on a adjacent jaw by means of its integral right angled stem. when the jaws of the vise are being opened by moving them in the opposite direction, the dead end walls of the jaws act on against the two said open ends of the ring and create two opposite moments about a point located in the opposite side of the ring. The rotation of the dead end walls about the axis of the coupling, in conjunction with the tendency of the two opposite moments, opens apart the two open ends of the ring and also pushes the ring toward the opposite end of the coupling until the ring encounters the dead end inside the groove inside the coupling body which creates an opposite force. Any further movement of the two jaws expands the ring into the groove which partially houses the ring when the ring is in its natural state.
There are two modes in which the coupling can couple the pipe. The first mode is simply to push the pipe into the receiving end of the coupling until it coincides with the corresponding opposite groove in the end portion of the coupling. In this way, the resilient open ended ring flexes to a larger diameter inside the inner groove of the coupling body, then swings back to its original diameter as soon as the groove inside the coupling body coincides with the groove on the end portion of the pipe. It is assumed that either the pipe has a tapered end, or the ring has a proper geometry of roundness in its cross section, or both, so that there is the least possible amount of resistance in advancing the pipe toward the center of the coupling.
In the second said circumferential vise move expands the ring to a larger diameter and pushes it into the inner groove inside the body of the coupling. The vise can keep the open-ended resilient ring in an expanded position until the ring is brought back to its original diameter by means of said vise. The ring regains its original position by virtue of its memory.
The thickness and geometry of the ring may vary from section to section. In some applications the ring can be made from helical winding of spring wire around solid core made out of wire or spring rod. It is also understood that by widening the width of the resilient ring, arcuate rows of gripping teeth in the inner surface of the ring can be provided which can bite into the surface of plastic or rubber pipe under the exerting pressure of the set of bolts passing through the threaded openings through the coupling body.
It is further understood that instead of the invented diaphragm seal for this coupling, any other type of seal or seals can also be used. The type of shoulder in the end of the pipe will determine the type of seal which will be required.
It is further understood that the circumferential length of the jaws can vary. The ring may be entirely accommodated inside the two jaws accept the gap provided between the jaws for their rotation.
It is further under stood that coupling can be used for hoses where only one ring is need and a shank is made part of the coupling body or male or female threads are provided on one end of the coupling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2901269 (1959-08-01), Rickard
patent: 3345087 (1967-10-01), Hanes et al.
patent: 3902743 (1975-09-01), Martin
patent: 4856823 (1989-08-01), Heren
patent: 5004274 (1991-04-01), Bass
patent: 5374088 (1994-12-01), Moretti et al.
patent: 5387017 (1995-02-01), Gill
patent: 5498042 (1996-03-01), Dole
patent: 5653475 (1997-08-01), Scheyhing et al.
patent: 5794988 (1998-08-01), Gill
patent: 5868441 (1999-02-01), Gill
patent: 6102447 (2000-08-01), Aldridge
Mallinckrodt Robert R.
Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
Nicholson Eric K.
Rayve Brian R.
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