Coupling apparatus
AssigneeParker & Harper Companies, Inc.
InventorKenneth Madden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an alternative pipe coupling apparatus, to conventional tapered screw threads usually used to join ends of pipe sections to fixtures. The invention utilizes a bayonet style interlocking arrangement having a male element and a female element which join together and are opposingly biased against one another by a spring-like retaining ring to ensure an appropriate rigid and leak-proof connection between two elements.
Claims12
A coupling apparatus comprising:
- a receiving element defining an axial bore having an annular groove;
- a retaining ring supported in the annular groove;
- an insertion element having a radially extending projection for engaging the retaining ring in the annular groove;
- the insertion element being axially inserted into the axial bore, at least partially passing through the retaining ring and the radially extending projection being received in the annular groove;
- and
- wherein the receiving element and the insertion element are rotated relative to one another and the radially extending projection is axially biased by the retaining ring to cause an end of the insertion element to bear on an inner surface in the axial bore of the receiving element.
A coupling apparatus for joining a pipe and a fitting along a central axis, the coupling apparatus comprising:
- a male portion formed on the pipe and a female portion formed on the other of the pipe and the fitting;
- the male portion comprising an outer surface supporting a first projection and a second projection extending substantially perpendicular from the outer surface;
- the female portion having an axial bore defined by an inner wall about the main axis, and an annular groove formed in the inner wall;
- a retaining split ring supported in the annular groove of the female portion, the retaining split ring comprising a first arm and a second arm being joined to one another at respective first ends, and the first and second arms having respective spaced apart second ends;
- a first notch provided in the first arm and a second notch provided in the second arm of the retaining split ring permit passage of the first and second projections of the male portion past the retaining split ring and into the annular groove in the female element whereupon relative rotation between the male and female portions rotates the first and second projections in the annular groove and forces the first and second projections against the first and second arms of the split ring to bias an end of the male portion against a surface of the inner wall of the female portion.
A method of coupling a pipe and a fitting together the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the fitting with a receiving element defining an axial bore having an annular groove;
- inserting a retaining ring into the annular groove;
- providing the pipe with an insertion element having a radially extending projection for engaging in the annular groove;
- axially inserting the insertion element into the axial bore, at least partially passing through the retaining ring and the radially extending projection being received in the annular groove;
- and
- rotating the receiving element and the insertion element relative to one another to contact the radially extending projection against the retaining ring and axially bias an end of the insertion element to bear on an inner surface in the axial bore of the receiving element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.