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US 10,941,893 B2Granted
Pipe coupler and coupling methods
AssigneeGeorg Fischer Harvel LLC
InventorsNicholas Bryant Peters, Thomas G. Sixsmith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe coupler has: an axis; and a body portion surrounding the axis. A circumferentially segmented collar extends from a first axial end of the body portion and has an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. A plurality of fingers project from a second axial end of the body portion, axially opposite the first end and have inward radial projections.
Claims21
A pipe coupler (30) being a unitary single-piece plastic molding comprising:
- an axis (500);
- a full annulus body portion (70) surrounding the axis;
- a circumferentially segmented collar (72) extending from a first axial end of the body portion and having an inner diameter surface (80) and an outer diameter surface (82);
- and
- a plurality of fingers (90) projecting from a second axial end of the body portion, axially opposite the first end and having inward radial projections (96).
2 more elements
A pipe fitting (20) comprising:
- an end portion (22A;
- 22B) having an inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface and a rim (24A;
- 24B);
- first means (26) on the end portion for engaging an electrofusion collar (200);
- and
- second means (100) on the end portion for engaging fingers (90) of a coupler (30) alternatively to the electrofusion collar.
3 more elements
A method for using a plurality of identical pipe fittings (20), the pipe fittings comprising:
- an end portion (22A;
- 22B) having an inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface and a rim,
- the method comprising:
- with a first said fitting:
- installing a heating element (202) to the end portion;
- inserting a first pipe into the end portion;
- and
- energizing the heating element to fuse the first pipe to the first said fitting;
- and
- with a second said fitting:
- installing a pipe coupler (30) to a second pipe;
- installing the pipe coupler and second pipe as a unit to the second pipe fitting via axial translation:
- inserting an end portion of the second pipe into the end portion of the second pipe fitting;
- and
- projections (96) of the pipe coupler becoming captured behind an adjacent surface (62) of the end portion of the second pipe fitting.
12 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a pipe coupler comprising:
- an axis (500);
- a body portion (70) surrounding the axis;
- a circumferentially segmented collar (72) extending from a first axial end of the body portion and having an inner diameter surface (80) and an outer diameter surface (82);
- and
- a plurality of fingers (90) projecting from a second axial end of the body portion, axially opposite the first end and having inward radial projections (96);
- a band clamp (34) dimensioned to encircle and compress the collar;
- and
- an annular gasket (32) comprising the unitarily molded combination of:
- a sleeve (50);
- and
- a protuberant ring (52) at an end of the sleeve.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.