Mueller International, LLC

United States Pipe and Foundry Company, LLC

U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company

United States Pipe Foundry

William W Holmes, Iv

William H Owen

Daniel A Copeland

Jay Derek Caston

Russell J Huggins

Jim Lambert

A joint having a male joint member and female joint member with enhanced ease of assembly, in which a raised stop on the male joint member is limited to displacement between a constriction on the female joint member and a locking ring segment, in which the locking ring segment and constriction are separated by an unobstructed traverse region that allows the male joint member to slide axially when under stress without separation from the female joint member, and in which a compressible spacer is installed between the male joint member and female joint member to ensure that the raised stop is installed in an intermediate position between the constriction and the locking ring segment. The compressible spacer withstands forces associated with assembly but allows the joint to compress during extreme events to prevent failure of the joint during extreme events, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides.

Separation-resistant pipe joint with enhanced ease of assembly

A joint having a male joint member and female joint member, in which a raised stop on the male joint member is limited to displacement between a constriction on the female joint member and a locking ring segment, and in which the locking ring segment and constriction are separated by an unobstructed traverse region that allows the male joint member to slide axially when under stress without separation from the female joint member. The rounded shape of the groove that accommodates the locking ring segment acts like a universal joint, allowing deflection between the male and female joint members without separation. The female joint member flares on the inside of its distal region to accommodate such deflection. Thus the male and female joint members have a degree of axial and radial flexibility.

Separation-resistant pipe joint

Gaskets for use with a bell and spigot coupling system are disclosed herein. The gasket comprises an elastomeric member having a front edge, a first section, and a second section. Axial forces generated by the insertion of the spigot to the first section of the elastomeric member displace the first section of the elastomeric member in an axial and radial direction.

Gasket for parabolic ramp self restraining bell joint

A conduit coupling system for use with a spigot includes a bell and a sealing device. The bell is adapted to mate with the spigot. The bell includes a first end and a second end. The bell has a concave annular inner surface and a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the first end of the bell is greater than a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the second end of the bell. The sealing device includes a locking segment including a convex outer surface and a K-type gasket coupled to a locking segment or a non-restraining anti-extrusion segment. The sealing device is adapted to fit between the bell and the spigot.

Simplified low insertion force sealing device capable of self restraint and joint deflection

A method of use of a conduit coupling system, sealing device, and bell are disclosed herein. The method comprises positioning a sealing device inside a bell coupled to one end of a first conduit, inserting a spigot of a second conduit through the sealing device inside the bell, wherein the sealing device is adapted to move axially within the bell in the direction of the insertion of the spigot and in a radial direction from a centerline of the conduit, and partially removing the spigot from the bell, wherein a segment of the sealing device engages the outer surface of the spigot end as the spigot end is partially removed from the bell. The bell comprises a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first conduit. The bell has a concave annular inner surface and a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the first end of the bell is greater than a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the second end of the bell. The sealing device comprises a locking segment comprising a convex outer surface and a K-type gasket coupled to a locking segment or a non-restraining anti-extrusion segment. The sealing device is adapted to fit between the bell and the spigot.

Method of coupling at least two conduits

A conduit coupling system, sealing device, bell and method of use are disclosed herein. The system comprises at least two piping components, and a sealing device. A first component has a bell and a second component has a spigot, the spigot is adapted to mate with the bell. The bell comprises a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first component. The bell has a concave annular inner surface and a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the first end of the bell is greater than a diameter of the annular inner surface adjacent to the second end of the bell. The sealing device comprises a locking segment comprising a convex outer surface and a K-type gasket coupled to a locking segment or a non-restraining anti-extrusion segment. The sealing device is adapted to fit between the bell and the spigot.

Method of creating and maintaining a sealed interface between a spigot and bell

A mechanical pipe joint, restraining gasket, and method for restraining pipe spigots within adjacent bell sockets. The restraining gasket is composed of two axially-separate components: a sealing portion and a restraining portion made of a plurality of arcuate locking members. The restraining gasket and a gland surround an outer surface of the pipe spigot. The mechanical pipe joint is formed as the pipe spigot is inserted into the bell socket and the gland is axially attached to the bell socket so that the restraining gasket is held between: the gland, an inner surface of the bell socket, and the outer surface of the pipe spigot, so as to provide a fluid seal in the joint and urge the locking members into contact with the outer surface of the pipe spigot, axially restraining the pipe spigot within the bell socket.

Mechanical pipe joint, gasket, and method for restraining pipe spigots in mechanical pipe joint bell sockets

A gasket for connecting two lengths of pipe in a standard mechanical joint is disclosed, which gasket maximizes the advantages of both restrained push-on joints as well as mechanical joints, as are known commonly in the art. The invention has application to long-run pipe lengths as well as appurtenances, including fittings and connections. The gasket contains locking members that act to restrain separation upon the instance of any force tending to separate the connected pipe lengths.

Restraining gasket for mechanical joints of pipes

A gasket for connecting two lengths of pipe in a standard mechanical joint, which gasket maximizes the advantages of both restrained push-on joints as well as mechanical joints, as are known commonly in the art. The invention has application to long-run pipe lengths as well as appurtenances, including fittings and connections. The gasket contains locking members that act to restrain separation upon the instance of any force tending to separate the connected pipe lengths.

A locking segment for use in connecting two lengths of pipe has a radically extending heel that serves as a rotational brake. By mating the brake into an annular trough, that is, by placing it between two walls, the rotation of the segment can continue only until points on the brake mure between the two walls. Rotation of the segment in response to increasing thrust pressures can thereby be arrested before the rotation causes the segment to bear on the spigot with a radically inward force great enough to penetrate the spigot.

Growing community of inventors

Hoover, AL, United States of America

William W Holmes, Iv