Press-seal Gasket Corporation

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

Fouad M Deeb

James W Skinner

Michael R Miller

Ronald W Neuhaus

William O Skinner

John Kurdziel

Harry W Skinner

A sealing member for sealing a joint between a pipe and a wall defining an opening is provided. The sealing member has an annular base, a projection, and preferably first and second annular flanges. The annular base has a bottom and first and second sidewalls. The projection is attached to the base for anchoring the sealing member within the wall. In some embodiments it extends radially outwardly from the base. The first and second annular flanges extend from opposite sidewalls of the base. The first and second flanges each have a top and a bottom surface. The top surfaces of each can have an annular depressed portion, and each of the bottom surfaces can have a plurality of grooves formed therein. Preferably, the base includes at least one cavity extending completely around the circumference of the sealing member. There is also disclosed the use of the sealing member in a concrete manhole structure having a wall defining an annular opening through which a pipe having an outer surface can pass so that a joint is defined between the wall and the outer surface, with the sealing member being encased in appropriate grout to secure the sealing member to the concrete structure. The sealing member thus effectuates sealing of the joint between the pipe and the wall defining the opening.

Flexible seal member for non-metallic conduit to concrete manhole junction

An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring. The end of the strip and a portion adjacent thereto that overlap the other end of the strip when it is formed into a ring taper to a featheredge. The ring may be formed so as to be expandable into multiple locked positions. An alternative embodiment of the compression ring has integrally molded first and second portions. Distal ends of the second portion may also taper to a featheredge. This ring may also be formed so as to be expandable into multiple locked positions.

Expandable compression ring

An integrally molded compression ring for exerting an outwardly, radially directed force on an inner surface of a gasket to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening. The compression ring is made from a one-piece body or strip of resiliently flexible material that has a substantially continuous and uninterrupted exterior circumferential surface. Lugs formed on an interior portion of the strip cooperate with a force expansion unit to move the ring into an expanded position. A recess may also be provided in one end of the strip for cooperating with the force expansion unit. Projections integrally molded on an interior portion of the strip and on an exterior portion adjacent an end of the strip engage one another to lock the ring in an expanded position. Guiding structure may be formed on the strip that prevent lateral movement of the ends of the strip relative to one another when the strip is formed into a ring. The end of the strip and a portion adjacent thereto that overlap the other end of the strip when it is formed into a ring taper to a feather edge. The ring may be formed so as to be expandable into multiple locked positions. An alternative embodiment of the compression ring has integrally molded first and second portions. Distal ends of the second portion may also taper to a feather edge. This ring may also be formed so as to be expandable into multiple locked positions.

An apparatus for outwardly radially compressing a gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening includes a continuous strip of resiliently flexible material having first and second ends and first and second members. The first and second members are made from a different material than the strip and are respectively attached to the first and second ends of the strip to thereby form a ring. The first and second members are configured to include locking structure that both fixes the ring in an expanded position adjacent to the gasket and secures against contraction of the ring by the gasket. The apparatus may be made from a plurality of continuous strips of resiliently flexible material and have structure for aligning and securing the first end of each one of the strips adjacent the second end of another of the strips to form a closed ring. The aligning and securing structure includes at least one set of the first and second members.

Expandable compression ring with locking members

A gasket is formed with a mounting portion which is generally cylindrical, and provides an anchoring projection extending radially from the outer side thereof. A sealing projection is joined to the mounting portion by a hinge section. The sealing projection is placed in compression when the gasket is formed into a circle, and becomes bistable. In one position of stability, the sealing projection is substantially aligned with the mounting portion, and in the other position of stability, the sealing projection is located generally within the mounting portion. The gasket is positioned around a core, with the sealing projection aligned with the mounting portion, and is cast into an opening provided by the material of the manhole riser. In such position, the sealing projection is partially embedded within the material of the riser. Prior to installation of a sewer pipe, the sealing projection is manually released from the material of the riser and is pushed through to its other position of stability. When a sewer pipe is pressed through the gasket, the sealing projection provides substantial compression with the outer surface of the sewer pipe and a good fluidtight joint.

Method of making a pipe joint seal with bistable elastomeric sealing

A gasket system for providing a fluidtight joint between a manhole riser and a sewer pipe. The gasket is formed with a mounting portion which is generally cylindrical, and provides an anchoring projection extending radially from the outer side thereof. A sealing projection is joined to the mounting portion by a hinge section. The sealing projection is placed in compression when the gasket is formed into a circle, and becomes bistable. In one position of stability, the sealing projection is substantially aligned with the mounting portion, and in the other position of stability, the sealing projection is located generally within the mounting portion. The gasket is positioned around a core, with the sealing projection aligned with the mounting portion, and is cast into an opening provided by the material of the manhole riser. In such position, the sealing projection is partially embedded within the material of the riser. Prior to installation of a sewer pipe, the sealing projection is manually released from the material of the riser and is pushed through to its other position of stability. When a sewer pipe is pressed through the gasket, the sealing projection provides substantial compression with the outer surface of the sewer pipe and a good fluidtight joint.

Pipe joint seal with bistable elastomeric sealing projection

A two part sleeve gasket is provided for sealing between a pipe and a hole receiving the pipe, such as a porthole in a manhole. The gasket includes a first annular element of resilient elastomeric material having a generally tubular body portion and an outwardly, reflexly curved flange radially spaced therefrom. The flange is generally tubular and shorter in length than the body portion. A second annular element resembling an O-ring of elastomeric material surrounds the body portion in the radial space defined by the flange, the flange being radially flexible into engagement with the wall of the hole and the second annular element being elastically deformable upon being radially compressed between the flange and the body portion. The invention also comprehends the method of installing the aforesaid gasket. The method includes the steps of telescoping the tubular body portion over the pipe, inserting the pipe with the tubular element thereon into the opening with the flange loosely engaging the wall of the hole, and forcing the second annular element of resilient elastomeric material which surrounds the pipe into the radial space between the flange and the body portion, the second annular element being of a cross sectional size greater than the free radial space between the flange and the body portion when both are engaged with the wall of the hole and the pipe, respectively, whereby the flange and the body portion are forcefully expanded into sealing engagement with said wall and pipe.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Fouad M Deeb