IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0823495
(2010-06-25)
|
등록번호 |
US-8201852
(2012-06-19)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Linhorst, Thomas A.
- Hemman, Corey J.
- Lurk, Michael
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
25 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A coupler for joining a pipe to another pipe, a tee, or other fitting, and more particularly, to a coupler which provides positive retention of the gasket about the circumference of the coupler sufficiently to precisely position and hold the gasket during placement about pipe ends and/or fittings to
A coupler for joining a pipe to another pipe, a tee, or other fitting, and more particularly, to a coupler which provides positive retention of the gasket about the circumference of the coupler sufficiently to precisely position and hold the gasket during placement about pipe ends and/or fittings to be coupled, and which provides controlled circumferential compression of the gasket during coupling, for positive sealing when the coupler is closed, while allowing one handed handling and operation during placement and coupling, such that the other hand can be used for supporting a pipe to be coupled, and which is operable for releasing and breaking loose the coupler and associated gasket from a pipe during uncoupling.
대표청구항
▼
1. A pipe coupler comprising: a pair of generally semi-circular elements, each of the semi-circular elements having a generally C-shaped profile and a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity, the semi-circular elements having first end portions hingedly connected together, and second end por
1. A pipe coupler comprising: a pair of generally semi-circular elements, each of the semi-circular elements having a generally C-shaped profile and a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity, the semi-circular elements having first end portions hingedly connected together, and second end portions which are spaced apart when the coupler is open and include elements of a clamping mechanism configured and operable for securely clamping the second end portions together for closing the coupler;a gasket cooperatively received in the circumferential cavities of the semi-circular elements, the gasket being split so as to have ends about coincident with the second end portions of the semi-circular elements, respectively, the semi-circular elements including gasket retaining elements disposed at circumferentially spaced locations therealong spaced from at least the second end portions thereof, respectively, and matingly engaged with correspondingly located elements on the gasket, conformingly holding the gasket to the semi-circular shape of the cavities, while allowing the ends of the gasket to move generally freely in the circumferential direction within the cavities, respectively, when the coupler is open and such that as the coupler is closed the ends of the gasket will be brought together with a controlled compressive force applied thereagainst by the semi-circular elements for forming a sealed joint between the ends. 2. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the gasket is of one piece construction, and endmost ones of the gasket retaining elements of the semi-circular elements are configured and operable for applying the compressive force against the ends as the ends are brought together. 3. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the gasket is of two piece construction having additional opposing ends about coincident with the first end portions of the semi-circular elements, and additional endmost ones of the gasket retaining elements of the semi-circular elements are configured and operable for applying a compressive force against the additional ends as the additional ends are brought together when the coupler is closed, for forming a sealed joint therebetween. 4. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the gasket retaining elements are configured and disposed to apply the controlled compressive force circumferentially against the ends of the gasket as the second end portions are clamped together. 5. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the gasket retaining elements comprise tabs projecting radially into the cavities, respectively, and the elements on the gasket comprise circumferentially spaced receptacles having shapes configured for matingly receiving and gripping the tabs, respectively. 6. The pipe coupler of claim 5, wherein the gasket comprises resilient gripping surfaces bounding the receptacles which resiliently exert circumferentially directed gripping forces against the tabs, respectively. 7. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism connects and holds the second end portions together when the coupler is open to allow placing the coupler about ends of pipes to be clamped together, and the clamping mechanism is configured to be closable using one hand for clamping the second end portions together. 8. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a bail rod pivotally connected between one of the semi-circular elements and a handle connected to another of the semi-circular elements in a manner such that the bail rod can be pulled by the handle for closing the coupler and clamping the second end portions together about ends of pipes to be coupled, and such that the bail rod can be pushed by the handle when opening the coupler to unclamp the second end portions and break the gasket away from pipes coupled together by the coupler. 9. The pipe coupler of claim 8, wherein the bail rod is connected to at least the one of the semi-circular elements or the handle by a pin which is removable to allow disconnecting the bail rod therefrom. 10. The pipe coupler of claim 1, wherein the gasket retaining elements project radially inwardly from radially inwardly facing surfaces within the circumferential cavities of the semi-circular elements, respectively, to define a continuous circumferential channel through the cavity configured for cooperatively receiving an annular gasket. 11. A pipe coupler comprising: a pair of generally semi-circular elements, each of the semi-circular elements having a generally C-shaped profile and a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity, the semi-circular elements having first end portions hingedly connected together, and second end portions connected together by a clamping mechanism configurable in an open mode with the second end portions in spaced apart relation, and in a closed mode clamping the second end portions together, the semi-circular elements including gasket retaining elements in the circumferential cavities thereof disposed at circumferentially spaced locations therealong, endmost ones of the gasket retaining elements being spaced predetermined distances from at least the second end portions of the semi-circular elements, respectively;a gasket cooperatively received in the circumferential cavities of the semi-circular elements, the gasket being split so as to have circumferentially compressible ends which when the second end portions are unclamped extend marginally circumferentially from the second end portions of the semi-circular elements, respectively, the gasket retaining elements being matingly received in correspondingly located receptacles in the gasket so as to conform and hold the gasket to the semi-circular shape of the cavities while allowing the ends of the gasket to move in the circumferential direction within the cavities, respectively, and the endmost ones of the gasket retaining elements being configured and operable to apply a controlled circumferential force to compress the ends of the gasket together when the second end portions are clamped together by the clamping mechanism to form a sealed joint between the ends. 12. The pipe coupler of claim 11, wherein the gasket is of two piece construction having additional opposing ends about coincident with the first end portions of the semi-circular elements, and additional endmost ones of the gasket retaining elements of the semi-circular elements are configured and operable to apply a controlled circumferential force to compress the additional ends of the gasket together when the second end portions are clamped together by the clamping mechanism to form a sealed joint between the additional ends. 13. The pipe coupler of claim 11, wherein the gasket retaining elements comprise tabs projecting radially into the cavities, respectively, and the receptacles in the gasket are bounded by surfaces configured for matingly gripping the tabs, respectively. 14. The pipe coupler of claim 11, wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to be closable using one hand for clamping the second end portions together. 15. The pipe coupler of claim 11, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a bail rod pivotally connected between one of the semi-circular elements and a handle connected to another of the semi-circular elements in a manner such that the bail rod can be pulled by the handle for closing the coupler and clamping the second end portions together about ends of pipes to be coupled, and such that the bail rod can be pushed by the handle when opening the coupler to unclamp the second end portions and break the gasket away from pipes coupled together by the coupler. 16. The pipe coupler of claim 15, wherein the bail rod is connected to at least the one of the semi-circular elements or the handle by a pin which is removable to allow disconnecting the bail rod therefrom. 17. The pipe coupler of claim 11, wherein the gasket retaining elements project radially inwardly along opposite axially facing surfaces within the circumferential cavities of the semi-circular elements, respectively, to define a continuous circumferential channel between the retaining elements through the cavity configured for cooperatively receiving an annular gasket.
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