Grooved Pipe Element and Coupling
AssigneeVictaulic Company
InventorsChristopher A. Richards, Michael R. Novitsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe element has an endform comprising a circumferential groove and a bead. The groove is defined by a first groove side surface, a second groove side surface, and a floor surface. The bead has a summit and a first bead side surface positioned between the second groove side surface and the summit. When a pipe element is inserted into a coupling, the bead engages a portion of the coupling to position and align the arcuate projection with the groove, facilitating assembly without manual alignment.
Claims34
A pipe element having a sidewall surrounding a longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said longitudinal axis being a central axis of said pipe element, said sidewall having an outer surface, said sidewall comprising:
- an endform;
- and
- a tubular portion connected to said endform, wherein said endform extends from an end of said pipe element to said tubular portion;
- wherein said endform comprises:
- a groove defined by said outer surface, said groove extending circumferentially around said bore, said groove comprising:
- a first groove side surface,
- a second groove side surface facing said first groove side surface and in spaced apart relation from said first groove side surface along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first groove side surface is positioned between said end of said pipe element and said second groove side surface, and
- a floor surface contiguous with said first groove side surface and said second groove side surface;
- and
- a bead defined by said outer surface, said bead extending circumferentially around said bore, said bead adjacent or contiguous with said groove, wherein said groove is positioned between said end of said pipe element and said bead, said bead comprising:
- a first bead side surface, and
- a summit, wherein said first bead side surface is positioned between said summit and said second groove side surface, wherein a radius of said summit measured from said longitudinal axis is a maximum radius of said outer surface of a portion of said sidewall extending from said end of said pipe element to said summit measured from said longitudinal axis.
In combination, a pipe element and a coupling in a preassembled state, said pipe element having a sidewall surrounding a longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said longitudinal axis being a central axis of said pipe element, said sidewall having an outer surface, said sidewall comprising:
- an endform;
- and
- a tubular portion connected to said endform, wherein said endform extends from an end of said pipe element to said tubular portion;
- wherein said endform comprises:
- a groove defined by said outer surface, said groove extending circumferentially around said bore, said groove comprising:
- a first groove side surface,
- a second groove side surface facing said first groove side surface and in spaced apart relation from said first groove side surface, wherein said first groove side surface is positioned between said end of said pipe element and said second groove side surface, and
- a floor surface contiguous with said first groove side surface and said second groove side surface;
- and
- a bead defined by said outer surface, said bead extending circumferentially around said bore, said bead adjacent or contiguous with said groove, said bead comprising:
- a first bead side surface, and
- a summit, wherein said first bead side surface is positioned between said summit and said second groove side surface, wherein a radius of said summit measured from said longitudinal axis is a maximum radius of said outer surface of a portion of said sidewall extending from said end of said pipe element to said summit measured from said longitudinal axis;
- said coupling comprising:
- a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space;
- attachment members positioned at each end of said segments attaching said segments to one another in said preassembled state, wherein in said preassembled state, said plurality of segments are supported in spaced relation while attached to one another to allow insertion of said pipe element into said central space;
- and
- an arcuate projection positioned on a side of each of said segments and configured to engage with said groove, said arcuate projection projecting radially inwardly from said side.
A method of assembling a combination of a pipe element and a coupling, said pipe element having a sidewall surrounding a longitudinal axis and defining a bore, said longitudinal axis being a central axis of said pipe element, said sidewall having an outer surface comprising an endform proximate an end of said pipe element, said endform comprising a groove defined by said outer surface, said groove extending circumferentially around said bore, said endform further comprising a bead defined by said outer surface, said bead adjacent or contiguous with said groove;
- said coupling comprising a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end in a preassembled state surrounding around a central space, wherein in said preassembled state, said plurality of segments are supported in spaced relation while attached to one another to allow insertion of said pipe element into said central space, said coupling further comprising attachment members for attaching said segments to one another, and an arcuate projection positioned on a side of each of said segments, said arcuate projection projecting radially inwardly from said side;
- said method comprising:
- inserting said pipe element end first into said central space of said coupling in said preassembled state until at least one of said groove and said bead engages said arcuate projection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.