# US 11,898,680 B2 · Coupling assembly for pipe branching

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- Number: US 11,898,680 B2
- Document ID: US11898680B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/611,807
- Filed: 2020-05-14
- Published: 2022-07-28
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-17
- Assignees: New Asiajoint Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: New Asiajoint Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Sang Heon Lee; Dong Il Han
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898680B2

## CPC

- F16L 41/06: making use of attaching means embracing the pipe
- F16L 3/1091: {with two members, the two members being fixed to each other with fastening members on each side}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a coupling assembly for pipe branching and, more specifically, to a coupling assembly for pipe branching, which: can reduce assembly man-hours; has a simplified structure and thus can reduce construction costs; and can effectively prevent leakage of a branch fluid even when the diameter of a branch hole formed through an inflow pipe is increased in order to enable the increase in the internal flow rate of a branch pipe through which a fluid is supplied to a sprinkler.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupling assembly comprising:
an inflow pipe comprising a branch hole for branching of an introduced fluid;
a branch pipe in communication with the inflow pipe so that the fluid branched off through the branch hole flows; and
a coupler connecting the inflow pipe and the branch pipe,
wherein the coupler includes a body covering a circumference of the branch hole and comprising a guide rib inserted into the branch hole and a gasket disposed between the body and an outer circumferential surface of the inflow pipe, the gasket comprising a base pressed by a pressing surface of the body to prevent leakage of the fluid being branched off,
wherein a degree of pressurization against the gasket by the body increases in a direction away from the branch hole,
wherein the gasket comprises a reinforcement protrusion extending in an axial direction of the branch pipe,
wherein the reinforcement protrusion comprises one or more expansion grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the branch hole and one or more supply passages configured to guide the fluid so that the fluid is introduced into the one or more expansion grooves,
wherein the one or more expansion grooves comprise a first expansion groove provided on a side surface of the reinforcement protrusion and open in a radial direction of the branch pipe, and a second expansion groove provided on an upper surface of the reinforcement protrusion and open in the axial direction of the branch pipe,
wherein the one or more supply passages comprise a first supply passage configured to guide the fluid so that the fluid is primarily introduced into the first expansion groove and a second supply passage configured to guide the fluid so that the fluid is introduced into the second expansion groove after the fluid is introduced into the first expansion groove, and
wherein the first supply passage and the second supply passage are sequentially arranged along the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupling assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the base comprises a reinforcement surface to increase the degree of pressurization by the pressing surface in the direction away from the branch hole.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The coupling assembly of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the reinforcement surface increases in the direction away from the branch hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The coupling assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the body comprises an insertion groove into which the reinforcement protrusion is inserted; and
the pressing surface, which is configured to press the reinforcement protrusion, is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The coupling assembly of claim 2, wherein:
the base comprises an extension rib extending in an axial direction of the inflow pipe;
the body comprises a reinforcement part configured to receive the extension rib; and
the pressing surface which is configured to press the extension rib is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the reinforcement part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The coupling assembly of claim 5, wherein:
the reinforcement part comprises a support surface extending in a radially inward direction of the inflow pipe; and
the support surface is pressed against and supported by the outer circumferential surface of the inflow pipe.