Gap limiting coupling
AssigneeVictaulic Company
InventorEric Frank Finlayson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ring surrounding a central axis and attachable to an end of a pipe element comprises a forward face extending between a circumferential inner surface that faces the central axis and is adapted to receive the pipe element and a circumferential outer surface that faces away from the central axis. The forward face comprises a first side surface and a sloped surface positioned between the first side surface and the circumferential inner surface. The first side surface and the sloped surface define a pocket within the forward face configured to receive a weld. In a cross-sectional plane including the central axis, the sloped surface extends away from the circumferential inner surface at an obtuse angle. The obtuse angle extends through the ring.
Claims43
A ring surrounding a central axis and attachable to an end of a pipe element, said ring comprising:
- a circumferential inner surface facing said central axis and adapted to receive said pipe element;
- a circumferential outer surface facing away from said central axis;
- a backwall extending between said circumferential inner surface and said circumferential outer surface;
- and
- a forward face extending between said circumferential inner surface and said circumferential outer surface, said forward face being spaced from said backwall along said central axis, said forward face being closer to said end of said pipe element than said backwall is to said end of said pipe element, said forward face comprising a first side surface and a sloped surface positioned between said first side surface and said circumferential inner surface, said first side surface and said sloped surface defining a pocket within said forward face,
- wherein, in a cross-sectional plane including said central axis, said sloped surface extends away from the circumferential inner surface at an obtuse angle, wherein said obtuse angle extends through said ring.
In combination, a ring surrounding a central axis and a pipe element, said pipe element extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising an inner surface facing said longitudinal axis and an outer surface facing away from said longitudinal axis, said ring comprising:
- a circumferential inner surface facing said central axis and adapted to receive said pipe element;
- a circumferential outer surface facing away from said central axis;
- a backwall extending between said circumferential inner surface and said circumferential outer surface;
- and
- a forward face extending between said circumferential inner surface and said circumferential outer surface, said forward face being spaced from said backwall along said central axis, said forward face being closer to said end of said pipe element than said backwall is to said end of said pipe element, said forward face comprising a first side surface and a sloped surface positioned between said first side surface and said circumferential inner surface, said first side surface and said sloped surface defining a pocket within said forward face,
- wherein, in a cross-sectional plane including said central axis, said sloped surface extends away from the circumferential inner surface at an obtuse angle, wherein said obtuse angle extends through said ring.
A method of affixing a ring surrounding a central axis to an end of a pipe element, said pipe element extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising an inner surface facing said longitudinal axis and an outer surface facing away from said longitudinal axis, said ring comprising:
- a circumferential inner surface facing said central axis and adapted to receive said pipe element;
- a circumferential outer surface facing away from said central axis;
- a backwall extending between said inner surface and said outer surface;
- and
- a forward face extending between said inner surface and said outer surface, said forward face being spaced from said backwall along said central axis, said forward face being closer to said end of said pipe element than said backwall is to said end of said pipe element, said forward face comprising a first side surface and a sloped surface positioned between said first side surface and said circumferential inner surface, said first side surface and said sloped surface defining a pocket within said forward face, said method comprising:
- welding said ring to said outer surface of said pipe element within said pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.