Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L23/00—Flanged joints
  • F16L23/04—Flanged joints the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane
  • F16L23/08—Flanged joints the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L17/00—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure
  • F16L17/06—Joints with packing adapted to sealing by fluid pressure with sealing rings arranged between the end surfaces of the pipes or flanges or arranged in recesses in the pipe ends or flanges
  • F16L17/067—Plastics sealing rings
  • F16L17/073—Plastics sealing rings the sealing rings having two lips parallel to each other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L23/00—Flanged joints
  • F16L23/16—Flanged joints characterised by the sealing means
  • F16L23/18—Flanged joints characterised by the sealing means the sealing means being rings
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S285/00—Pipe joints or couplings
  • Y10S285/91—Gaskets
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49428—Gas and water specific plumbing component making

Definitions

• This invention relates to a pipe coupling used to join adjacent pipe lengths together to form a pipeline system.
• a known pipe coupling comprises a clamp arrangement incorporating a clamp which embraces adjacent ends of adjacent pipe lengths.
• the clamp is tightened onto a seal so that the coupling can withstand the maximum pressure the pipeline is designed to carry.
• the clamp arrangement may hold the pipe lengths together by friction in low pressure situations, or may co-operate with a groove or shoulder formed at each end of each pipe length in higher pressure situations.
• Such clamp arrangements may be fixed into position by bolting or over centre clamping.
• a problem with known clamp arrangements is that it is difficult to ensure accurate alignment of the internal bores of adjacent pipe lengths, primarily due to the resilience of the seal which can allow adjacent pipe lengths to move radially relative to one another, such as may occur as the clamp is being tightened onto the pipe lengths.
• a known method of overcoming this problem is to design the pipe lengths to have one male end and one female end. Joins between adjacent pipe lengths are then made between the male end of one pipe length and the female end of another pipe length. This allows adjacent pipe lengths to be located accurately relative to one another and leads to alignment of the bores of adjacent pipe lengths.
• a pipe coupling for coupling together first and second lengths of pipe, the coupling comprising a first collar secured to an end of the first length of pipe and having a joining surface thereto, a second collar secured to an end of the second length of pipe and having a joining surface thereto, the first and second collars being positioned such that, when adjacent ends of the first and second pipe lengths are brought into contact with one another, the joining surfaces of the first and second collars also contact one another, and means for securing together the first and second collars, characterised in that the joining surfaces of the first and second collars each have formed therein radially-aligned receiving portions which, when the collars are brought into contact with one another, define seal receiving means, and a seal comprising a substantially rigid first seal component and a resilient second seal component, the seal being positioned within the seal receiving means to extend partially into both receiving portions thereof and to seal between the joining surfaces of the first and second collars.
• the seal is positioned in the receiving portion of a first of the collars. Due to the size of the seal, a part of the seal extends beyond said receiving portion in the first collar. This protruding part is used to locate the second collar relative to the first collar by positioning the second collar such that the remaining part of the seal is located within the seal receiving portion in said second collar.
• each receiving portion comprises a groove formed in the joining surface of the associated collar.
• the seal may then initially simply be positioned within one of the grooves.
• the first seal component comprises a substantially rigid ring the width of which is slightly less than the combined width of the grooves in the two collars, and the outer diameter of which is such that the ring is a push fit into the receiving means.
• the second seal component comprises a resilient ring of substantially U-shape in cross-section, the width of which is slightly more than the combined width of the grooves in the two collars, and the internal diameter of which is slightly larger than the minimum diameter of each groove.
• the resilient ring is secured within the first, rigid seal component and thus the rigid component forms the outer periphery of the seal.
• the U-shaped resilient seal component reacts to pressures from within the pipe lengths and increases its seal efficiency as pressure increases.
• a further advantage of the pipe coupling according to the present invention is that adjacent pipe lengths can be rotated relative to one another without the need for uncoupling.
• Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section through part of a pipe coupling according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic transverse section through a collar forming part of the pipe coupling in Figure 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 are a side view and a front view respectively of a clamp forming part of the pipe coupling of Figure 1, and
• Figure 5 is a front view, incorporating a transverse section, of the seal forming part of the pipe coupling of Figure 1.
• a pipe coupling according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 2.
• the pipe coupling comprises a first length of pipe 4 and a second length of pipe 6 a wall of each of which is shown in Fig. 1 and to the end of each of which are welded associated annular collars 8, 10 respectively.
• the collars have respective joining surfaces 12, 14 thereon arranged to abut one another on coupling together of the pipe lengths 4, 6.
• each collar 8, 10 is of an outwardly and forwardly tapering nature, the collars 8, 10 being held together by a clamp indicated generally at 16 and provided with a correspondingly tapered clamping surface therein.
• the joining surfaces 12, 14 of the collars 8, 10 each have formed therein a circular groove or channel 18, 20 respectively, the two grooves 18, 20 being accurately radially aligned with one another to form seal receiving means into which can be positioned a seal indicated generally at 22.
• the seal 22 comprises an outer metal ring 24 of substantially rigid, corrosive-resistant material and of generally L-shaped in transverse section to which is bonded an inner ring 26 of a flexible material such as plastics or rubber and of generally inverted U-shape in transverse section, the flexible ring 26 and the metal ring 24 forming a unitary seal.
• the width of the metal ring 24, considered in the axial direction of the coupling, is slightly less than the combined depth of the two grooves 18, 20 constituting the seal receiving means, typically 0.13mm less, while the diameter of the metal ring 24 is such that it is a push-fit into one or other of the grooves 18, 20 to project partially therefrom.
• the width of the flexible ring 26, again considered in the axial direction of the coupling, is slightly more than the combined depths of the two grooves 18, 20, while the internal diameter of said ring 26 is slightly larger than the common minimum diameter of the grooves 18, 20.
• the seal 22 is pushed into the groove 18 in the collar 8 so that it seats in said groove and projects partially therefrom.
• the portions of the clamp 16 are then positioned over the abutting collars 8, 10 and are tightened up to secure the two pipe lengths 4, 6 together.
• the clamp 16 may be of the bolted or quick-connect type.
• the collars 8, 10 comprise parallel-sided annular flanges secured to respective ends of the pipe lengths 4, 6, said flanges being secured together by a plurality of circumferentially- spaced bolts extending through the flanges parallel with the central axis of the pipeline and radially outwardly of the seal 22.
• the inverted U-shaped component 26 of the seal 22 reacts to the pressure of fluid within the pipeline, said pressure being exerted on the concave surface of the ring 26 to urge the outer walls of the ring 26 against the base walls of the two grooves 18, 20 to seal between the two surfaces 12, 14.
• the efficiency of this seal increases with increase of pressure within the pipeline.
• a coupling according to the invention is suitable for pipelines being used to transport, for example, liquids or slurries at high pressure of typically up to 350 bars or higher. However, it can be used at lower pressures, for example 10 bars.
• Two pipe lengths coupled by means of the clamp 16 may be rotated relative to one another without having to decouple the pipe lengths, it merely being necessary to loosen the clamping effect of the clamp 16.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
• Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
• Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)
• Flanged Joints, Insulating Joints, And Other Joints (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10733361

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (12)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1993
  • 1993-04-03 GB GB939307083A patent/GB9307083D0/en active Pending
• 1994
  • 1994-03-31 IN IN251MA1994 patent/IN184090B/en unknown
  • 1994-04-05 CA CA002159599A patent/CA2159599A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-04-05 DE DE69407777T patent/DE69407777T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1994-04-05 AU AU63840/94A patent/AU6384094A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-04-05 WO PCT/GB1994/000719 patent/WO1994023233A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-04-05 AT AT94911283T patent/ATE161932T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-04-05 US US08/530,192 patent/US5863078A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1994-04-05 EP EP94911283A patent/EP0693166B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (5)

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