Victaulic Company

Scott D Madara

Douglas R Dole

Matthew A Bowman

Amit R Shah

John W Pierce

Charles E Wilk, Jr

Anthony J Cuvo

Michael V Porter

Ahmad Sith

Philip Wayne Bancroft

William A Nagle

Kathryn E Yovanovich

Vance W Henry

Alan M Yesavage

Thomas C Savage

Christopher M Albright

Michael S Fleck

Nicholas Barbour

William Collier

Jr Wilk Charles E

Michael R Novitsky

Thomas M Soloe

Earl Haas

Charles E Wilk

Craig Haney

William M McPoyle

Scott T Stewart

Lawrence W Thau

Lawrence W Thau, Jr

Ryan D Kuehner

Richard Marakovits

Andrew Michael Ciasulli

Wayne M Biery

Randy L Chase

Charles E Wilke, Jr

Francis J Giacalone

Jeffrey Lance Sterner

William M Mcpoyle

Kathryn Yovanovich

Jr Charles E Wilk

Andrew M Ciasulli

A coupling has first and second segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central space for receiving pipe elements. A spring assembly attaches the segments at one end and an adjustable attachment assembly attaches the segments at the opposite end. The spring assembly biases the segments away from one another sufficient to permit insertion of the pipe elements into the central space while the segments are attached to one another. The coupling may include a split ring toothed retainer for coupling plain end pipe elements, or it may have arcuate keys which engage grooved or shouldered pipe elements.

Sprung coupling

Ring and gusset coupling

Pipe coupling segment

Pipe coupling

A preassembled combination connects a captured pipe element to a second pipe element. First and second segments are connected end to end surrounding a central space for axially receiving the second pipe element. The segments are configured to be drawn toward one another and into engagement with the pipe elements. An annular body forms the captured pipe element. An end face of the captured pipe element is retained within the central space by engagement between a bead projecting from a sealing surface of the captured pipe element and the coupling assembly.

Captured element coupling

Couplings for joining pipe elements have segments with attachment members with faces which contact one another when the segments are properly installed on the pipe elements. Each segment has one or more shrouds and recesses positioned along the faces. The shrouds on one segment are received within respective recesses on the other segment. The shrouds block the line of sight toward the central space which the segments surround and which receives the pipe elements. Index markings on the segments show visual inspection points to confirm proper engagement between the segments and the pipe elements.

Shrouded coupling

A pipe coupling has first and second segments attached end to end surrounding a central space. The segments define first and second receptacles which receive pipe elements. A port is positioned in one of the segments. The port provides access to the central space. A nipple on the segment extends from the central space and defines a bore aligned with the port. A collar on the segment extends toward the central space. The collar has an outer surface which forms a recess with an inner surface of the segment. A seal is positioned within a channel defined by arcuate keys which surround the receptacles. The seal has a body which defines a first aperture aligned with the receptacles and a second aperture aligned with the bore of the nipple.

Outlet coupling

A pipe element has a circumferential groove with a surface portion oriented at an angle with respect to its longitudinal axis. A surface portion of the groove adjacent to the angled surface portion is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A mechanical coupling has projecting keys that engage the groove. The keys have mating surfaces that contact both the perpendicular and angled surface portions of the groove. When the pipe element and coupling are used in combination to form a pipe joint, axial load on the pipe, resisted by the mechanical coupling, is shared between the perpendicular and angled surface portions which results in a pipe joint that can withstand higher internal pressure than if the axial load were borne by the perpendicular surface portion alone.

Pipe element having wedging groove

A pipe coupling for plain end pipe is formed of segments joined end to end surrounding a central space. The segments are connected end to end by lugs on each segment with fasteners extending between them. Each segment has channels on opposite sides that face the central space with floors at different radii. Retainers are received within the channels. The retainers have teeth and one or more offset tabs that cooperate with the channels to prevent improper assembly. A ring seal is received within a channel positioned in each segment between the retainer channels.

Coupling having tabbed retainer

Coupling segment

Growing community of inventors

Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Scott D Madara