KR20070017343A - Pipe coupling having wedge shaped keys - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling and a pipe joined by the coupling are disclosed. The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent its end joined by a key that projects inwardly from the coupling. The key is wedge shaped and substantially fills the groove, providing a rigid bond. The groove may have a shape complementary to the groove. The key may have a convex or concave cross-sectional shape. The coupling has a segment attached by a fixture that engages the lugs at each end of the coupling. Lugs are attached in pad-to-pad attachment or spaced apart relationship. Through tolerances of the coupling, a gap is maintained between the grooves and the various surfaces above the key.

Description

PIPE COUPLING HAVING WEDGE SHAPED KEYS}

The present invention relates to a coupling for coupling between pipe ends, to effect substantially rigid or flexible fluid sealing coupling therebetween.

The coupling for joining the pipes together end to end includes an arcuate segment, which circumferentially surrounds the coaxially aligned pipes and engages with circumferential grooves disposed adjacent to the ends of each pipe. Couplings are also used for connecting and connecting pipes to fluid control components such as valves, reducers, strainers, restrictors, pressure regulators. Although pipes are described in the following description, they are used only as examples, and the present invention is not limited to use with pipes and the like. Also, as used herein, the term "pipe" refers to straight pipes and elbows, tee and other types of fittings.

The segment comprising the coupling extends radially inwards towards the pipe and has a circumferential key that fits into a groove around the pipe. The keys are usually somewhat narrower than the grooves so that they hold together the pipes against the internal pressure and external force that can be inserted into and supported by the shoulders formed by the grooves and applied to the pipes. External forces can occur due to thermal expansion and compression of the pipes due to changes in temperature and due to the weight of pipes or components such as valves attached to the pipes, which can be pronounced for large diameter pipes and valves. Wind and seismic loads can also be factors.

The pipe coupling substantially resists the rotation of the pipes with respect to each other about the rigid body, ie its axis of rotation, resists the axial movement of the pipes with respect to each other due to internal pressure, and resists the angular deflection of the pipes with respect to each other. It is desirable to. Rigid couplings do not easily leak, require less maintenance, and eliminate or at least reduce the need for engineers to consider the axial motion of the pipes in the network when subjected to significant internal pressures, thereby reducing the design of the piping network. Simplify. In addition, when the pipe coupling is a substantial rigid body, its center of gravity is eccentric to the axis of the pipe such that valves or other components, which may tend to rotate out of position, remain in place, around the longitudinal axis under gravity It does not tend to rotate at.

Many couplings according to the prior art do not reliably provide the desired stiffness, mainly because they use keys having a rectangular cross section narrower than the width of the grooves to which they are joined. This condition can result in inconsistent contact between the pipe and the coupling, which allows too much free play between the pipes and relative movement in the axial, rotational or angular direction, for example. It is also difficult for such a key to properly engage the groove. Couplings that provide a more rigid connection can be inefficient in allowing the pipe ends to be spaced apart from each other by the desired distance so that the keys and grooves can be properly aligned and the pipes can be properly spaced. When properly spaced, the pipe end and the coupling cooperate with a sealing member disposed between the coupling and the pipe end to ensure a fluid sealable seal. When the couplings are engaged with each other and with the pipes, the movement of the pipes occurs, albeit small, and may require significant torque to be applied on the fixtures used to clamp the couplings against the pipes. This is particularly acute when the pipes to be joined are stacked vertically above one another, and the act of coupling the pipes and couplings moves one of the pipes upwards relative to the other to form a suitable gap between the pipe ends. You have to lift it. In addition, for such a coupling, it is difficult to reliably and visually ensure that the coupling is properly installed so that the key engages with the groove and the pipe is spaced apart as necessary to ensure fluid sealing.

Couples that provide increased stiffness while reducing the force needed to engage the coupling with the pipe end to effect its proper spacing and also provide a reliable visual indicator of the coupling being properly installed on the pipe. It is desirable to provide a ring.

The present invention relates to a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting the pipes to ends. The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent each end. The coupling includes a plurality of segments that can be arranged circumferentially around the pipe. Each segment has a pair of keys projecting radially inwards towards the pipe to engage the circumferential groove. The keys are arranged in a relationship spaced apart from each other, forming a space therebetween. The key has a wedge shaped cross section. The groove has a shape complementary to the key to receive the key when the segment is disposed around the pipe circumference.

One of the keys has an interior surface that faces the space and an exterior surface that faces away from the space. The outer surface is preferably oriented with respect to the inner surface to form a wedge shaped cross section of one key.

The inner surface is preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe.

One key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface. One key is that the radially oriented surface and the outer surface are substantially spaced from the pipe when a lug on one of the segments is engaged with the lug on the other of the segments in either a pad-to-pad contact or a spaced apart relationship. It remains in a deployed relationship, and the inner surface can be sized to engage the grooves and connect the pipes together.

In another embodiment, the outer surface is disposed in contact with the pipe, the radially oriented surface is in a spaced apart relationship from the pipe, the inner surface also engaging the grooves to connect the pipes to each other. In an additional embodiment, the outer surface is spaced apart from the pipe and the radially oriented surface likewise contacts the inner surface. Alternatively, one key is disposed when both the radially facing surface and the outer surface are in contact with the pipe when the lug on one segment engages the lug on the other segment in pad-to-pad contact or spaced apart relationship. The inner surface can be sized to engage the grooves and connect the pipes to each other.

One of the grooves preferably comprises a first side disposed adjacent the end of the pipe. The second side is disposed distal to the end of the pipe in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first side. The bottom surface extends between the first and second sides. One of the first and second sides is oriented substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface.

The invention further comprises a coupling for connecting the two pipes together end to end. The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent each end. The coupling includes first and second segments that are disposed around the pipe circumference. Each segment has outwardly extending lugs at each end. The lugs of the first segment are adapted to align with the lugs of the second segment and to receive fixtures for attaching the segments to each other. Each segment has a pair of keys projecting radially inwardly towards the pipe for engagement with the circumferential groove. The keys are arranged in a spaced apart relationship with one another and form a space therebetween. Each of the keys has an interior surface that faces the space and an exterior surface that faces away from the space. The key further includes a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface. The key is such that when the lug on the first segment engages the lug on the second segment, at least one of the radially oriented surface and the outer surface remains substantially spaced from the pipe, and the inner surface engages the groove, Sized to connect to each other.

The present invention also relates to a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting the pipes to ends. The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent each end. The coupling includes a plurality of segments that can be positioned around the pipe circumference. Each segment has a pair of keys projecting radially inwards towards the pipe for engagement with the circumferential groove. The keys are arranged in spaced relation to each other, forming a space therebetween, and the keys have a cross-sectional shape that substantially fills the grooves when the segments are disposed around the pipe circumferential direction. In one embodiment, the key has a convexly curved cross-sectional shape.

1 is a perspective view of a coupling for connecting two pipes end to end with pipes shown in phantom;

1A is a perspective view showing details of the coupling shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pipe coupling shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

2a is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pipe coupling according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2, shown in enlarged scale; FIG.

3 is a side view of the segment comprising the coupling shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a bottom view of the segment shown in FIG. 3.

4A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a segment having one key and a flange for mating with a flanged pipe or fitting;

5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.

5a and 5b are cross sectional views taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing an alternative embodiment of a coupling according to the invention;

6 and 7 are side views of roller tools forming grooves in the pipe;

7A-7G are side views of various embodiments of roller tools for forming grooves in a pipe.

8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a coupling.

9 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the coupling according to the invention.

10-15 are longitudinal sectional views of embodiments of pipes with circumferential grooves according to the invention.

16-21 illustrate various, circumferential grooved components and fittings in accordance with the present invention.

1 shows a pipe coupling 10 for connecting two pipes 12, 14 coaxially end to end. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling 10 consists of at least two segments 16, 18. Each segment 16, 18 has lugs 20, 22, respectively, and the lugs are disposed at or near each end of the segment. Lugs 20 at each end of segment 16 align with lugs 22 at each end of segment 18. The lugs 20, 22 are preferably adapted to receive the fasteners in the form of bolts 24 and nuts 26 for joining the segments with respect to each other at the ends surrounding the pipes 12, 14. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the lugs 20 are placed in contact with each other when the segments 16, 18 are properly engaged with the pipes 12, 14 as described below. Engage lug 22 in a manner known as " pad-to-pad engagement ". The lugs may also be attached to each other in a spaced apart relationship when the segments 16, 18 properly engage the pipes 12, 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

Although lugs are a good means for attaching segments to each other with respect to one end, it should be recognized that other attachment means exist, such as circumferential bands, axial pins and latching handles. These means are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 1,541,601, 2,014,313, 2,362,454, 2,673,102, 2,752,174, 3,113,791 and 4,561,678, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

For large diameter pipes it is sometimes advantageous to form the coupling 10 from two or more segments. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pipe coupling 10 includes segments 16a and 16b joined to each other and to segments 18a and 18b that are also joined to each other. Each segment also has lugs 20, 22 at its respective ends, and the segments are preferably joined to one another by means of fasteners such as bolts 24 and nuts 26. The following description of the coupling 10 is provided by way of example and is based on a coupling having two segments with lugs at each end. Various aspects of the present description are applicable to modifying the embodiment regardless of the manner in which the segments are attached to each other or the number of segments including couplings.

As shown in FIG. 2, each segment 16, 18 has an arcuate surface 28 that is directed inwardly towards the pipes 12, 14. A pair of keys 30 protrude radially inward from the arcuate surface 28. The keys 30 on each segment are spaced apart with respect to each other and form a space 32 therebetween. As best shown in FIG. 5, in order to effect the connection between the pipes 12, 14, the keys 30 are provided with grooves 34, 36 extending circumferentially around the pipes 12, 14, respectively. To combine. The engagement of the grooves 34, 36 and the key 30 substantially rigidly connects the pipes 12, 14 coaxially with each other and maintains them at a predetermined separation distance as indicated by the gap 38. A sealing member 40 is disposed in the space 32 and between the arcuate surface 28 of the segments 16, 18 and the pipes 12, 14. The gap 38 between the pipes 12, 14 provides a tolerance to facilitate mounting of the coupling, allows the pressurized fluid to apply hydraulic pressure to the sealing member 40, and the pipes 12, 14. Ensure a fluid seal between the seals.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each key 30 has a pair of cam faces 42 disposed adjacent the lugs 20, 22, or near the end of the running segment. It is preferable. The cam surface 42 is preferably oriented outwardly from the space 32, and is angularly oriented about an axis 43 oriented substantially tangential to the key 30, as shown in FIG. 2B. The cam face also has an angular orientation forming a wedge 46 adjacent each lug, as shown in FIG. When the segments 16, 18 engage the grooves 34, 36 to connect the pipe 12 to the pipe 14, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the cam face 42 (see FIG. 2) is a groove. It is a first surface that engages with (34, 36). The wedges 46 formed by the cam face 42 are pipes 12, 14, preferably in pad-to-pad engagement, when the lugs 20, 22 of the segments 16, 18 approach toward each other. It provides a mechanical advantage of separating them from each other. This wedge action separates the gap 38 between the pipe ends (see FIG. 5) while reducing the force needed to bring the lugs 20, 22 towards each other when the connection between the pipes 12, 14 is carried out. Ensure that this is achieved. Lugs 20 and 22 are generally pulled toward each other by tightening nut 26 (see FIG. 1). The mechanical advantage obtained by the use of the wedge 46 is that the nut 26 needed to bring the lugs 20, 22 into pad-to-pad engagement to separate the pipes 12, 14 by the gap 38. The torque applied to it is significantly reduced, thereby allowing heavy pipes of large diameter to be connected by hand, even when stacked vertically on top of each other. This configuration is particularly problematic because the insertion of the key 30 into the grooves 34, 36 must lift the entire weight of the pipe to form the gap 38. The wedge 46 makes this effort significantly easier. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2B, the angular orientation 45 of the cam surface 42 measured about the axis 43 is preferably about 5 °, but may be up to about 10 ° for the actual design.

The use of the key with the cam face is not limited to the coupling for joining the grooved pipes to each other, but can be used for practical, any coupling arrangement with at least one key. 4A shows a coupling segment 51 used in conjunction with a similar coupling segment for attaching a grooved pipe to a flanged pipe. The coupling segment 51 has an arcuate key 30 with a cam face 42 at each end. As described above, the cam surface may be angularly oriented tangentially with respect to the key 30, forming a wedge 46 as shown in FIG. Opposite the key is a flange 53 which is adapted to engage a mating flange on a flanged pipe. The flange is secured via a fixture passing through the bolt hole 55, as understood by the flanged connection. The coupling segment 51 is its associated coupling by means of attachment, preferably a lug 20 arranged near the end of the segment that is aligned and engaged by the fixture, as known in the art and described above. Ends are attached to the segments.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, the keys 30 are shaped to perform a wedge action when they engage the grooves 34, 36. 5 illustrates one configuration in which the key 30 has a wedge-shaped cross section. The key 30 is located between the inner surface 50 facing the space 32, the outer surface 52 facing outward in a direction away from the space 32, and located between the inner surface and the outer surface and coupled by coupling. It is formed by the radial surface 54 which is directed radially inwards towards the pipe. Preferably, the inner surface 50 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis 48 and the outer surface 52 is angularly oriented with respect to the axis 48 to form a wedge shaped cross section of the key 30. The relative angle 56 measured radially with respect to the key between the outer surface 52 and the axis 48 oriented substantially coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the pipes 12, 14 ranges up to about 70 °, and 50 °. Is preferred (also see FIG. 1).

Although the surfaces 52, 54 of FIG. 5 are shown in cross-section with a straight profile, they may have, for example, convex, concave or some other profile shape and still engage with the grooves 34, 36. Execute wedge action. An alternative embodiment of the key 30 is shown in FIG. 5A, where the surface 50 has a curved cross-sectional profile in the form of a convex radius that is substantially fused into the radial surface 54.

As shown in FIG. 4, the radial angular orientation 44 of the cam surface 42 is substantially equal to the radial angular orientation 56 of the tall outer surface 52 when measured about the longitudinal axis 48. It is preferable. When the coupling is installed, the key outer surface to avoid point contact when the surface engages the directing surfaces of the grooves 34, 36 to mitigate gouging between surfaces resulting from point-to-point contact. It is advantageous to match the radial orientation angles of 52 and cam surface 42 to one another.

The grooves 43 and 36 to which the key 30 engages have a shape complementary to the wedge-shaped cross section of the key. In general, it is advantageous for the key to have a cross-sectional shape that substantially fills the groove, even when the groove and the shape of the key are not exactly complementary. The grooves 36 are described in detail below, and the grooves 34 are substantially similar, and no separate explanation is required. The groove 36 is a first side 58 disposed adjacent the end 14a of the pipe 14, a second side 60 spaced apart with respect to the first side 58, distal from the end 14a. And bottom surface 62 extending between the first and second sides. The complementary shape of the groove 36 relative to the key 30 orients the bottom surface 62 substantially parallel to the radial surface 54, and substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 62 (thus, the inner surface ( By aligning the first side 58, substantially parallel to 50) and by aligning the second side 60, substantially parallel to the outer surface 52 (thus, angled relative to the bottom surface 62). , Is achieved.

The key 30 and the lugs 20, 22 are connected to the key 30 when the lug 20 is pad-to-pad engaged with the lug 22, that is, when each other contacts as shown in FIG. 1. In combination with the groove 43, the outer surface 52 of the key is in direct contact with the second side 60 with a state referred to as "line-on-line clearance" (see left half in FIG. 5), or Sized and tolerance formed so as to be in any one of the positions (shown in the right half of FIG. 5) spaced apart with respect to the second side face 60 of the groove as defined by a gap 64 of 0.035 inches or less. . Also, radial surface 54 may also be in line on-line clearance with bottom surface 62 (left half of FIG. 5) or bottom surface 62 as defined by a gap 66 of 0.030 in or less. Are spaced apart relative to (right half of FIG. 5). The inner surface 50 is in contact with the first side 58, as shown in FIG. 5, but there may likewise be gaps for certain tolerance conditions. As a practical matter, however, it is difficult and expensive to form the pipes and couplings completely round and exactly to the desired dimensions, so that the grooves 34 and 36 and the keys (circumferentially around any pipe joint) Intermittent contact exists between the various surfaces of 30) to create a substantial rigid bond. Joint stiffness can be further increased by the use of teeth 31 projecting outward from the surfaces of the various keys 30, as best shown in FIG. 2. Teeth 31 are introduced into the groove surface of the pipe, increasing friction to prevent rotational displacement of the pipe relative to the coupling. The same relationship between the various surfaces described above can also be achieved when the lugs are attached to each other in a spaced apart relationship as shown in FIG. 1A.

Even when the key does not have a shape complementary to that of the groove as shown in FIG. 5A, a similar relationship between the surface containing the groove and the key surface is considered. Such a key, for example, a coupling having a convex key 30, contacts the second side 60 with a line on-line play (left side in FIG. 5A), or a gap between the surfaces 54, 56 of about 0.035 in. It may have a surface having a (64) spaced relationship relative to the surface 60 (right side of FIG. 5A). Again, surfaces 54 and 60 may also be line on-line spaced apart or separated by a gap 62, preferably no greater than 0.030 in.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5B, the wedging of the key 30 also allows the inner surface 50 and the outer surface 52 to contact the groove surfaces 58 and 60, respectively, It may be ensured when spaced apart from the bottom face 62 of the groove by the gap 66. 5B shows various straight sided key surfaces 50, 52, 54 and counterpart straight sided groove surfaces 58, 60, 62, with grooves and keys providing a substantially complementary shape. The left side of FIG. 5B shows a convexly curved outer surface 52 that engages a straight surface 60 as an example where the shapes of the keys and grooves are not substantially complementary. It should be noted that the groove bottom surface 62 is shown on the left as being oriented angularly with respect to the surface of the pipe 12.

It has been found that a good configuration formed by pad-to-pad engagement of lugs 20 and 22 in conjunction with tolerance conditions as described above provides a number of advantages. The combination of the first side 58 and the inner surface 50 forces the pipes 12, 14 to be in a substantially accurate axial position with respect to each other. When the couplings are installed on pipes, since these surfaces support against each other, they do not move axially when an internal fluid pressure is applied. Thus, the designer does not have to consider the extension of the piping network due to internal pressure during use, thereby simplifying the design. The relatively small gaps 64, 66 (which may be zero) ensure adequate stiffness, prevent excessive angular deviations between the pipe and the coupling, and allow the tolerances necessary to limit the gap to the desired limits. 10) to be economically manufactured. In addition, grooves, valves or other fittings in the pipe can be made economically. The gap advantageously acts to provide a rigid bond in conjunction with the out of roundness of the actual pipe, which typically occurs. The pad-to-pad coupling of the lugs 20, 22 provides a reliable visual indicator that the coupling 10 is properly engaged with the pipes 12, 14.

If it is desired to have a more flexible coupling 10 to allow for greater angular deflection, then the cap 64 at one or both ends of the coupling can be formed larger than the above-described limit of 0.035 inches. For the flexible coupling, as shown in FIG. 5, it has been found to be one half of the size of the gap 38 between the ends of the pipes 12, 14.

It is also conceivable to allow the key 30 to engage the grooves 34 and 36 without gaps under all tolerance conditions. This configuration takes advantage of the wedge action of the key to provide a rigid coupling. However, with this configuration, it is also impractical to maintain the pad-to-pad engagement of the lugs 20, 22, because the pad-to-pad engagement and the circumferential wedge in full contact with the key and the groove are This is because it is difficult to economically manufacture couplings and pipes with the gaps necessary to ensure both couplings. As shown in FIG. 9, for a configuration in which no pad-to-pad engagement is maintained nominally, the opening on the segment 16 that fits in the recess 112 adjacent the lug 22 on the segment 18 ( It is preferable to employ the tongue section 110 adjacent to 20). The tongue tongue prevents the sealing member 40 from being blown out through the gap between the lugs 22 and 20 when the engaging portion is subjected to a high internal pressure.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the groove 36 is preferably formed by cold working the pipe 14 forming material. In a preferred embodiment, the groove 36 has a first side 37 disposed adjacent to the end of the pipe, a second side 60 and a spaced apart position relative to the first side distal to the end of the pipe. A bottom portion 41 extending between the first and second sides. The second side is preferably angularly oriented relative to the bottom at an angle 43 greater than 90 °.

A roller tool 68 is used having a cross section at its periphery that is substantially the same as the desired shape of the groove. The roller tool 68 either moves the roller tool around the pipe, or moves the pipe around its longitudinal axis 48 relative to the roller tool, by way of the outer surface 70 of the pipe 14 around its circumference. ) And forced coupling. It is preferred that the backup roller 72 engages the inner surface 74 of the pipe 14 opposite the roller tool 68. Pipe wall 76 is compressed between roller tool 68 and backup roller 72. The use of a backup roller 72 provides a reaction surface for the roller tool. The backup roller also helps to ensure that accurate groove formation is achieved by promoting material flow during roll groove formation.

During cold working to form the grooves 36 with the angularly oriented second side 60, it has been found that significant friction occurs between the roller tool 68 and the pipe 14. The friction is caused by the contact between the angled surfaces 78 on the roller tool 68 forming the angularly oriented second side 60 of the groove 36. As angled, the points along the angled surface 78 are at different distances from the axis of rotation 80 of the roller tool 68. Due to the different distances from the axis 80, each of the points on the surface 78 move relative to each other at different linear velocities with respect to the particular angular velocity of the roller tool 68. The point farthest from the axis 80 moves fastest, and the point closest to the axis moves slowest. Thus, there is a speed difference along the angular surface 78, which is the surface against the second side 60 of the groove 36 as the roller tool 68 rotates with respect to the pipe 14 to form a groove. Should make it slip. The relative slippage between the roller tool and the pipe causes friction. Excessive heat generated by friction can result in the destruction of the roller tool holding the lubricant, and when changing the tool for pipes of different sizes, the roller tool can cause the handle to become too hot. The roller tool must be able to cool before the change, resulting in time loss.

In order to mitigate the generation of excessive heat, the roller tool 82 shown in FIG. 7 is used to form the grooves 84 in the pipe 14. In the groove 84, the second sliding surface 86 is disposed adjacent the bottom surface 90, with the first surface portion 88 oriented angularly relative to the bottom surface 90, and substantially perpendicular thereto. An oriented second surface portion 92, thereby reducing the size of the angularly oriented second side 86. By reducing the size of the angular surface area on both the roller tool 82 and the groove 84, the friction caused during cold working to form the groove is reduced. The angularly oriented first surface 88 still provides the advantages as described above for the second side 60. An embodiment of a coupling 10 that engages the groove 84 is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The roller tool 82 has a circumferential surface 94 having a cross-sectional shape complementary to the groove 84, which shape is the first outer circumferential surface 99 oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80 of the roller tool 82. ), A second outer circumferential surface 98 disposed in a spaced relationship relative to the first outer circumferential surface 96, a radial surface 100 extending between the first and second outer circumferential surfaces and oriented substantially parallel to the axis 80. ) And an angular surface 102 angularly oriented relative to the axis 80 and disposed adjacent the outer circumferential surface 100. Angled surface 102 is preferably oriented about 70 °, most preferably up to about 50 ° relative to axis 80. The surface 102 is inclined in a direction away from the second outer circumferential surface, thereby contacting the pipe when the groove 84 is formed.

The wedge action between the grooves in the pipe and the key 30 can be achieved for groove cross-sectional shapes other than those described above. The main criterion for the wedge action is that the width of the groove at the surface of the pipe is larger than the width of the groove at the bottom of the groove. 10-15 show various groove structures that meet this criterion. FIG. 10 shows a groove 114 partially formed by the side portion 116 having a concave cross-sectional shape. FIG. 11 shows a groove 118 partially formed by the side portion 120 having a convex cross-sectional shape. In FIG. 12, the groove 122 is partially formed by the side portion 124 having the first and second angled portions 124a and 124b, the first angled portion 124a being less than the second angled portion 124b. Have a large slope. FIG. 13 shows a groove 126 partially formed by side 128 having a first angled portion 128a having a smaller slope than second angled portion 128b. Combinations of radius and angled portions may also be considered, as shown in FIG. 14 with groove 130 having radius portion 132 and angled portion 134. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a groove 136 having a wedge-shaped cross-sectional profile, where no significant bottom exists compared to other example grooves. The groove 136 is formed by the sides 136a, 136b oriented angularly with respect to each other. Common to all designs is that the width 138 of the groove at the surface of the pipe is greater than the width 140 of the groove at the bottom of the groove. Although the bottom is preferably substantially parallel to the pipe surface, it may be bent as shown in FIG. 10, or may not be present as shown in FIG. 15, and the bottom width may be substantially zero. The bottom may also be angularly oriented, as shown in FIG. 5B.

A roller tool for creating a groove as described above is shown in FIGS. 7A-7G. In FIG. 7A, the roller tool 101 can rotate about an axis 80, with a radially oriented surface 103 having a first surface portion 105 and a second surface portion 107 disposed laterally. It can be provided. The roller surface 105 is oriented perpendicular to the axis 80, resulting in the formation of a substantially vertical groove side. The roller surface portion is concave and results in convex groove side 120 as shown in FIG.

Similarly, the roller tool 109 shown in FIG. 7B has a radially oriented surface portion 111 extending between the convex surface portion 115 and the vertical surface portion 113. Such a roller creates a groove having a concave side 116 as shown in FIG. 10.

Each of the additional roller embodiments 117, 119 shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D is a surface portion having a first face 123 angularly oriented about an axis 80 and a second face 125. 121, the second face is also oriented at an angle to the axis 80, but at a different angle. In the roller tool 117, the inclination of the first surface portion is greater than the inclination of the second surface portion, which creates a groove 122 as shown in FIG. In the roller tool 119, the inclination of the first surface portion is less than the inclination of the second surface portion, which creates a groove 126 having an angled oriented side surface 124 as shown in FIG.

The roller tool 127 shown in FIG. 7E does not have any radially oriented surface, and the angled surface 129 intersects with the surface portion 131 substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 80. The roller tool 127 is useful for creating the groove shown in FIG.

The roller tool 133 shown in FIG. 7F has a curved radially oriented surface 135 and an angularly oriented surface 135 and a vertical surface 137. The curved surface can be convex, concave, sinusoidal, hyperbolic or irregularly curved.

As shown in FIG. 7G, the roller 139 may have a radially oriented surface angularly oriented with respect to the axis of rotation 80. Grooves as shown in FIG. 5B are created by this tool.

Although it is described that a groove is applied to the pipe end that is applied to achieve significant wedging of the coupling with the key, this groove may also be used in conjunction with the pipe fitting as well. By way of example, FIG. 16 shows elbow fitting 140 with circumferential grooves 142 at each end. The groove 142 may have any of the cross-sectional profiles illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 10-15, or any of its variations as described above. Similarly, the tee fitting 144 shown in FIG. 17 preferably has grooves 146 adjacent to each of its ends, the grooves being wedges for joining the fittings to other fittings or pipes as described herein. Applied to create an action. 18 shows a fitting 148 having a wedge-shaped groove 150 adjacent one end and a flange 152 at the opposite end. Fittings 148 allow piping networks using mechanical couplings to be joined to other networks joined using flanges. Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the reducer 154 (FIG. 19) or the nipple 156 (FIG. 20) used to join pipes of different diameters also has a tolerance of the coupling as described above. Depending on, having each groove 158, 160 similar to those illustrated and described above, which increases the wedge action between the coupling and the groove to ensure either a stronger or more flexible connection. You can benefit from this.

As further shown in FIG. 21, components related to control of fluid flow, such as valve 162, are also described above to couple the valve to a pipe, fitting, or other component using mechanical coupling as described herein. It may have grooves 164 similar to those.

The pipe coupling according to the invention combines the advantages of a rigid visual indicator and a reliable visual indicator to ensure that the coupling properly engages the pipe, in order to implement a fluid sealable joint. Couplings have tolerances that allow them to be produced economically, and still allow to produce substantial rigid joints between pipes.

Claims (30)

In a combination of a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting the pipes to ends, The pipe having a circumferential groove adjacent each of the ends, the coupling comprising a plurality of segments that can be positioned around the pipe circumference, and means for attaching the segments end to end, each of the segments Has a pair of keys projecting radially inwardly toward the pipe to engage the circumferential groove, the keys are arranged in a spaced apart relationship, forming a space therebetween, the keys being wedge shaped And a groove having a cross section, wherein the groove is complementary to the key to receive the key when the segment is disposed about the pipe circumference. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the segments have outwardly extending lugs at one end, The lugs are adapted to receive fasteners to align the segments with one another, while being aligned with each other, The lug and fixture comprise a pair of pipe and coupling comprising the attachment means. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the keys has an inner surface that faces the space and an outer surface that faces a direction away from the space, Wherein the inner and outer surfaces are angularly oriented with respect to one another to form the wedge-shaped cross section of the one key. 4. The combination of a pipe and coupling of claim 3, wherein said outer surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile. 4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the inner surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, When the lug on one of the segments engages in pad-to-pad contact with the lug on the other of the segments, the radially oriented surface and the outer surface remain in a substantially spaced relationship from the pipe, And a pair of pipes and couplings in which the one key is sized such that the inner surface engages the grooves to connect the pipes to each other. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, When the lug on one of the segments engages in pad-to-pad contact with the lug on the other of the segments, the outer surface is disposed in contact with the pipe and the radially oriented surface is spaced apart from the pipe. And a pair of pipes and couplings, the one key being sized to engage the grooves so that the inner surfaces connect the pipes to each other. 8. The combination of claim 7, comprising a plurality of teeth disposed on the outer surface, wherein the teeth are coupled to the groove when the outer surface is disposed in contact with the pipe. . 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, When the lug on one of the segments engages in pad-to-pad contact with the lug on the other of the segments, both the radially oriented surface and the outer surface are disposed in contact with the pipe, and the inner A pair of pipe and coupling combinations in which the one key is sized to engage the groove so that a surface connects the pipes to each other. 8. The combination of coupling and pipe of claim 7, wherein said radially oriented surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile. 7. The combination of pair of pipes and couplings of claim 6, wherein the spaced relationship between the radially oriented surface and the pipe is about 0.30 in or less. 7. The pipe of claim 6, wherein the pipe ends are separated from each other by a predetermined gap, and the outer surface is coupled with a pair of pipes spaced apart from the pipe by a distance equal to about one half of the gap between the pipe ends. Combination of rings. 7. The combination of pair of pipes and couplings of claim 6, wherein the spaced relationship between the outer surface and the pipe is about 0.035 inches or less. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, The lug on one of the segments is attached in a spaced apart relationship relative to the lug on the other of the segments, the radially oriented surface and the outer surface remain substantially spaced apart from the pipe, the inner surface being And a pair of pipes and couplings in which the one key is sized to engage the grooves to connect the pipes to each other. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, The lug on one of the segments is attached in a spaced apart relationship with the lug on the other of the segments, the outer surface is disposed in contact with the pipe, and the radially oriented surface is positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the pipe And the inner surface is a combination of a pair of pipes and couplings to engage the grooves to connect the pipes to each other. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the one key further comprises a radially oriented surface disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, When the lug on one of the segments is attached in a spaced apart relationship with the lug on the other of the segments, both the radially oriented surface and the outer surface are disposed in contact with the pipe, the inner surface of the pipe And a pair of pipes and couplings in which the one key is sized to engage the grooves to connect the two to each other. The combination of pair of pipes and couplings of claim 15, wherein the radially oriented surface has a substantially flat cross-sectional profile. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the grooves A first side disposed adjacent one end of the pipe, A second side disposed distal to the end of the pipe, in a spaced apart relationship relative to the first side, and A bottom surface extending between said first and second sides, One of said first and second sides is a combination of a pair of pipe and coupling oriented at an angle greater than 90 ° with respect to said bottom surface. 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the second side is oriented at the angle to the bottom surface. 20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said first side is oriented substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member that can be located within the space between the keys, Wherein the sealing member is a combination of a pair of pipe and coupling extending circumferentially around the pipe to provide a fluid sealing seal between the pipe ends. In the coupling for connecting two pipes together end to end, The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent each end and the coupling includes first and second segments that can be circumferentially positioned around the pipe, each of the segments having outwardly extending lugs at each end. The lug of the first segment is adapted to align with the lug of the second segment and to receive a fixture for attaching the segments to each other, each of the segments engaging the circumferential groove. A pair of keys protruding radially inward toward, wherein the keys are spaced apart from each other and form a space therebetween, each of the keys being away from the space and an interior surface directed to the space; A radially oriented outer surface, the key being located between the inner and outer surfaces Further comprising a facing surface, wherein when the lug on the first segment engages the lug on the second segment, at least one of the radially facing surface and the outer surface is substantially spaced from the pipe And the key is sized to engage the groove so that the inner surface connects the pipe to each other. 23. The couple of claim 22 wherein both the radially oriented surface and the outer surface remain in a substantially spaced relationship from the pipe when the lug on the first segment engages the lug on the second segment. ring. 23. The coupling of claim 22 wherein said outer surface is angularly oriented relative to said inner surface to form a wedge shaped cross section of said key. In a combination of a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting the pipes to ends, The pipe has a circumferential groove adjacent each of the ends and the coupling includes a plurality of segments that can be circumferentially positioned around the pipe, each of the segments for engagement with the circumferential groove. A pair of keys projecting radially inwardly toward the pipe, the keys being positioned in a spaced apart relationship from each other to form a space therebetween, the keys being circumferentially positioned around the pipe When combined, a combination of a pair of pipe and coupling having a cross-sectional shape that substantially fills the groove. 26. The combination of coupling and pipe of claim 25, wherein one of the keys has a wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the one key has an interior surface that faces the space and an exterior surface that faces away from the space, wherein the exterior surface is angularly oriented with respect to the interior surface, A combination of a pair of pipes and couplings to form the wedge-shaped cross section of the key. 29. The combination of pair of pipes and couplings of claim 27, wherein the outer surface is oriented at an angle of up to 70 ° relative to an axis oriented coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the pipe. 26. The combination of coupling and pipe of claim 25, wherein the key has a convexly curved cross-sectional shape. In a combination of a pair of pipes and a coupling for connecting the pipes to ends, Said pipe having a circumferential groove adjacent said end, said coupling comprising a plurality of segments that can be circumferentially positioned around said pipe, and means for attaching said segments end to end, one of said segments Has a first key projecting radially inwardly toward one of the pipes to engage with the circumferential groove on the one pipe, the other of the segments being adapted for engagement with the circumferential groove on the other pipe A second key protruding radially inwardly toward the remainder of the pipe, the key having a wedge-shaped cross section, wherein the groove is adapted to receive the key when the segment is disposed circumferentially around the pipe; A combination of a pair of pipes and couplings having a shape complementary to the key.

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