Mueller International, LLC

Mueller Intemational, LLC

Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu

David Edward Woollums

Paul S Gifford

Timofey Sitnikov

Jason White Bradley

Wright Hackett

Julian Ramirez

A mechanical joint restraint can include a one-piece, elastic gasket defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a bore, the bore defining an axis therethrough, the gasket defining a first gasket end and a second gasket end, the gasket including: a main body positioned between the first gasket end and the second gasket end; a first stop lip extending radially inward from the main body with respect to the axis of the gasket, the first stop lip defining a first lip height; a gland positioned axially outward from the main body of the gasket with respect to the first gasket end with the mechanical joint restraint in an assembled condition; and a gripping ring positioned adjacent to at least one of the gasket and the gland.

Mechanical joint restraint

A method of repairing a pipe includes providing a pipe repair device, the pipe repair device comprising a spring and a gasket, the gasket defining a gasket top end, a gasket bottom end, and a gasket outer surface, wherein the gasket outer surface defines a plurality of raised ridges and recessed dimples; biasing the pipe repair device to an expanded configuration with the spring inside of the pipe; engaging the raised ridges of the gasket outer surface with an inner wall of the pipe; and creating a suction force between each of the recessed dimples and the inner wall of the pipe to retain the pipe repair device against the inner wall.

Method of repairing a pipe

A pipe repair device includes a gasket defining a substantially cylindrical shape, the gasket defining a gasket top end and a gasket bottom end opposite the gasket top end, a gasket outer surface, and a gasket inner surface opposite the gasket outer surface, the gasket outer surface defining a plurality of raised ridges, the raised ridges extending about a circumference of the gasket outer surface; and a spring engaging the gasket inner surface, wherein the pipe repair device is configurable in an expanded configuration and one of a compressed configuration and a folded configuration, and wherein the spring biases the pipe repair device to the expanded configuration.

Pipe repair device

A stent spring for a pipe repair device includes a tubular mesh structure comprising a plurality of strands arranged to define a plurality of spring openings therebetween, the tubular mesh structure defining a circumferential spring top end and a circumferential spring bottom end opposite the circumferential spring top end, a void extending axially through the tubular mesh structure from the circumferential spring bottom end to the circumferential spring top end; a continuous top band extending partially around the circumferential spring top end of the tubular mesh structure; and a continuous bottom band extending partially around the circumferential spring bottom end of the tubular mesh structure.

Stent spring for pipe repair device

A coupling includes a body defining a first body end, the body defining a body bore extending into the first body end, the body bore defining an axis; and a joint restraint assembly including a restraint base coupled to the body, the restraint base defining a restraint pocket; a gripper disposed within the restraint pocket, the gripper configured to rotate within the restraint pocket to engage a pipe end of a pipe length when the pipe end is inserted into the body bore; and a spring engaging the gripper, the spring biasing the gripper inwards towards the axis.

Wide range coupling

A method of using a mechanical joint restraint includes inserting an end of a pipe length into a gland bore of a gland, a ring bore of a gripping ring, and a gasket bore of a gasket, the gland, the gripping ring, and the gasket together forming the mechanical joint restraint; inserting at least a portion of the gasket of the mechanical joint restraint into a socket of a piping element; inserting the end of the pipe length into the socket of the piping element; and drawing the gland towards a flange of the piping element to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with the piping element and the pipe length.

Method of using a mechanical joint restraint

A gland includes an annular ring, the annular ring defining a gland bore, the gland bore defining a gland axis extending through the annular ring; and a joint restraint assembly, the joint restraint assembly including a restraint base, the restraint base attached to the annular ring, the restraint base defining a restraint pocket, the restraint base including a structural rail; a gripper, the gripper disposed within the restraint pocket and configured to move in the restraint pocket; a spring biasing the gripper to move inwards towards the gland axis; and a cover contacting at least a portion of the restraint base.

Joint restraint device

A mechanical joint restraint includes: a gasket defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a bore, the bore defining an axis therethrough, the gasket defining a first gasket end and a second gasket end; a gland defining a bore defining an axis and positioned axially outward from the gasket with respect to the first gasket end with the mechanical joint restraint in an assembled condition, the axis of the gland aligned collinearly with the axis of the gasket; a gripping ring positioned between the gasket and the gland, the gripping ring being a split ring defining a pair of circumferential ends and a gap therebetween; and a bridge engaging each of the pair of circumferential ends of the gripping ring and extending in a circumferential direction of the gripping ring across the gap therebetween with the mechanical joint restraint in the assembled condition.

Example aspects of a pipe repair device and a method of repairing a pipe are disclosed. The pipe repair device can comprise a gasket defining a substantially cylindrical shape, the gasket defining a gasket top end and a gasket bottom end opposite the gasket top end, a gasket outer surface, and a gasket inner surface opposite the gasket outer surface, a top annular seal oriented at the gasket top end and a bottom annular seal oriented at the gasket bottom end, wherein each of the top and bottom annular seals extend substantially radially outward from the gasket outer surface; and a spring engaging the gasket inner surface and biasing the pipe repair device to an expanded configuration, wherein the gasket, top annular seal, and bottom annular seal are configured to engage an inner wall of a pipe in the expanded configuration.

A method of coupling a pipe length to a piping element can include arranging a gland over an end of the pipe length, the gland including a joint restraint assembly, the pipe length defining an outer pipe surface; arranging the end of the pipe length within a socket defined by the piping element; fastening the gland to the piping element; and activating the joint restraint assembly by hand to prevent removal of the pipe length from the socket.

A stent spring for repairing a pipe includes a substantially tubular mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands comprising a spring material, wherein the stent spring is expandable and compressible between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration; and an elastic wire connected to the one or more strands, the elastic wire configured to increase a flexibility of the stent spring.

Stent springs and stents for repairing pipes

Example aspects of a sliding disc assembly for a dual spring valve, and a method of operating a dual spring valve are disclosed. The sliding disc assembly can comprise a shaft defining a first end and a second end; a disc mounted on the shaft between the first end and the second end, the disc defining an upper disc surface, a lower disc surface, and an annular base surface; a first spring mounted on the shaft between the lower disc surface and the first end of the shaft; and a second spring mounted on the shaft between the upper disc surface and the second end of the shaft, wherein the first spring defines a spring force that is different from a spring force of the second spring.

Dual spring valve

A method for using a gland assembly includes sliding a gland assembly over an end of a pipe, the pipe defining an outer surface, the gland assembly comprising a gland, a joint restraint assembly, and a gasket, the joint restraint assembly comprising a gripper and a spring, the spring configured to engage the gripper and the gasket; inserting the end of the pipe into a socket of a piping element; fastening the gland to the piping element; disabling a deactivation mechanism of the joint restraint assembly; and engaging the joint restraint assembly with the outer surface of the pipe to prevent removal of the pipe from the piping element.

Gland assembly

Example aspects of a stent spring for a stent, a stent for repairing a pipe, and a method for repairing a pipe are disclosed. The stent spring for a stent can comprise a plurality of minor springs connected in a series around a circumference of the stent spring, each of the minor springs defining a first leg and a second leg; and a spring constrictor engaged with each of the minor springs, each of the spring constrictors movable between a first position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a first maximum width, and a second position, wherein the corresponding minor spring defines a second maximum width that is greater than the first maximum width.

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Chattanooga, TN, United States of America

Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu