Reduced assembly force restraining gasket

A method of assembling a sealed, restrained pipe joint comprising:

• providing a first pipe having a spigot with a tapered end section, a second pipe having a bell end and a bell end inner wall, and a gasket contained within the bell end, the gasket having a heel portion, a sealing portion and a plurality of rigid segments at least partially embedded in the heel portion, at least one rigid segment of the plurality of rigid segments including a single tooth extending radially inward, and
• inserting the spigot end into the bell end and through the gasket, wherein inserting the spigot end into the bell end and through the gasket includes,
• progressively increasing compression of the heel portion of the gasket between the spigot end and the bell end inner wall as the single tooth slides along the tapered end section without compressing the sealing portion between the spigot end and the bell end inner wall, followed by,
• progressively increasing compression of the sealing portion of the gasket between the spigot end and the bell end inner wall as the sealing portion slides along the tapered end section without progressively increasing compression of the heel portion between the spigot end and the bell end inner wall,
• wherein the heel portion includes a first annular groove configured for receiving an annular bead formed by the bell end inner wall and the gasket includes a second annular groove separating the heel portion from the sealing portion and defining in part a neck portion extending between and coupling the heel portion and the sealing portion.

A restrained pipe joint comprising:

• a first pipe having a spigot including a distal end, a first outer wall section, a second outer wall section extending to and between the distal end and the first outer wall section and having a first length, an annular rim formed by an intersection of the first outer wall section and the second outer wall section, wherein the second outer wall section tapers radially inwardly from the annular rim to the distal end at a taper angle,
• a second pipe having a bell end and a bell end inner wall, and
• a gasket contained within the bell end and including,
• a first annular groove formed within a heel portion of the gasket,
• a sealing portion,
• a plurality of rigid segments at least partially embedded in the heel portion, at least one rigid segment of the plurality of rigid segments including a single tooth extending radially inward through an inner annular surface of the gasket, and
• a first distance extending along the inner annular surface and to and between the single tooth and the sealing portion,
• wherein the at least one segment, the first length, the taper angle and the first distance are configured for (i) progressively increasing compression of the heel portion of the gasket between the spigot and the bell end inner wall as the single tooth slides along the second outer wall section during insertion of the spigot into the bell end without compressing the sealing portion between the spigot and the bell end inner wall, and (ii) progressively increasing compression of the sealing portion of the gasket between the spigot and the bell end inner wall as the sealing portion slides along the second outer wall section during insertion of the spigot into the bell end without progressively increasing compression of the heel portion between the spigot and the bell end inner wall,
• wherein the gasket includes a second annular groove formed between the heel portion and the sealing portion.

A restrained pipe joint comprising:

• a first pipe having a spigot including a distal end, a first outer wall section, a second outer wall section extending to and between the distal end and the first outer wall section and having a first length, an annular rim formed by an intersection of the first outer wall section and the second outer wall section, wherein the second outer wall section tapers radially inwardly from the annular rim to the distal end at a taper angle,
• a second pipe having a bell end and a bell end inner wall, and
• a gasket contained within the bell end and including,
• a first annular groove formed within a heel portion of the gasket,
• a sealing portion,
• a plurality of rigid segments at least partially embedded in the heel portion, at least one rigid segment of the plurality of rigid segments including a single tooth extending radially inward through an inner annular surface of the gasket, and
• a first distance extending along the inner annular surface and to and between the single tooth and the sealing portion,
• wherein the at least one segment, the first length, the taper angle and the first distance are configured for (i) progressively increasing compression of the heel portion of the gasket between the spigot and the bell end inner wall as the single tooth slides along the second outer wall section during insertion of the spigot into the bell end without compressing the sealing portion between the spigot and the bell end inner wall, and (ii) progressively increasing compression of the sealing portion of the gasket between the spigot and the bell end inner wall as the sealing portion slides a along the second outer wall section during insertion of the spigot into the bell end without progressively increasing compression of the heel portion between the spigot and the bell end inner wall,
• wherein the joint further includes a seal formed by the compression of the sealing portion between the spigot and bell end inner wall in the absence of a seal formed by the compression of the heel portion between the spigot and bell end inner wall.