# US 9,038,258 B2 · Pipe coupling and method of forming the same

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- Number: US 9,038,258 B2
- Document ID: US9038258B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/671,844
- Filed: 2012-11-08
- Published: 2013-05-09
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-08
- Assignees: J. & M. Manufacturing Co., Inc.
- Applicants: Larry Liao; Chuck Clark
- Inventors: Larry Liao; Chuck Clark
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038258B2

## CPC

- F16L 19/06: in which radial clamping is obtained by wedging action on non-deformed pipe ends
- F16L 37/0925: {with rings which bite into the wall of the pipe}
- Y10T 29/49865: by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]
- Y10T 29/4987: Elastic joining of parts
- Y10T 29/49876: by snap fit
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sealing and restraint mechanism operable to couple pipes having a restraint mechanism with a cavity formed in an interior region, and a gripping insert operable to be received within the cavity. The cavity of the restraint mechanism is at least partially defined by a stop and a shoulder. The gripping insert is operable to slide along the cavity and between the stop and the shoulder of the restraint mechanism such that, when the gripping insert slides toward the stop, the gripping insert is biased toward one of the pipes by the restraint mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a PVC-O pipe having a sealing and restraint mechanism for coupling pipes, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a belled end in a PVC-O pipe using a first mandrel;
subsequently moving the belled end of the PVC-O pipe over a sealing and restraint mechanism that is located on a second mandrel, and applying heat from a heated water to the belled end of the PVC-O pipe and the sealing and restraint mechanism disposed within the belled end; and
cooling the belled end of the PVC-O pipe having the sealing and restraint mechanism formed therein.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of retracting the second mandrel once the belled end of the PVC-O pipe has been cooled.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sealing and restraint mechanism includes a restraint mechanism having a housing and a gripping insert, and the method further comprises the step of:
installing the gripping insert within the housing after the retracting step.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein:
the housing includes a cavity in an interior region thereof,
the cavity is at least partially defined by a stop and a shoulder, and
the gripping insert is configured to slide within the cavity between the stop and the shoulder during coupling of the PVC-O pipe with another pipe via the sealing and restraint mechanism integrated into the PVC-O pipe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the gripping insert includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the other pipe.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein in the forming step, the first mandrel is in a first heating chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second mandrel is in a second chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the heated water is water heated to about 208° F.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the PVC-O pipe is a molecularly-oriented pipe (MOP).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sealing and restraint mechanism includes a sealing ring and a restraint mechanism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the sealing ring abuts the restraint mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the sealing ring is made of a thermoplastic or elastomeric material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coupling the PVC-O pipe with another pipe.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the other pipe is another PVC-O pipe.