Pipe coupling with gasket positioner
OwnerDonald Y. Bridgesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pipe coupling for sealing a leak location in a pipe or pipeline by compressing annular gasket members against the pipe or pipeline around the leak location comprises a tubular middle ring, a pair of annular followers, and a pair of annular elastomeric gasket positioners bonded to and protruding from respective followers and positioned so that when the coupling is placed in sealing position, the gasket positioners engage the annular gasket members and force the gasket members into sealing position between the tubular middle ring and the pipe or pipeline. Suitable annular gasket members include rubber O-rings. The gasket positioners may include a retaining ring to prevent outward extrusion of the gasket positioner from between the coupling and the pipe or pipeline.
Claims22
A pipe coupling for sealing a leak location in a pipe or pipeline by compressing annular gasket members against the pipe or pipeline around the leak location, the pipe coupling comprising:
- a tubular middle ring adapted to receive the pipe or pipeline and fit about the leak location, the tubular middle ring extending from a first end to a second end;
- a pair of annular followers each having a central annular opening to receive the pipe or pipe line and being adapted to engage respective first and second ends of the tubular middle ring;
- means for forcing the pair of annular followers against the tubular middle ring;
- and
- a pair of annular elastomeric gasket positioners bonded to and protruding from respective followers and positioned so that when:
- (a) the coupling is placed in sealing position such that the tubular middle ring is fitted about the pipe or pipeline at the leak location, (b) said annular gasket members are fitted about the pipe or pipeline between the middle ring and the pipe or pipeline with one of the annular gasket members proximate the first end of the middle ring and another of the annular gasket members proximate the second end of the middle ring, and (c) the annular followers are forced against the respective first and second ends of the tubular middle ring, each annular elastomeric gasket positioner extends to define a space having as the boundaries, the interior surface of the middle ring, the end of the middle ring, and the exterior of the pipe or pipeline and engages the adjacent annular gasket member, and forces the adjacent annular gasket member into sealing position between the tubular middle ring and the pipe or pipeline.
A pipe coupling for sealing a leak location in a pipe or pipeline by compressing annular gasket members against the pipe or pipeline around the leak location, the pipe coupling comprising:
- a pair of annular gasket members;
- a tubular middle ring adapted to receive the pipe or pipeline and fit about the leak location, the tubular middle ring extending from a first end to a second end;
- a pair of annular followers having an annular central opening to receive the pipe or pipe line and being adapted to engage respective first and second ends of the tubular middle ring;
- means for forcing the pair of annular followers against the tubular middle ring;
- and
- a pair of annular elastomeric gasket positioners bonded to and protruding from respective followers and positioned so that when:
- (a) the coupling is placed in sealing position such that the tubular middle ring is fitted about the pipe or pipeline at the leak location, (b) said annular gasket members are fitted about the pipe or pipeline between the middle ring and the pipe or pipeline with one of the annular gasket members proximate the first end of the middle ring and another of the annular gasket members proximate the second end of the middle ring, and (c) the annular followers are forced against the respective first and second ends of the tubular middle ring, each annular elastomeric gasket positioner extends from to define a space having as the boundaries, the interior surface of the middle ring, the end of the middle ring, and the exterior of the pipe or pipeline, and engages the adjacent annular gasket member, and forces the adjacent annular gasket member into sealing position between the tubular middle ring and the pipe or pipeline.
A follower for use with a pipe coupling for sealing a leak location in a pipe or pipeline by compressing annular gasket members between a tubular middle ring and the pipe or pipeline around the leak location when the follower is engaged with an annular end of the tubular middle ring, the follower comprising:
- an annular radially-extending portion having an annular central opening for receiving the pipe or pipe line;
- an annular axially extending seat which extends from the radially extending portion and fits over the edge of the tubular middle ring when the follower is engaged with the tubular middle ring;
- and
- an annular elastomeric gasket positioner bonded to and protruding from the radially-extending portion of the follower and positioned so that the annular elastomeric gasket positioner extends to define a space having as the boundaries, the interior surface of the middle ring, the end of the middle ring, and the exterior of the pipe or pipeline, and engages an adjacent one of the annular gasket members when the follower is engaged with the tubular middle ring about the pipe or pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.