# US 12,007,047 B2 · Restrained pipe coupling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,047 B2 - Document ID: US12007047B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/848,846 - Filed: 2022-06-24 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-24 - Assignees: Robar Industries Ltd. - Applicants: Robar Industries Ltd - Inventors: Jonathan Reinheimer; Corbin Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007047B2 ## CPC - F16L 21/065: {tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins} - F16L 23/024: characterised by how the flanges are joined to, or form an extension of, the pipes - F16L 21/007: {clamped by a wedging action (F16L27/00, F16L37/092, F16L37/122, F16L37/123, F16L37/15, F16L37/16 take precedence)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A restrained pipe coupling includes a restraining gland assembly having an annular main body with multiple gripper units movably connected to the annular main body. Each gripper unit includes a gripper housing having a bottom sliding surface, a gripper bolt fixedly secured to the gripper housing and radially movable through a gripper opening in the annular main body and fixable at different positions, and a gripper body having a top sliding surface and a bottom gripping surface. The sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are in slidable contact and angled between 20 and 30 degrees from the axial direction of the annular main body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A restrained pipe coupling comprising: a restraining gland assembly comprising an annular main body with circumferentially-spaced and radially-facing gripper openings; and multiple gripper units movably connected to the annular main body, each gripper unit comprising a gripper housing having a bottom sliding surface, a gripper bolt fixedly secured to the gripper housing and radially movable through one of the gripper openings and fixable at different positions relative to the annular main body, and a gripper body having a top sliding surface and a bottom gripping surface, wherein the sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are in slidable contact and angled between 20 and 30 degrees from an axial direction of the annular main body; and wherein one of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises at least one side wall and the other of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a stopper positioned to contact an edge of the at least one side wall when the gripper body has reached a selected sliding limit relative to the gripper housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are angled at about 25 degrees from the axial direction of the annular main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the sliding surfaces comprises a channel and the other of the sliding surfaces comprises an elongated rib slidable in the channel such that the sliding surfaces are substantially constrained to translate in a sliding direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a pair of grooved side walls, and the other of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a pair of tongues slidable along the grooved side walls such that the sliding surfaces are substantially constrained to translate in a sliding direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annular main body has a channel with angled side walls, and the gripper housing has a chamfered top surface mating with the angled side walls of the channel such that the gripper units are seated in the channel when in a retracted position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding surfaces have a continuous flat face extending along the length of the sliding surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flanged center sleeve connected to the restraining gland assembly, and comprising an annular flange with circumferentially-spaced and axially-facing flange bolt openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restrained gland assembly is a first restraining gland assembly, and the restrained pipe coupling further comprising a second restraining gland assembly and a center sleeve connected at each end to the first and second restraining gland assemblies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom gripping surface of the gripper body comprise multiple curved and transversely-extending teeth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripper body and gripper housing are composed of 316 stainless steel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 10 wherein the gripper housing is nitride-case hardened. ### Claim 12 A restrained pipe coupling comprising: a restraining gland assembly comprising an annular main body with circumferentially-spaced and radially-facing gripper openings; and multiple gripper units movably connected to the annular main body, each gripper unit comprising a gripper housing having a bottom sliding surface, a gripper bolt fixedly secured to the gripper housing and radially movable through one of the gripper openings and fixable at different positions relative to the annular main body, and a gripper body having a top sliding surface and a bottom gripping surface, wherein the sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are in slidable contact and angled between 20 and 30 degrees from an axial direction of the annular main body; and wherein the annular main body has a channel with angled side walls, and the gripper housing has a chamfered top surface mating with the angled side walls of the channel such that the gripper units are seated in the channel when in a retracted position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sliding surfaces of the gripper housing and the gripper body are angled at about 25 degrees from the axial direction of the annular main body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the sliding surfaces comprises a channel and the other of the sliding surfaces comprises an elongated rib slidable in the channel such that the sliding surfaces are substantially constrained to translate in a sliding direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises at least one side wall and the other of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a stopper positioned to contact an edge of the at least one side wall when the gripper body has reached a selected sliding limit relative to the gripper housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a pair of grooved side walls, and the other of the gripper housing and gripper body comprises a pair of tongues slidable along the grooved side walls such that the sliding surfaces are substantially constrained to translate in a sliding direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sliding surfaces have a continuous flat face extending along the length of the sliding surfaces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a flanged center sleeve connected to the restraining gland assembly, and comprising an annular flange with circumferentially-spaced and axially-facing flange bolt openings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein the restrained gland assembly is a first restraining gland assembly, and the restrained pipe coupling further comprising a second restraining gland assembly and a center sleeve connected at each end to the first and second restraining gland assemblies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bottom gripping surface of the gripper body comprise multiple curved and transversely-extending teeth. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 12 wherein the gripper body and gripper housing are composed of 316 stainless steel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The restrained pipe coupling as claimed in claim 21 wherein the gripper housing is nitride-case hardened.