Gasket for pipe fitting assembly

A fitting assembly comprising:

• a pipe fitting comprising a first fitting segment and a second fitting segment, the first and second fitting segments defining a fitting inner surface of the pipe fitting, the fitting inner surface defining a coupling void and a substantially annular coupling channel;
• and
• an annular gasket received with the substantially annular coupling channel, the annular gasket defining a gasket outer surface, the gasket outer surface defining a first gasket shoulder and a second gasket shoulder, the annular gasket further comprising a first sealing ridge extending radially inward from the first gasket shoulder and a second sealing ridge extending radially inward from the second gasket shoulder, the annual gasket further defining a gasket inner surface opposite the gasket outer surface;
• the gasket inner surface further defined a first ridge sealing surface of the first sealing ridge and a second ridge sealing surface of the second sealing ridge, wherein the gasket inner surface further defines a central rib arranged axially between the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge and extending radially inward into the coupling void, the central rib defines a first rib side surface adjacent to the first gasket channel, an opposite second rib side surface adjacent to the second gasket channel, and a radially inward distal rib end extending between the first rib side surface and the second rib side surface, wherein the central rib defines a plurality of gasket recesses extending axially inward into the first rib side surface such that a width of the central rib between the first rib side surface and the second rib side surface is greater than a width of the central rib at each of the plurality of gasket recesses;
• wherein the fitting assembly is configurable in an untightened configuration and a tightened configuration, and wherein, in the tightened configuration, the fitting inner surface is pressed against the first gasket shoulder and the second gasket shoulder to bias the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge radially inward.

A method of assembling a fitting assembly, the method comprising:

• providing an annular gasket, the annular gasket defining a gasket outer surface and a gasket inner surface, the gasket outer surface defining a first gasket shoulder extending radially outward at a first axial end of the annular gasket and a second gasket shoulder extending radially outward at a second axial end of the annular gasket, the annular gasket further comprising a first sealing ridge extending radially inward from the first gasket shoulder and a second sealing ridge extending radially inward from the second gasket shoulder, the first sealing ridge comprising a first ridge sealing surface extending axially inward toward the central rib and the second sealing ridge comprising a second ridge sealing surface extending axially inward toward the central rib, the inner gasket surface defining a gasket void;
• inserting a first end of a first piping component into the gasket void at a first gasket axial end of the annular gasket such that the first ridge sealing surface contacts an outer surface of the first piping component;
• inserting a second end of a second pipe component into the gasket void at a second gasket axial end of the annular gasket, opposite the first gasket axial end, such that the second ridge sealing surface contacts an outer surface of the second piping component;
• and
• tightening a pipe fitting around the annular gasket to press the pipe fitting radially inward against the first gasket shoulder and the second gasket shoulder;
• wherein pressing the pipe fitting radially inward against the first gasket shoulder and the second gasket shoulder comprises biasing the first sealing ridge and the second sealing ridge radially inward to seal against the first sealing ridge against the first pipe component and the second sealing ridge against the second pipe component.