초록 ▼

A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and at least one annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end

A pipe coupling for coupling adjacent ends of a pair of pipes includes a sleeve, a split-ring gland positioned around one of the ends of the sleeve, and at least one annular gasket positioned within the split-ring gland and configured to be compressed by the split-ring gland for sealing one pipe end to the sleeve. The split-ring gland includes two partially circular gland members with spaced ends defining a gap. The pipe coupling includes an armor positioned to span the gap between the spaced ends to provide a generally closed annular periphery about the gasket. The armor includes a corrugated portion having a plurality of corrugations engaging the split-ring gland and the gasket during compression of the gasket. The armor is cold formed to improve structural strength and durability.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of assembling a split-ring gland for a pipe coupling comprising the split-ring gland and an armor including an arcuate wall containing a plurality of corrugations extending from the arcuate wall to define radially outward aspects relative to the arcuate wall and radially inward aspects r

1. A method of assembling a split-ring gland for a pipe coupling comprising the split-ring gland and an armor including an arcuate wall containing a plurality of corrugations extending from the arcuate wall to define radially outward aspects relative to the arcuate wall and radially inward aspects relative to the arcuate wall, the method comprising: positioning first and second partially-circular gland members of the split-ring gland such that first ends thereof along one side are in confronting relationship with second ends along another side being spaced apart;placing the first ends into abutting relationship so as to define a nominal gap between the second ends and to define a partially-cylindrical annular wall of the gland members;inserting the armor to span the gap across the second ends so as to form a generally closed annular periphery defined by the partially-cylindrical annular wall of the first and second gland members and the arcuate wall of the armor with the radially outward aspects of the corrugations engaging the first and second gland members;combining at least one annular gasket with the gland members and the armor in the closed annular periphery such that the radially inward aspects of the corrugations engage the at least one annular gasket;securely coupling the first ends in gap-free relationship with a first fastener; andcoupling the first and second gland members at the spaced ends with a second fastener configured to draw the spaced ends together and compress the gasket in the closed annular periphery. 2. A method of assembling a split-ring gland for a pipe coupling comprising: positioning first and second partially-circular gland members of the split-ring gland such that first ends thereof along one side are in confronting relationship with second ends along another side being spaced apart;placing the first ends into abutting relationship so as to define a nominal gap between the second ends and to define a partially-cylindrical annular wall of the gland members;inserting an armor to span the gap across the second ends so as to form a generally closed annular periphery defined by the partially-cylindrical annular wall of the first and second gland members and the armor;combining at least one annular gasket with the gland members and the armor in the closed annular periphery of the armor; andsecurely coupling the first ends in gap-free relationship with a first fastener positioned to restrain the gland members from scissoring outwardly and increasing a length of the nominal gap;orienting the first fastener to extend within a common plane with the first and second ends of the gland members and to be positioned tangential to the partially-circular shape of the first and second gland members within the common plane; andcoupling the first and second gland members at the second ends with a second fastener configured to draw the spaced ends together. 3. A method of assembling a pipe coupling comprising a split-ring gland and an armor including an arcuate wall containing a plurality of corrugations extending from the arcuate wall to define radially outward aspects relative to the arcuate wall and radially inward aspects relative to the arcuate wall, the method comprising: positioning first and second partially-circular gland members of a split-ring gland such that first ends thereof along one side are in confronting relationship with second ends along another side being spaced apart and such that a U-shaped wall of the split-ring gland is positioned over a first flange of a sleeve configured to receive a pipe end;placing the first ends into abutting relationship so as to define a nominal gap between the second ends and to define a partially-cylindrical annular wall of the gland members;inserting the armor to span the gap across the second ends so as to form a generally closed annular periphery defined by the partially-cylindrical annular wall of the first and second gland members and the armor with the radially outward aspects of the corrugations engaging the first and second gland members;combining at least one annular gasket with the gland members and the armor in the closed annular periphery such that the radially inward aspects of the corrugations engage the at least one annular gasket;securely coupling the first ends in gap-free relationship with a first fastener with the first flange of the sleeve extending into the U-shaped wall; andcoupling the first and second gland members at the spaced ends with a second fastener configured to draw the spaced ends together and compress the gasket in the closed annular periphery. 4. A method of assembling a pipe coupling comprising: positioning first and second partially-circular gland members of a split-ring gland such that first ends thereof along one side are in confronting relationship with second ends along another side being spaced apart and such that a U-shaped wall of the split-ring gland is positioned over a first flange of a sleeve configured to receive a pipe end;placing the first ends into abutting relationship so as to define a nominal gap between the second ends and to define a partially-cylindrical annular wall of the gland members;inserting an armor to span the gap across the second ends so as to form a generally closed annular periphery defined by the partially-cylindrical annular wall of the first and second gland members and the armor;combining at least one annular gasket with the gland members and the armor in the closed annular periphery of the armor; andsecurely coupling the first ends in gap-free relationship with a first fastener positioned to restrain the gland members from scissoring outwardly and increasing a length of the nominal gap and with the first flange of the sleeve extending into the U-shaped wall;orienting the first fastener to extend within a common plane with the first and second ends of the gland members and to be positioned tangential to the partially-circular shape of the first and second gland members within the common plane; andcoupling the first and second gland members at the second ends with a second fastener configured to draw the spaced ends together. 5. A method of sealingly coupling a first pipe end to a pipe coupling, the pipe coupling having a sleeve with an open end and a split-ring gland associated with the open end, the split-ring gland including an armor defining a generally continuous annular wall and a corrugated portion defining part of the generally continuous annular wall, the pipe coupling also including an annular gasket comprised of an outer gasket having an inner circumferential surface defining an opening of a first diameter and having interdigitations therealong and an inner gasket having an outer circumferential surface having interdigitations therealong configured to be matingly engaged with the interdigitations of the inner circumferential surface of the outer gasket so as to removably couple the inner and outer gaskets, the inner gasket further having an inner circumferential surface defining an opening of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the method comprising: when the first pipe end defines a first size, inserting the annular gasket into the split-ring gland so as to be bounded by the generally continuous annular wall, inserting the first pipe end through the inner gasket and into the open end of the sleeve, the inner gasket remaining matingly engaged with the interdigitations of the outer gasket, and tightening the split-ring gland with a fastener so as to close the gap and compress the inner gasket into sealed engagement with the first pipe end as the annular gasket moves along the corrugated portion of the armor;when the first pipe end defines a second size larger than the first size, either (a) inserting the annular gasket into the split-ring gland so as to be bounded by the generally continuous annular wall, partially disengaging the inner gasket from the outer gasket so as to disengage some of the matingly engaged interdigitations, completely removing the inner gasket from the outer gasket, and inserting the first pipe end through the outer gasket and into the open end of the sleeve, or (b) partially disengaging the inner gasket from the outer gasket so as to disengage some of the matingly engaged interdigitations, completely removing the inner gasket from the outer gasket, inserting the outer gasket into the split-ring gland so as to be bounded by the generally continuous annular wall, and inserting the first pipe end through the outer gasket and into the open end of the sleeve; and tightening the split-ring gland with a fastener so as to close the gap and compress the outer gasket into sealed engagement with the first pipe end as the annular gasket moves along the corrugated portion of the armor. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sleeve has a second open end and a second split-ring gland associated with the second open end, the second split-ring gland including a second armor defining a generally continuous annular wall and having a second annular gasket bounded by the generally continuous annular wall, the second armor including a corrugated portion defining part of the generally continuous annular wall, the method further comprising inserting a second pipe end through the second gasket and into the second open end of the sleeve, and tightening the second split-ring gland with a fastener so as to close the second gap and compress the second annular gasket into sealed engagement with the second pipe end as the second annular gasket moves along the corrugated portion of the second armor. 7. A method of sealingly coupling a first pipe end to a pipe coupling, the pipe coupling having a sleeve with an open end and a split-ring gland associated with the open end, the split-ring gland including an armor defining a generally continuous annular wall and having an annular gasket bounded by the generally continuous annular wall, the armor including a corrugated portion defining part of the generally continuous annular wall, wherein the annular gasket is comprised of an outer gasket having an inner circumferential surface defining an opening of a first diameter and having an interdigitations therealong and an inner gasket having an outer circumferential surface having interdigitations therealong configured to be matingly engaged with the interdigiations of the inner circumferential surface of the outer gasket so as to removably couple the inner and outer gaskets, the inner gasket further having an inner circumferential surface defining an opening of a second diameter, the method comprising: partially disengaging the inner gasket from the outer gasket so as to disengage some of the matingly engaged interdigitations, and thereafter completely removing the inner gasket from the outer gasket whereby to accept a larger size of first pipe end insertable through the annular gasket,inserting the first pipe end through the gasket and into the open end of the sleeve, andtightening the split-ring gland with a fastener so as to close the gap and compress the annular gasket into sealed engagement with the first pipe end as the annular gasket moves along the corrugated portion of the armor. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: reinserting the inner gasket back into the outer gasket whereby to accept a smaller size of first pipe end insertable through the annular gasket. 9. The method of claim 8, the interdigitations being symmetrical, the method further comprising: reinserting the inner gasket back into the outer gasket in a reversed orientation relative to an original orientation of the inner gasket. 10. A method of forming an armor comprising forming a piece of metal into a generally S-shaped, arcuate member having an arcuate central wall extending between lateral side edges, an inner side wall depending from an inner side edge of the central wall, and an outer side wall extending radially outwardly from an outer side edge of the central wall, and instilling a plurality of corrugations into the arcuate central wall between the inner and outer side edges and extending between the lateral side edges of the central wall, the plurality of corrugations extending from the arcuate central wall to define radially outward aspects relative to the arcuate central wall and radially inward aspects relative to the arcuate central wall. 11. The method of claim 10 comprising instilling the corrugations by cold working. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of corrugations are spaced from each of the lateral side edges, the inner side edge, and the outer side edge such that the plurality of corrugations is framed by a non-corrugated portion of the arcuate central wall. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inner side wall extends radially inwardly from the arcuate central wall at the inner side edge, and the outer side wall extends radially outwardly from the arcuate central wall at the outer side edge.