Self-adjusting pipe clamp and coupling
AssigneeVictaulic Company of America
InventorsRobert Rung, Lani G. Ache
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A segmented coupling for use in sealing adjacent pipe ends includes coupling segments having bolting pads at their ends, the ends of the coupling segments including inclined end faces for cooperation with correspondingly inclined end faces of an adjacent coupling segment to produce self-adjustment of the coupling and rigid clamping of the pipe ends upon tightening down of the coupling.
Claims21
In a pipe coupling of the type including plural arcuate coupling segments, radially inwardly extending engagement means on each said coupling segment for clamping engagement with ends of pipe members arranged in juxtaposed relationship, radial and axial walls of each said coupling segment providing for the reception of sealing means, and means for securing said coupling members to each other in end-to-end encircling relationship about said pipes, the improvement comprising:
- juxtaposed end faces on at least one pair of adjacent coupling segments positioned in sliding face engagement with each other, said end faces each being inclined at an oblique angle to the diametral X-Z plane of the coupling and extending perpendicular to the Y-Z plane of the coupling, said end faces being positioned in at least closely proximal relationship to each other upon initial assembly of the coupling onto a pipe having an external diameter which is a maximum diameter within a range of manufacturing tolerances of said pipes;
- and,
- traction means operative to urge said end faces towards each other and then to slide said end faces across each other to reduce an effective internal circumferential length of an inner periphery of said coupling, thus permitting said engagement means to clamp onto and secure a pipe having an external diameter falling within said range of manufacturing tolerances.
In a pipe coupling of the type including plural arcuate coupling segments, radially inwardly extending engagement means on each said coupling segment for clamping engagement with ends of pipe members arranged in juxtaposed relationship, radial and axial walls of each said coupling segment providing for the reception of sealing means, and means for securing said coupling segments to each other in end-to-end encircling relationship about said pipes, the improvement comprising:
- juxtaposed end faces on at least one pair of adjacent coupling segments positioned in sliding face engagement with each other, said end faces each being inclined at an oblique angle to the diametral X-Z plane of the coupling, said end faces each being inclined at an oblique angle to the Z axis, and also being inclined at an oblique angle to the X axis, said end faces being positioned in at least closely proximal relationship to each other upon initial assembly of the coupling onto a pipe having an external diameter which is a maximum diameter within a range of manufacturing tolerances of said pipe;
- and,
- traction means operative to urge said end faces towards each other and then to slide said end faces across each other to reduce an effective internal circumferential length of an inner periphery of said coupling, thus to permit said engagement means to clamp onto and secure a pipe having an external diameter falling within said range of manufacturing tolerances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.