Self-restrained pipe joint system

1. A mechanical pipe joint system for joining a male piping member having an outer surface with an outer diameter and female piping member having a bell portion configured to receive a portion of the male piping member and defining an inner surface having a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the male piping member outer surface so as to define a sealing cavity therebetween when joined, said joint system comprising:

a retaining flange configured to be attached to the female piping member via fasteners and defining a circular opening sized to accommodate the male piping member; and

a restraining gasket for sealing and restraining the male piping member relative to the female piping member, the restraining gasket comprising:

a sealing portion configured to be disposed substantially within the sealing cavity and to discourage fluid leakage between the inner surface of the female piping member opening and the outer surface of the male piping member;

a flange portion configured to position the restraining gasket relative to the retaining flange; and

a restraining portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced restraining segments formed from a material harder than a material of the male piping member and configured to engage the outer surface of the male piping member, a surface of the sealing cavity, and the retaining flange so as to restrain the male piping member within the female piping member as an extractive force is applied to the male member of the pipe joint system; and

wherein the restraining gasket includes a retaining portion extending substantially parallel with the axis of the opening and the retaining flange has a retaining counterbore configured to receive the retaining portion of the restraining gasket.

2. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 1 , wherein the flange portion extends radially and engages a counterbore defined by the retaining flange.

3. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 2 , wherein the counterbore is defined by a circular wall and a frusto-conical surface.

4. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 3 , wherein an angle between the circular wall and the frusto-conical surface is greater than 90°.

5. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange has a counterbore sized to accommodate the flange portion of the restraining gasket.

6. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 1 , wherein the retaining counterbore is defined by a circular wall and a frusto-conical surface.

7. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 6 , wherein an angle between the circular wall and the frusto-conical surface is smaller than 90°.

8. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 1 , wherein said restraining segment of the restraining gasket comprises a plurality of teeth disposed configured to engage the outer surface of the male pipe.

9. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 8 , wherein the tip of at least one intermediate tooth of the restraining segment is radially offset in relation to the other teeth.

10. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 8 , wherein the tip of at least one end tooth of the restraining segment is radially offset in relation to the other teeth.

11. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 1 , wherein said retaining portion is defined by a cylindrical surface conjugated with a frusto-conical surface.

12. The mechanical pipe joint system of claim 11 , wherein an angle between the cylindrical and frusto-conical surface is smaller than 90°.