Systems and methods for hinge couplings
AssigneeTyco Fire Products LP
InventorMichael W. Horgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling for coupling pipe segments (2,4). The coupling includes a first housing component (12), a second housing component (14), and a fastener coupling the first and second components together. The fastener (22) has an aligned configuration defining an axis of alignment such that first and second housing components are in a closed configuration to define a central axis of the coupling. The fastener has a skewed configuration to define a pivot axis of the fastener such that the first and second housing components are in an open configuration. The pivot axis is substantially parallel to the central axis and substantially perpendicular to the axis of alignment.
Claims33
A coupling for coupling two pipe segments together, the coupling comprising:
- a first housing component having a first end, a second end, and an arcuate surface extending between the first and second ends of the first component;
- a second housing component having a first end, a second end, and an arcuate surface extending between the first and second ends of the first component, each of the first ends of the first and second housing components having a through hole;
- a fastener disposed within the through holes of the first ends of the first and second housing components so as to couple the first and second components, the fastener having a first element and a second element to define a first configuration and a second configuration of the fastener, the first configuration of the fastener includes the first and second elements of the fastener being substantially aligned such that the through holes of the first ends of the first and second components are substantially aligned so as to define an axis of alignment extending through the through holes, the second configuration of the fastener comprises the first and second elements being skewed with respect to one another about a pivot axis that extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of alignment.
A method of assembling a pipe coupling comprising:
- pivoting about a pivot axis a first fastener element disposed in a first end of a first housing component of the coupling relative to a second fastener element disposed in a first end of a second housing component of the coupling such that the first and second elements are disposed along a linear axis that is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis so to bring interior surfaces of the first and second housing components opposed to one another to define a central axis of the coupling that runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis;
- and
- securing a second end of the first housing component to the second end of the second housing component.
A coupling for coupling pipe segments, the coupling comprising:
- a first housing component;
- a second housing component;
- a fastener coupling the first and second components together, the fastener has a first element and a second element defining an aligned configuration including an axis of alignment such that first and second housing components are in a closed configuration so as to define a central axis of the coupling, the first and second elements of the fastener having a skewed configuration to define a pivot axis of the fastener such that the first and second housing components are in an open configuration, the pivot axis being parallel to the central axis and perpendicular to the axis of alignment.
A coupling for coupling pipe segments, the coupling comprising:
- a first housing component having a first through hole;
- a second housing component having a second through hole;
- a fastener having a first fastener element engaged with the first housing component and a second fastener element engaged with the second housing component, the fastener coupling the first and second components together so that the first and second housing components pivot with respect to one another, the fastener having a cast fit within the through holes.
A coupling for coupling pipe segments, the coupling comprising:
- a first housing component;
- a second housing component, the first and second housing components having an open configuration and a closed configuration to define a central axis of the coupling;
- and
- a fastener coupling the first and second components together, the fastener having a first element engaged with the first housing component along a first engagement axis and a second element engaged with the second housing component along a second engagement axis, the first element being coupled to the second element such that the first and second elements of the fastener pivot with respect to one another about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a plane that includes at least one of the first and second engagement axes, the pivot axis being parallel to the central axis of the coupling and defining the pivot axis about which the first and second housing components pivot relative to one another between the open and closed configuration.
A fastener to provide a pivot coupling between two components, the fastener comprising:
- a first element and a second element, each of the first and second elements having an enlarged head portion and a shank portion depending from the head portion along a longitudinal axis, the head portion of each of the first and second elements being engaged with one another such that the shank portion of the first and the shank portion of the second element pivot with respect to one another about a pivot axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.