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US 9,958,095 B2Granted
Coupling and seal
AssigneeVictaulic Company
InventorsKevin J. Blease, Justin P. Brandt, Craig Haney, Steve A. Wortmann, Douglas R. Dole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements end to end has a channel that receives a ring seal. The channel is defined by oppositely disposed sidewalls and the ring seal has lobes on opposite sides. The lobes have surfaces facing the side surfaces of the channel. When the ring seal is seated within the channel, each lobe surface contacts a respective side surface such that the lobes deform inwardly toward the center of the channel.
Claims42
A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
- a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
- a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface;
- a first gland attached to said first lobe and a second gland attached to said second lobe, said first and second glands extending circumferentially about said ring, said first gland having a first sealing surface, said second gland having a second sealing surface, said first and second sealing surfaces facing said central space;
- a first spring element positioned on said first gland opposite to said first sealing surface;
- a second spring element positioned on said second gland opposite to said second sealing surface, said spring elements extending circumferentially around said ring and biasing said first and second sealing surfaces toward said central space;
- wherein
- when said seal is in an undeformed state, said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface;
- and
- connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another and seating said ring within said channel, thereby deforming said lobes.
6 more elements
In combination, first and second pipe elements and a coupling for joining said pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
- a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, said pipe elements being received within said central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
- a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring surrounding said pipe elements, said ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface;
- a first gland attached to said first lobe and a second gland attached to said second lobe, said first and second glands extending circumferentially about said ring, said first gland having a first sealing surface facing said central space, said second gland having a second sealing surface facing said central space, said sealing surfaces defining an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of said pipe elements;
- a first spring element positioned on said first gland opposite to said first sealing surface;
- a second spring element positioned on said second gland opposite to said second sealing surface, said spring elements extending circumferentially around said ring and biasing said first and second sealing surfaces toward said pipe elements;
- wherein
- when said seal is in an undeformed state, said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface;
- and
- connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another and seating said ring within said channel, thereby deforming said lobes.
6 more elements
In combination, first and second pipe elements and a coupling for joining said pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
- a plurality of segments attached to one another end to end and surrounding a central space, said pipe elements being received within said central space, each of said segments having a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
- a seal positioned within said central space, said seal comprising a ring surrounding said pipe elements, said ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface;
- a first gland attached to said first lobe and a second gland attached to said second lobe, said first and second glands extending circumferentially about said ring, said first gland having a first sealing surface facing said central space, said second gland having a second sealing surface facing said central space, said sealing surfaces defining an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said pipe elements when said seal is in said undeformed state;
- a first spring element positioned on said first gland opposite to said first sealing surface;
- a second spring element positioned on said second gland opposite to said second sealing surface, said spring elements extending circumferentially around said ring and biasing said first and second sealing surfaces toward said pipe elements;
- wherein
- when said seal is in an undeformed state, said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface;
- and
- connection members being positioned at opposite ends of each of said segments, said connection members being adjustably tightenable for drawing said segments toward one another and seating said ring within said channel, thereby deforming said lobes.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.