GB2140113A

GB2140113A - Pipe coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2140113A
Application number: GB08313945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Mcdonald; Geoffrey Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-20
Filing date: 1983-05-20
Publication date: 1984-11-21
Also published as: GB8313945D0; GB2140113B

Abstract

A pipe coupling generally made of plastic, has a pipe-receiving socket 2 with an annular shoulder 3, a plastic retaining ring 4 received in the socket and defining with the shoulder 3 an annular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket, an 'O' ring seal 5 received in the channel for engagement with a pipe and a metal ring 8 which has an annular array of angled teeth 7 for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of the pipe. The ring 4 has a chamfer which is angled more steeply than the teeth 7 so that when a pipe is inserted the teeth can flex away therefrom and then spring back resiliently to effect engagement and gripping. The coupling components are held together by a cap 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe coupling TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a pipe coupling, particularly a plastics coupling used in plumbing and which is usually intended not be reusable.

According to the invention there is provided a pipe coupling made of plastic material comprising a pipe receiving socket, an annular shoulder provided in said socket, a retaining ring received in the socket and defining with the shoulder an annular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket, an annular seal received in the channel for engagement with the outer periphery of a pipe when the latter is received in the socket, and means which has one or more teeth for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of a pipe when the pipe is inserted in the socket, so that withdrawal of the pipe is prevented.

The retaining ring may comprise a chamfered surface and the or each tooth of the unreleasable engaging and gripping means may lie at an angle which is less steep than the angle of chamfer of the chamfered surface, so that there is a gap between the or each tooth and the chamfered surface. This construction allows the engaging and gripping means to flex or give in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the socket when a pipe is inserted therein.

The unreleasable engaging and gripping means may be of metal with an annular array of eight angled teeth.

Each tooth may be separated from an immediately adjacent one by a slot which has a U-shaped blind end.

A pipe coupling embodying the invention is hereinafter described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, if an unreleasable engaging and gripping means; Figure 2 is a view in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 of a retaining ring; and Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal crosssectional exploded view of a pipe coupling according to the invention and including the means and retaining ring of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a pipe coupling 1 made of plastic material which is moulded to the required shape, for example in-line or T-shape. The coupling has a pipe (not shown) receiving socket 2 which has an annular shoulder 3, a retaining ring 4 made of plastics such as nylon being in use received in the socket 2 and defining with the shoulder 3 an annular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket 2, an annular seal such as a rubber or plastic 'O'-ring 5 being received in the channel for engagement with the outer periphery of a pipe (not shown) when the pipe is received in the socket 2, so making a fluid-tight coupling.The coupling 1 also includes means in the form of a metal ring 6 which has a plurality of teeth 7, in the case shown eight, for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of a pipe when the pipe is inserted in the socket, so that withdrawal of the pipe is prevented.

The metal ring 6 is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a lip 7 from which the teeth extend toward the centre of the ring 6, each tooth being separated from an adjacent one by a slot 9 which is of U-shape at its blind end.

The retaining ring 4 has a cylindrical part 10 leading to a chamfered surface or entry 11 which in turn leads to an outwardly directed lip or flange 12, the lateral extent of which corresponds with that of the lip 8 of the metal ring 6. The angle of the chamfer 11, which is continuous in a peripheral direction, is steeper than that of the teeth 7 of the metal ring 6, so that when they are combined, there is a gap between the undersurface of the teeth 7 and the surface of the entry 11 so allowing the teeth 7 to flex and spring back resiliently to engage the outer surface of a pipe inserted in the socket 2.

To assemble the coupling 1, the 'O'-ring 5 is seated on the shoulder 3 by insertion into the socket 2 in the direction of the arrow (Fig.

3). The retaining ring 4 is then likewise inserted, the cylindrical part 10 thereof being of such a length as to stop short of or just in engagement with the O-ring 5, the lip or flange 12 seating on the end 13 of the socket 2. The metal ring 6 is then assembled with the retaining ring 4 by offering it up so that the teeth 7 lie inside the retaining ring and the lip 8 seats on the lip 12 of the retaining ring 4. The whole assembly is then held in place by screw engaging cap 14 on screw teeth 15 of the socket 2.The coupling 1 is then ready to receive a pipe which can be assembled therewith by inserting in the direction of the arrow through the holes 16, 17, 18 in the cap 14, metal ring 6 and the retaining ring 4, the teeth 7 flexing out of the way into the gap initially but when springing back resiliently to grip and engage the outer surface of the pipe to prevent withdrawal thereof, the teeth being angled in the direction of insertion to allow insertion but to resist withdrawal. When the pipe is fully home in the coupling the 'O'-ring 5 seals against the outer surface to make the joint fluid-tight, and the coupling 1 is complete.

When the joint is to be replaced or refurbished, the coupling is merely cut from the pipe and discarded.

1. A pipe coupling comprising a pipereceiving socket, an annular shoulder pro

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Pipe coupling TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to a pipe coupling, particularly a plastics coupling used in plumbing and which is usually intended not be reusable. According to the invention there is provided a pipe coupling made of plastic material comprising a pipe receiving socket, an annular shoulder provided in said socket, a retaining ring received in the socket and defining with the shoulder an annular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket, an annular seal received in the channel for engagement with the outer periphery of a pipe when the latter is received in the socket, and means which has one or more teeth for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of a pipe when the pipe is inserted in the socket, so that withdrawal of the pipe is prevented. The retaining ring may comprise a chamfered surface and the or each tooth of the unreleasable engaging and gripping means may lie at an angle which is less steep than the angle of chamfer of the chamfered surface, so that there is a gap between the or each tooth and the chamfered surface. This construction allows the engaging and gripping means to flex or give in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the socket when a pipe is inserted therein. The unreleasable engaging and gripping means may be of metal with an annular array of eight angled teeth. Each tooth may be separated from an immediately adjacent one by a slot which has a U-shaped blind end. A pipe coupling embodying the invention is hereinafter described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, if an unreleasable engaging and gripping means; Figure 2 is a view in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 of a retaining ring; and Figure 3 is a schematic longitudinal crosssectional exploded view of a pipe coupling according to the invention and including the means and retaining ring of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. Referring to the drawings there is shown a pipe coupling 1 made of plastic material which is moulded to the required shape, for example in-line or T-shape. The coupling has a pipe (not shown) receiving socket 2 which has an annular shoulder 3, a retaining ring 4 made of plastics such as nylon being in use received in the socket 2 and defining with the shoulder 3 an annular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket 2, an annular seal such as a rubber or plastic 'O'-ring 5 being received in the channel for engagement with the outer periphery of a pipe (not shown) when the pipe is received in the socket 2, so making a fluid-tight coupling.The coupling 1 also includes means in the form of a metal ring 6 which has a plurality of teeth 7, in the case shown eight, for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of a pipe when the pipe is inserted in the socket, so that withdrawal of the pipe is prevented. The metal ring 6 is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a lip 7 from which the teeth extend toward the centre of the ring 6, each tooth being separated from an adjacent one by a slot 9 which is of U-shape at its blind end. The retaining ring 4 has a cylindrical part 10 leading to a chamfered surface or entry 11 which in turn leads to an outwardly directed lip or flange 12, the lateral extent of which corresponds with that of the lip 8 of the metal ring 6. The angle of the chamfer 11, which is continuous in a peripheral direction, is steeper than that of the teeth 7 of the metal ring 6, so that when they are combined, there is a gap between the undersurface of the teeth 7 and the surface of the entry 11 so allowing the teeth 7 to flex and spring back resiliently to engage the outer surface of a pipe inserted in the socket 2. To assemble the coupling 1, the 'O'-ring 5 is seated on the shoulder 3 by insertion into the socket 2 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3). The retaining ring 4 is then likewise inserted, the cylindrical part 10 thereof being of such a length as to stop short of or just in engagement with the O-ring 5, the lip or flange 12 seating on the end 13 of the socket 2. The metal ring 6 is then assembled with the retaining ring 4 by offering it up so that the teeth 7 lie inside the retaining ring and the lip 8 seats on the lip 12 of the retaining ring 4. The whole assembly is then held in place by screw engaging cap 14 on screw teeth 15 of the socket 2.The coupling 1 is then ready to receive a pipe which can be assembled therewith by inserting in the direction of the arrow through the holes 16, 17, 18 in the cap 14, metal ring 6 and the retaining ring 4, the teeth 7 flexing out of the way into the gap initially but when springing back resiliently to grip and engage the outer surface of the pipe to prevent withdrawal thereof, the teeth being angled in the direction of insertion to allow insertion but to resist withdrawal. When the pipe is fully home in the coupling the 'O'-ring 5 seals against the outer surface to make the joint fluid-tight, and the coupling 1 is complete. When the joint is to be replaced or refurbished, the coupling is merely cut from the pipe and discarded. CLAIMS

1. A pipe coupling comprising a pipereceiving socket, an annular shoulder pro vided in said socket, a retaining ring received in the socket and defining with the shoulder an annaular channel which opens radially inwardly of the socket, an annular slot received in the channel for engagement with the outer periphery of a pipe when the latter is received in the socket, and means which has one or more teeth for unreleasably engaging and gripping the outer surface of a pipe when the pipe is inserted in the socket, so that withdrawal of the pipe is prevented.

2. A pipe coupling according to Claim 1.

the retaining ring comprising a chamfered surface and the or each tooth of the unreleasable engaging and gripping means lying at an angle which is less steep than the angle of chamfer of the chamfered surface, so that there is a gap between the or each tooth and the chamfered surface.

3. A pipe coupling according to Claim 2, the unreleasable engaging and gripping means being of metal.

4. A pipe coupling according to Claim 3, said means having an annular array of light angled teeth whereby a pipe can be angaged and gripped.

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5. A pipe coupling according to Claim 4, each tooth being separated from an immediately adjacent one by a slot which has a Ushaped blind end.

6. A pipe coupling according to any of Claims 2 to 5, the retaining ring having a cylindrical part and a radial shoulder connected by the chamfered surface.

7. A pipe coupling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. An assembly of a pipe and a pipe coupling according to any preceding claim.