Polymer pipe, a pipe joint insert device, a pipe joint assembly, and methods of forming same

A pipe joint assembly comprising:

• a polymer first pipe having a length between first and second ends, the second end being a spigot end, the length, the first end, and the spigot end having a first diameter;
• a polymer second pipe having a length between a first end and a second end, the length and the first end having the first diameter, and the second end being a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter;
• an insert device received within the second end, the insert device having an annular body, a seal part carried by the annular body, and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward;
• the spigot end of the first pipe installed in the belled end of the second pipe, the first pipe having a mating spline groove on an outside diameter (OD) surface that is axially aligned with the spline groove in the annular body of the insert device;
• and
• a spline received in the spline groove and the mating spline groove axially joining the first and second pipes,
• wherein the annular body is a molded element and the seal part is contiguous with the annular body whereby the insert device is an integral monolithic structure,
• wherein a material of the annular body is substantially rigid and a material of the seal part is softer or less rigid than the material of the annular body,
• wherein the seal part includes an inner seal in contact with the OD surface of the first pipe,
• wherein the seal part has an outer seal in contact with an inside diameter (ID) surface of the second pipe, and
• wherein the inner seal and the outer seal are joined to one another through the annular body via openings passing between the ID and the OD through the annular body.

A method of sealing a pipe joint, the method comprising:

• providing a first pipe having a spigot end;
• providing a second pipe having a belled end, the belled end of the second pipe sized to receive therein the spigot end of the first pipe, wherein a mating spline groove is provided on an outside diameter (OD) surface of the first pipe;
• installing an insert device seated in and retained within the belled end, the insert device including an annular body defining a spline groove facing radially inward and carrying a seal part, wherein the annular body is a molded element and the seal part is contiguous with the annular body whereby the insert device is an integral monolithic structure, and wherein a material of the annular body is substantially rigid and a material of the seal part is softer or less rigid than the material of the annular body;
• and
• inserting the spigot end of the first pipe into the belled end of the second pipe such that the mating spline groove is axially aligned with the spline groove in the annular body,
• whereby the seal part has an inner seal in contact with the OD of the first pipe at a position axially spaced from the spline groove and the mating spline groove, and
• wherein the seal part has an outer seal in contact with an inside diameter (ID) of the second pipe, and
• wherein the inner seal and the outer seal are joined to one another through the annular body via openings passing between the ID and the OD through the annular body.

A pipe system comprising:

• a polymer pipe having a length between a first end and a second end, the length and the first end having a first diameter, and the second end being a belled end having a second diameter larger than the first diameter;
• one or more insert recesses formed in an inside diameter (ID) surface of the belled end of the polymer pipe;
• and
• an insert device received within the belled end, the insert device having an annular body with an outside diameter (OD) surface seated in the one or more insert recesses and having a seal part coupled to the annular body and a spline groove formed in the annular body and facing radially inward,
• wherein the annular body is a molded element and the seal part is contiguous with the annular body whereby the insert device is an integral monolithic structure, and
• wherein a material of the annular body is substantially rigid and a material of the seal part is softer or less rigid than the material of the annular body,
• wherein the seal part includes an inner seal facing radially inward and exposed to an ID of the annular body,
• wherein the seal part has an outer seal in contact with the ID surface of the belled end of the polymer pipe, and
• wherein the inner seal and the outer seal are joined to one another through the annular body via openings passing between the ID and the OD through the annular body.