RESTRAINING PIPE COUPLING

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure belongs to the field of restraining connections for pipe couplings. The present subject-matter discloses a pipe coupling to apply in structures for laying and blocking pipes with a circular cross section. In particular, the pipe coupling of the present disclosure may be used to establish longitudinally force-locked connections with PVC or PE pipes.

Background

[0002] The present disclosure is in the field of restraining connections for locking pipe couplings, in particular PVC or PE pipes.

[0003] There are documents disclosing devices with the purpose of blocking longitudinally cylindrical PVC or PE pipes, but these do not have independent restraining and sealing. For example, in document CN205331550 the structure of the valve has longitudinal thread holes for tightening with bolts which compress the same sealing member for both restraining and sealing. Furthermore, these coupling devices are not resistant to transverse forces or misalignment stress.

[0004] These facts are disclosed in order to illustrate the technical problem addressed by the present disclosure.

General Description

[0005] The disclosure comprises a pipe coupling suitable for connecting pipes. This structure can be a gate valve, a "T" socket, a socket bend, a fixation flange among others. The pipe coupling is preferably made of cast iron. The pipe coupling contains two axial ends, one of them is turned to the structure to be coupled to the pipe and the other end is turned to the pipe to be coupled.

[0006] The pipe coupling comprises 3 sectors that are suitable to be tightened circumferentially between them with bolts and nuts using co-planar flaps to join the different sectors. These 3 sectors that are equal parts of a circle and when are together made a full circle that allows a better tightening around the pipe and enable the possibility of using a pipe with oval cross-section or a pipe with small variations in its circular section.

[0007] Each sector contains in both its ends flaps with holes to allow the tightening between the sectors. These flaps contain block bolts to fix the head of the bolt and facilitate the tightening. These referred block bolts can be a metal plate that is placed between the head of the bolt and the flap of the sector.

[0008] The present disclosure reveals a coupling device for connecting to a pipe wherein restraining and sealing are independently assured, the installation being simpler and easier.

[0009] It is disclosed a restraining pipe coupling for connecting to a pipe, comprising: a coupling sleeve for receiving an end of the pipe to be restrained and having a first annular abutment surface;

a restraining member for surrounding the pipe and having a second annular abutment surface;

a grip ring for gripping the pipe, comprised in a recess of the restraining member for facing the pipe;

a seal ring for sealing between the coupling sleeve and the pipe, comprised in a recess of the coupling sleeve for facing the pipe;

wherein the restraining member is comprised of three circumferential sectors for tightening together against and around the pipe; wherein the first and second annular abutment surfaces are arranged to overlap in a radial direction such that the first and second annular abutment surfaces engage to interlock the coupling sleeve and the restraining member together.

[0010] The disclosed pipe coupling allows for shorter coupling arms, requiring shorter lengths, resulting in more compact pipe connections and pipe devices. The disclosed pipe coupling allows for an easier access to the fasteners for quicker and less encumbered work in location.

[0011] The disclosed pipe coupling also allows a degree of movement between restraining member and pipe sleeve such that small pipe misalignments can be tolerated while maintaining adequate grip. The restraining member is able to adjust by having a tolerance space between lip and rim. By having independent sealing and gripping elements, placed respectively in the pipe sleeve and restraining member, sealing will not be affected by this potential adjustment of the restraining member.

[0012] In an embodiment, the circumferential sectors are arranged to receive nuts and bolts for fastening the circumferential sectors around the pipe wherein said bolts are aligned circumferentially.

[0013] The disclosed pipe coupling allows for the fasteners to be supplied independently of the coupling, such that eroded fasteners can be fully and easily replaced, not requiring machining or rethreading of the pipe coupling.

[0014] In an embodiment, the circumferential sectors comprise perforated flaps arranged for receiving said nuts and bolts.

[0015] In an embodiment, each circumferential sectors comprises two flaps, each flap at an end of the respective circumferential sector, each of the flaps being coplanar with the contiguous flap of the neighbouring circumferential sector, for receiving said nuts and bolts.

B [0016] In an embodiment, said one or more flaps comprise one or more bolt blockings for preventing a bolt or nut from rotating in order to facilitate the tightening of said nuts and bolts.

[0017] In an embodiment, the bolt blocking is a protruding rib in said one or more flaps.

[0018] In an embodiment, the first and second annular abutment surfaces are comprised of a protruding rim and a lip having a recess for receiving said rim such that they engage to interlock the coupling sleeve and the restraining member together.

[0019] In an embodiment, the first annular abutment surface is comprised of a circumferential protruding rim and the second annular abutment surfaces is comprised of a circumferential lip having a circumferential recess for receiving said rim.

[0020] An embodiment comprises said nuts and bolts for fastening circumferentially around the pipe the circumferential sectors.

[0021] In an embodiment, the coupling sleeve is of cast iron, in particular ductile cast iron.

[0022] In an embodiment, the restraining member is of cast iron, in particular ductile cast iron.

[0023] In an embodiment, the grip ring is grooved, segmented or ridged for enhancing grip, in particular the grip ring is of brass.

[0024] In an embodiment, the seal ring is elastomeric, in particular polymeric, further in particular synthetic rubber, further in particular ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, EPDM.

[0025] In an embodiment, the nuts and bolts are of stainless steel. [0026] An embodiment comprises a removable stop tab inserted between two contiguous circumferential sectors of the restraining member for preventing said two contiguous circumferential sectors from clashing during transportation or mounting.

[0027] In an embodiment, the tab stop extends into a segment opening of the grip ring, such that grip ring is kept untightened in order to facilitate insertion of the pipe during mounting.

[0028] An embodiment comprises a removable elastomeric element between said first and second annular abutment surfaces for preventing said first and second annular abutment surfaces from clashing during transportation or mounting.

[0029] Gate valve, "T" socket, socket bend, or fixation flange comprising the restraining pipe coupling of any of the disclosed embodiments.

[0030] The pipe coupling contains one internal radial face which comprises a lip and a groove. The pipe coupling is connected to the pipe wherein the pipe coupling contains a previously referred groove to place a grip ring wherein this referred grip ring will be tight against de pipe and blocking him. This grip ring preferably has a conical shape that enables the accommodation in the groove grip which has to a conical shape. This previously referred grip ring contains one internal radial face with some irregularities look like teeth and when the pipe coupling is tightened these teeth bite the pipe that creates a longitudinal force-locked in the pipe.

[0031] The pipe coupling is connected to the structure. The referred structure has a rim in their end and the pipe coupling structure contains a lip in the face that is turned to the valve. This rim and this lip allow the connection of both structures. This referred connection allows a small slack that gives some freedom in small movements of the pipe and facilitate the installation of the pipe coupling.

[0032] The coupling contains a seal groove or recess to place a lip seal ring, this lip seal ring prevents leakage. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] The following figures provide preferred embodiments for illustrating the description and should not be seen as limiting the scope of invention.

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling.

[0035] Figure 2 illustrates in more detail an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling.

[0036] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a gate valve.

[0037] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a T socket.

[0038] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a socket 45° bend.

[0039] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted on a flange.

Detailed Description

[0040] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling that comprises: pipe coupling (1); sectors of the pipe coupling (2); gate valve (3); pipe (4); grip ring (5); grip groove or recess (6); lip seal ring (7); seal groove or recess (8); rim (9); lip (10); flaps (11); bolts (12); nuts (13); bolt blockings (14).

[0041] Figure 2 illustrates in more detail an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling that comprises: pipe coupling (1); pipe (4); grip ring (5); grip groove or recess (6); lip seal ring (7); seal groove or recess (8); rim (9); lip (10); flaps (11); bolts (12); nuts (13); bolt blockings (14). [0042] The present disclosure relates to a pipe coupling (1) to connect and fixate one pipe (4) in one structure like a gate valve (3), a socket tee (15), a socket bend (16), or a fixation flange (17), among others.

[0043] The present disclosure also relates to a pipe coupling (1) comprising three separable sectors (2) wherein each sector has two flaps (11). The flaps (11) of different sectors (2) are co-planar between them and their tight is ensured by bolts (12) and nuts (13) these flaps contain in the external face a bolt blockings (14) that is a plate with ribs to lock the bolt (12) and simplify the tightening between the sectors.

[0044] The present disclosure also relates to a pipe coupling (1) wherein the structure where the pipe coupling (1) will be fitted, a coupling sleeve, contains in its end or ends a rim (9) to prevent that the pipe coupling (1), or part of it, separates from the structure to be coupled to.

[0045] The present disclosure also relates to a pipe coupling (1) that comprises in the internal radial face of the coupling sleeve a grip groove or recess (6) and in the internal radial face of the restraining member a lip (10), wherein the grip groove or recess (6) is the accommodation of a grip ring (5) and the lip (10) is the accommodation to fit in a rim (9) of the coupling sleeve. The pipe coupling is connected with the structure due the fitting between the lip (9) and the rim (8), and the grip ring (5) creates a longitudinal force-locked in the pipe (4).

[0046] In an embodiment, the structure where the pipe (4) is fitted comprises a coupling sleeve having a seal groove (8) for housing the lip seals (7) that prevent the leakage.

[0047] In an embodiment, the pipe coupling (1) can be adapted in different structures like a gate valve (3), a "T" socket (15), a socket bend (16), or a fixation flange (17), among others.

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a gate valve. [0049] Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a T socket.

[0050] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted to a socket 45° bend.

[0051] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure of a pipe coupling adapted on a flange.

[0052] In an embodiment, a stop tab (18) is included between two contiguous circumferential sectors of the restraining member such that these do not clash during transportation or mounting. The stop tab (18) can be removed at the appropriate mounting stage, preferably before the tightening of the circumferential sectors of the restraining member together against and around the pipe.

[0053] Preferably the tab stop (18) extends into a segment opening of the grip ring, such that grip ring is kept more open in order to facilitate insertion of the pipe during mounting.

[0054] The disclosure should not be seen in any way restricted to the embodiments described and a person with ordinary skill in the art will foresee many possibilities to modifications thereof. The above described embodiments are combinable. The following claims further set out particular embodiments of the disclosure.