Granted Patent B2

US 10,385,997 · App. 15/281,663 · Granted Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A method of installing a pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element, the method comprising:

sliding the pipe coupling as a preassembled unit over an outermost surface of the first pipe element, the pipe coupling comprising a coupling segment and an annular gasket, the annular gasket comprising an annular body and a pair of sealing ribs extending substantially radially inward from the annular body, each sealing rib comprising a sealing ridge defining a sealing surface, the sealing surface of each sealing ridge being coannular in an undeformed state, the sealing surfaces defining a pair of radially innermost surfaces of the annular gasket;

introducing an end of the second pipe element to an end of the first pipe element to place the first pipe element and the second pipe element in end-facing relationship;

aligning the pipe coupling over the first pipe element and the second pipe element; and

securing the coupling to the first pipe element and the second pipe element; and

wherein the sealing surface of each sealing ridge defines a diameter greater than a diameter of the outermost surface of the first pipe element and a diameter of an outermost surface of the second pipe element; and

wherein sliding the pipe coupling as a preassembled unit over the outermost surface of the first pipe element comprises sliding the annular gasket over the outermost surface of the first pipe element without contacting the outermost surface of the first pipe element.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each sealing rib increases in axial thickness from the annular body to a radially inward end of each sealing rib radially inside from the annular body, and wherein the sealing ridge of each sealing rib is connected to the radially inward end thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each sealing ridge decreases in axial thickness from a radially inward end of each sealing rib to the sealing surface of each sealing ridge.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the coupling segment is a first coupling segment;

the pipe coupling further comprises a second coupling segment secured end-to-end with the first coupling segment; and

securing the coupling comprises deforming and deflecting each coupling segment into engagement with each pipe element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein sliding the pipe coupling comprises sliding the pipe coupling past the end of the first pipe element.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pair of sealing ribs extend from side portions of the annular body.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end of at least one of the first pipe element and the second pipe element is conically flared.

8. A method of installing a pipe coupling to connect a first pipe element to a second pipe element, the method comprising:

sliding the pipe coupling as a preassembled unit over an outermost surface of the first pipe element, the pipe coupling comprising a coupling segment and an annular gasket having an innermost diameter greater than a diameter of the outermost surface of the first pipe element and a diameter of an outermost surface of the second pipe element, the annular gasket comprising an annular body and a pair of sealing ribs extending substantially radially inward from the annular body, each sealing rib comprising a sealing ridge defining a sealing surface, the sealing surfaces defining a pair of radially innermost surfaces of the annular gasket, the annular gasket configured to slide over the diameters of the outermost surface of the first pipe element and the outermost surface of the second pipe element without contacting the outermost surfaces of the first pipe element and the second pipe element in an undeformed state;

introducing an end of the second pipe element to an end of the first pipe element to place the first pipe element and the second pipe element in end-facing relationship;

aligning the pipe coupling over the first pipe element and the second pipe element; and

securing the coupling to the first pipe element and the second pipe element; and,

wherein the sealing surface of each sealing ridge are coannular in the undeformed state; and

wherein each of the first pipe element and the second pipe element includes a flare.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each sealing rib is increasing in axial thickness from the annular body to a radially inward end of each sealing rib radially inside from the annular body, and wherein the sealing ridge of each sealing rib is connected to the radially inward end thereof.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each sealing ridge decreases in axial thickness from a radially inward end of each sealing rib to the sealing surface of each sealing ridge, and wherein each sealing ridge comprises an axially outer drafted edge angled at a non-zero angle with respect to a radial axis perpendicular to a main axis of revolution of the annular gasket.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each axially outer drafted edge is conical.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein each sealing ridge includes an axially inner drafted edge.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein each sealing ridge extends axially inwardly from a radially inward end of each sealing rib.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sealing surface of each sealing ridge is cylindrical in the undeformed state.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the annular gasket further comprises a center rib extending radially inward from the annular body, wherein the center rib decreases in axial thickness from radially outside to radially inside.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein an axially outer drafted edge of each sealing ridge extends from a radially inward end of each sealing rib to the sealing surface of each sealing ridge, and wherein each radially inward end is axially and radially outside compared to each of the sealing surfaces.

Assignments (15)