US 4,480,861 AGranted

Pipe joint and apparatus therefor

AssigneeColumbus Standard, Inc.

InventorFrank E. Cann, Jr.

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Abstract

Apparatus for forming a sealed joint between juxtaposed, axially aligned pipe ends includes a pair of annular flange members slidable in facing relation on the pipe ends and having tapered annular interior surfaces converging outwardly of a central axis for forming an annular recess about the pipe ends. A resilient annular sealing gasket generally compatibly shaped with the recess is provided for disposition therewithin about the pipe ends. The gasket has a pair of tapered annular exterior surfaces which converge outwardly when uncompressed at slightly greater respective angles than the tapered interior surfaces of the flange members for respective sealing engagement thereby. A bolt arrangement draws the flange members axially together to compressibly engage the tapered exterior gasket surfaces between the tapered interior flange surfaces, thereby to compress the gasket against and between the pipe ends to seal them. Strikingly unexpectedly increased joint strength is provided over conventional joint-forming apparatus not having the feature of the present invention of contrasting tapers in the gasket and flange members.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Apparatus for forming a sealed joint between juxtaposed ends of two axially aligned pipes, comprising:

(a) a pair of annular flange members slidable in cooperative facing relationship on the pipe ends and having respective tapered annular interior surfaces cooperatively converging outwardly in said facing relationship with respect to a central axis for forming an annular recess about the pipe ends,
(b) a resilient annular sealing gasket adapted for surrounding and overlying the pipe ends and generally compatibly shaped with said recess for compressible disposition therewithin, said gasket having a pair of tapered annular exterior surfaces converging outwardly for respective sealing engagement by said annular interior surfaces of said flange members, and
(c) means for drawing said flange members axially together in said facing relationship for compressing said gasket between said flange members by compressibly engaging said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket with said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members, said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members being tapered in said facing relationship at slightly smaller respective angles with respect to said central axis than said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket when said gasket is uncompressed, whereby when said gasket is disposed within said recess at the pipe ends said drawing means causes said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members to engage and compressingly deform said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket into full conforming engagement with said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members to compress said gasket against and between the pipe ends to seal the pipe ends.

A pipe joint comprising an end of a first pipe, an end of a second pipe axially aligned in juxtaposed relation with said first pipe end, a pair of annular flange members slidably disposed in cooperative facing relation on said first and second pipe ends and having respective tapered annular interior surfaces cooperatively converging outwardly of said pipes forming an annular recess about said pipe ends, a resilient annular sealing gasket generally compatibly shaped with said recess and compressibly disposed surrounding and overlying said pipe ends within said recess, said gasket having a pair of tapered annular exterior surfaces converging outwardly in respective sealing engagement with said annular interior surfaces of said flange members, and means drawing said flange members axially together and compressing said gasket between said flange members by compressibly engaging said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket with said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members, said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members being tapered at slightly smaller respective angles with respect to the axis of said pipes than said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket when said gasket is uncompressed, whereby said drawing means causes said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members to engage and compressingly deform said tapered annular exterior surfaces of said gasket into full conforming engagement with said tapered annular interior surfaces of said flange members to compress said gasket against and between said pipe ends to seal said pipe ends.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.