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US 12,352,375 B2Granted
Coupling for pipes, fluid flow system including the coupling, and method of reducing contamination of water
AssigneePurifico Corp.
InventorsRadames Dejesus, Richard E. Nawracaj, Ralph Bonanotte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and a system which includes a semi-rigid pipe (SRP) disposed inside a first existing pipe and two coupling assemblies disposed over and sealingly coupled to the ends of the SRP. Each assembly includes: a coupling with a nipple configured to receive and be disposed inside the SRP; and a compression nut that includes an inner surface that tapers inward such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal. Also disclosed is a supersystem comprising a plurality of such systems.
Claims29
A system comprising:
- a semi-rigid pipe comprising a flexible tube with a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a segment connecting the first end and the second end, the semi-rigid pipe configured to be disposed inside a first existing pipe;
- a pair of coupling assemblies comprising first and second coupling assemblies disposed over and sealingly coupled to the first and second ends, respectively, of the semi-rigid pipe, each coupling assembly comprising:
- a coupling comprising:
- a coupling proximal end including:
- a nipple with a first outer diameter and configured to receive by friction-tight fit and be disposed inside the semi-rigid pipe;
- and
- a first external thread with a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the semi-rigid pipe and disposed at a distal end of the nipple;
- a coupling distal end disposed opposite the coupling proximal end including a second external thread and configured to form a fluid-tight seal with one of two additional existing pipes;
- an intermediary section disposed between the first external thread and the second external thread and configured to allow the coupling to be held and threaded securely;
- a compression nut comprising:
- a compression nut distal end that includes:
- internal threads configured to mate with the first external threads of the coupling;
- and
- an outer surface configured to be held securely to allow the compression nut to thread over the coupling;
- a compression nut proximal end disposed opposite the compression nut distal end;
- and
- an inner surface that tapers inward from the compression nut distal end to the compression nut proximal end such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal, and
- a sleeve associated with each coupling assembly, each sleeve comprising:
- a first sleeve end configured to receive and securely clamp over the first existing pipe;
- and
- a second sleeve end configured to receive and securely clamp over the proximal end of the compression nut,
- wherein the sleeve associated with each coupling assembly comprises a plurality of shells that when assembled form a tubular shape, and wherein the plurality of shells are held together by a plurality of fasteners,
- wherein the system is configured to be fluid-tight from the first additional existing pipe to the second additional existing pipe, providing a channel for fluid flow between the two additional existing pipes, and
- wherein proximal and distal refer to position relative to the segment of the semi-rigid pipe connecting the first end to the second end.
21 more elements
A coupling assembly comprising:
- a coupling configured to be disposed to a semi-rigid pipe on a coupling proximal end that is proximal to the semi-rigid pipe, comprising:
- the coupling proximal end including:
- a nipple with a first outer diameter and configured to receive by friction-tight fit and be disposed inside the semi-rigid pipe;
- and
- a first external thread with a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the semi-rigid pipe and disposed at the distal end of the nipple;
- a coupling distal end disposed opposite the coupling proximal end including a second external thread and configured to form a fluid-tight seal with a first existing pipe;
- an intermediary section disposed between the first external thread and the second external thread and configured to allow the coupling to be held and threaded securely;
- and
- a compression nut comprising:
- a compression nut distal end that includes:
- internal threads configured to mate with the first external threads of the coupling;
- and
- an outer surface configured to be held securely to allow the compression nut to thread over the coupling;
- a compression nut proximal end disposed opposite the compression nut distal end;
- and
- an inner surface that tapers down from the compression nut distal end to the compression nut proximal end such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal,
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured to be disposed over and sealingly coupled to an end of the semi-rigid pipe,
- wherein proximal and distal refer to position relative to the semi-rigid pipe, and
- wherein the coupling assembly is configured to form a fluid-tight seal from the semi-rigid pipe to a second existing pipe disposed, providing a channel for fluid flow between the semi-rigid pipe and a second existing pipe disposed at the distal end of the coupling, and
- a flare nut, the flare nut comprising:
- an internally threaded proximal end configured to mate with the second external thread of the respective coupling and sealingly connect the first existing pipe to the coupling distal end;
- and
- an outer surface configured to be held securely to facilitate threading the flare nut onto the coupling,
- wherein the first existing pipe comprises a flared proximal end, and
- wherein the coupling further comprises a distal end shaped to mate with the flared proximal end of the first existing pipe.
22 more elements
A system comprising:
- a semi-rigid pipe comprising a flexible tube with a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a segment connecting the first end and the second end, the semi-rigid pipe configured to be disposed inside an existing lead pipe;
- a pair of coupling assemblies comprising first and second assemblies disposed over and sealingly coupled to the first and second ends, respectively, of the semi-rigid pipe, each assembly comprising:
- a coupling comprising:
- a coupling proximal end including:
- a nipple with a first outer diameter and configured to receive by friction-tight fit and be disposed inside the semi-rigid pipe;
- and
- a first external thread with a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the semi-rigid pipe and disposed at the distal end of the nipple;
- a coupling distal end disposed opposite the coupling proximal end including a second external thread and configured to form a fluid-tight seal with one of two additional existing pipes;
- an intermediary section disposed between the first external thread and the second external thread and configured to allow the coupling to be held and threaded securely;
- and
- a compression nut comprising:
- a compression nut distal end that includes:
- internal threads configured to mate with the first external threads of the coupling;
- and
- an outer surface configured to be held securely to allow the compression nut to thread over the coupling;
- a compression nut proximal end disposed opposite the compression nut distal end;
- and
- an inner surface that tapers inward from the compression nut distal end to the compression nut proximal end such that threading the compression nut onto the coupling presses the semi-rigid pipe against the nipple to form a fluid-tight seal, and
- a sleeve associated with each coupling assembly, each sleeve comprising:
- a first sleeve end configured to receive and securely clamp over the first existing pipe;
- and
- a second sleeve end configured to receive and securely clamp over the proximal end of the compression nut,
- wherein the sleeve associated with each coupling assembly comprises a plurality of shells that when assembled form a tubular shape, and wherein the plurality of shells are held together by a plurality of fastener,
- wherein the system is configured to be fluid-tight from the first additional existing pipe to the second additional existing pipe, providing a channel for fluid flow between the two additional existing pipes;
- and
- wherein proximal and distal refer to position relative to the segment of the semi-rigid pipe connecting the first end to the second end.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.