U.S. patent application number 09/977606 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-14 for gland pipe fitting.
Invention is credited to Copeland, Daniel A., Holmes, William W. IV.
Application Number | 20020017789 09/977606 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23311176 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020017789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holmes, William W. IV ; et
al. |
February 14, 2002 |
Gland pipe fitting
Abstract
A flange-pipe fitting for use in assembling and connecting pipe,
allowing for a flange design with a push-on method for joining pipe
thereby permitting the user to obtain a tight and secure seal
between pipe components.
Inventors: |
Holmes, William W. IV;
(Birmingham, AL) ; Copeland, Daniel A.; (Bessemer,
AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRADLEY ARANT ROSE & WHITE, LLP
2001 PARK PLACE
SUITE 1400
BIRMINGHAM
AL
352032736
|
Family ID: |
23311176 |
Appl. No.: |
09/977606 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09977606 |
Oct 15, 2001 |
|
|
|
09335298 |
Jun 16, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
285/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 21/08 20130101;
F16L 37/0845 20130101; F16L 25/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/337 |
International
Class: |
F16L 017/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A gland pipe fitting for receiving and joining a first pipe and
a second pipe, the gland pipe fitting comprising: (a) a tubular
body having an interior cylindrical chamber, the chamber comprising
a first opening at a first extremity and a second opening at a
second extremity, the first opening being capable of receiving a
pipe axially inserted there through, the first opening, the second
opening and the first pipe each having a diameter, with the
diameter of the second opening being less than the diameter of the
first opening and no greater than the diameter of the first pipe;
(b) an annular member integral to the tubular body, the annular
member forming the second extremity; (c) a raised annular lip
extending outwardly from the tubular body located, the lip located
proximately to the juncture of the annular member and the remainder
of the tubular body; (d) an annular flange extending substantially
radially from an exterior surface of the tubular body; (e) a
continuous annular recess within the interior cylindrical chamber;
and (f) an internal sealing gasket for insertion in the annular
recess.
2. The gland pipe fitting according to claim 1 wherein an interior
profile of the annular recess is configured to correspond to an
exterior profile of the internal sealing gasket.
3. The gland pipe fitting according to claim 1 wherein the annular
recess comprises a front radial wall, a rear radial wall and a
third wall joining said front and rear radial walls, said third
wall having a continuous annular protrusion extending inwardly from
the third wall dividing the annular recess into a first and a
second compartment and the first sealing gasket comprises a heel
potion seated in the first compartment, and a bulb seated in the
second compartment.
4. The flange-pipe fitting according to claim 1, wherein the
annular flange has a plurality of apertures therein.
5. A pipe joint, comprising: (a) a gland pipe fitting for receiving
and joining a first pipe and a second pipe, the gland pipe fitting
comprising: i. a tubular body having an interior cylindrical
chamber, the chamber comprising a first opening at a first
extremity and a second opening at a second extremity, the first
opening, the second opening and the first pipe each having a
diameter with the diameter of the second opening being less than
the diameter of the first opening and no greater than the diameter
of the first pipe; ii. an annular member integral to the tubular
body, the annular member forming the second extremity; iii. a
raised annular lip extending outwardly from the tubular body
located, the lip located proximately to the juncture of the annular
member and the remainder of the tubular body; iv. an annular flange
extending substantially radially from an exterior surface of the
tubular body; and v. a continuous annular recess within the
interior cylindrical chamber to receive an internal sealing gasket;
(b) the first pipe comprising a spigot end, the spigot end being
inserted through the first opening so that the spigot end extends
beyond the internal sealing gasket so that at least a portion of
the internal gasket is compressed into the annular recess; (c) a
second pipe comprising a bell end, the bell end further comprising
a flanged portion extending substantially radially from an exterior
surface of the bell end, and an annular notched portion located
substantially where the flanged portion meets the bell end, the
notched portion receiving an external sealing gasket; and (d) a
bolting means to secure the annular flange of the tubular body to
the flanged potion of the bell end of the second pipe so that the
raised annular lip of the tubular body compresses against the
external sealing gasket as the annular flange and flanged portion
are secured by the bolting means.
6. The pipe joint according to claim 5 wherein the notched portion
is tapered and the external sealing gasket is compatibly shaped to
seat within the notch.
7. The pipe joint according to claim 5 wherein the notched portion
is tapered and the external sealing gasket is conically shaped.
8. The gland pipe fitting according to claim 5 wherein the annular
recess is configured to correspond to an exterior profile of the
internal sealing gasket.
9. The pipe joint according to claim 5, wherein the annular recess
comprises a front radial wall, a rear radial wall and a third wall
joining the front and rear radial walls, the third wall having a
continuous annular protrusion extending inwardly from the third
wall into the interior chamber dividing the annular recess into a
first and a second compartment and the first sealing gasket
comprises a heel potion seated in the first compartment, and a bulb
seated in the second compartment.
10. The pipe joint according to claim 5, wherein the annular flange
of the tubular body and the flanged portion of the bell end of the
second pipe each have a plurality of apertures therein, the
apertures of the flanged portion being complementary with apertures
of the annular flange.
11. The pipe joint according to claim 5 where the bolting means is
nuts and bolts.
Description
[0001] This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/335,298,
filed on Jun. 16, 1999, and claims the benefit of and priority to
said Application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to devices used in the
pipeline construction industry. More particularly, this invention
relates to devices used to join the plain ends of pipe, as well as
certain other ends of pipe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Generally speaking, in constructing a pipeline, the ends of
two pieces of pipe are axially joined to form a single conduit that
is used to transport materials from one point to another. Often
times, the materials being transported are fluid or gaseous in
nature, and, particularly in those circumstances, it is desired
that the pipeline be impervious to leaks. In order to accomplish
that goal, and to achieve other objectives which will be herein
described, those skilled in the business of pipe and pipeline
construction are constantly in search of improved means for
securing the joints formed by connecting the ends of pipe
together.
[0004] There are numerous methods currently in use by those in the
pipe and pipeline construction industry to obtain a secure joint.
These methods employ different types of components and also can be
distinguished by the various ways in which such components are
employed. The selection of these different methods will usually
depend on the overall design requirements of the pipeline. For
instant, as mentioned previously, one important design requirement
exists when it is desired that the pipe joints be sealed such that
the material being transported within the pipeline can not escape
and, conversely, foreign materials are prevented from entering the
pipeline.
[0005] Another important design requirement exists when it becomes
necessary to join the pipe components in a restrained manner. This
is usually desired in order to prevent the pipe components from
separating due to thrust forces that often occur when the pipeline
is subjected to internal pressure, and sometimes, when earth
tremors or other external events occur. Still another objective is
to make assembly of the pipe joints as simple, economical and
reliable as possible.
[0006] One current method for connecting pipe together employs the
use of flanged fittings and gaskets. These are typical components
in rigid piping systems, particularly above-ground systems such as
water filtration plants, sewage disposal plants, wastewater
treatment plants, pumping stations and chemical plants. Often
times, the flanged fitting is threaded directly onto the pipe. This
is accomplished by threading the plain end of a pipe (sometimes
referred to as the spigot end) and threading a compatibly sized
flanged fitting. The threaded flanged fitting is then
machine-tightened onto the spigot end of the pipe and is often then
transported to the field in this joined condition. In addition, it
is common in the industry for the pipe and flanged fitting to have
been "faced" after proper tightening of the flanged fitting on the
pipe. This is done by excising the portion of the threaded pipe
that extends from the face of the flanged fitting such that the
face of the flanged fitting is flush with the spigot end of the
pipe. The threaded flanged pipe is then connected to another
flanged pipe, usually by bolting means. In order to obtain a
leak-free joint, a gasket is often used between the faces of the
two flanged fittings.
[0007] The use of threaded flanged fittings presents several
limitations as will now be discussed. The threaded flanged fitting
is custom machined to accommodate the exact diameter of the pipe
and to provide a smooth surface across the end of the pipe and the
face of the flanged fitting. Also, extremely high torques are
required to tighten properly the flanged fitting onto the threaded
pipe. Consequently, one major limitation of this system is that
preparation of the flanged fitting and pipe requires sophisticated
machinery not usually available on-site where the finished
component will be assembled and installed. If assembled at the pipe
manufacturing facility before shipment, the presence of the flanged
fitting militates against efficient and space-saving packing and
reduces the amount of pipe components which can be transported.
[0008] In addition, to assure a proper seal, it is important for
the threaded portion of the flanged fitting and pipe to be cleaned
of all foreign material such as dirt, sand, grit or rust. The
presence of foreign materials such as rust can also increase the
amount of torque required to install the flanged fitting onto the
pipe. Thus, manufacturing and assembling threaded flanged fittings
and threaded pipe is very difficult in the field. Still another
limitation of this system is that threaded pipe and threaded
flanged fittings are individually mated, and the flanged fittings
are not interchangeable. Still another limitation of threaded
flanged fitting systems is that the pipe walls must be of
substantially greater thickness in order to accommodate the
threading which will be machined onto its exterior surface.
[0009] An alternative method for joining pipe uses unthreaded
flanged fittings which are of appropriate diameter and which are
fitted onto pipe ends in facing relationship to one another. As
with the threaded flanged fitting, a gasket is often deployed
between the faces of the flanged fittings to obtain a sealed joint.
This is usually accomplished by bolting the flanged fittings
together. In order to secure the flanged fitting to the pipe ends,
set screws are inserted radially through the collar of the flange
into the exterior surface of the pipe ends. One such example of
this type of apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,861,
issued Nov. 6, 1984, to Frank E. Cann.
[0010] Although the device disclosed by Cann solves some of the
problems presented by use of a threaded flanged fitting, it is not
without problems of its own. For instance, the flanged fitting in
Cann's device must be mated to one another and therefore limits the
choices for joining pipe by those in the field. In addition, as
those skilled in the art will appreciate, those assembling the
flanged fitting in Cann's device must be skilled in recognizing the
extent to which the set screws should be tightened. Unless care is
used in tightening the set screws, they can often damage and even
puncture the pipe end. Conversely, if the set screws are not
sufficiently tightened, the flanged fitting can become unstable or
dislodged altogether.
[0011] A second common method for connecting the ends of pipe
involves inserting the spigot end of one pipe into the expanded end
of a second pipe the interior profile of which has been specially
fabricated to form a socket (the expanded end sometimes being
referred to as the "bell end"). The bell end is sized to
accommodate the spigot end of the pipe to be received. The
connection obtained by this method is also known in the industry as
a "push-on joint."
[0012] There are several methods used to seal and/or secure the
push-on joint. One such method involves inserting a fitted gasket
within an annular recess formed within the throat of the socket of
the bell. On such gasket is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,953,398,
issued Sep. 20, 1960, to L. Haugen and C. Henrikson. After the
gasket is inserted into the annular recess of the socket, the
spigot is aligned and forced through the gasket into the bottom of
the socket, thereby compressing the gasket and sealing the two pipe
ends together.
[0013] In order to restrain the spigot within the bell, a specially
designed gasket is sometimes used. One such gasket employs
stainless steel locking segments vulcanized circumferentially into
the gasket as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,697 and 5,464,228,
issued to J. Weber and L. Jones on Mar. 22, 1994 and Nov. 5, 1995,
respectively. The locking segments extend from the interior surface
of the gasket, away from the interior surface of the bell end, such
that they grip the spigot end of the inserted pipe when the
pipeline is subjected to internal pressures.
[0014] Still another common method for connecting pipe is sometimes
referred to as mechanical pipe joint. The bell end of a pipe has a
flanged portion cast on it. The spigot end of a second pipe is
fitted with a slidable gland fitting and a gasket that is conically
shaped such that one face of the gasket is diametrically larger
than the second face of the gasket. The conically shaped gasket is
positioned between the gland fitting and the spigot end of the pipe
with the smaller, second face of the gasket being closer to the
spigot end than the larger, first face of the gasket. The gland
fitting has a plurality of apertures for receiving standard bolts.
The gland fitting also has an integrally formed, protruding lip
which encircles the face of the gland fitting at its inside
diameter such that the lip is adjacent to the surface of the pipe
and faces the spigot end of the pipe when the gland fitting is
positioned on the pipe. The face of the flanged portion has a
tapered notch designed to receive the conically-shaped gasket when
the spigot end is inserted into the bell. The joint is formed when
the spigot is axially inserted into the bell, and the gland fitting
and the flanged portion are bolted together, causing the lip of the
gland fitting to compress the gasket thus sealing the two pipe
pieces. Examples of this type of apparatus is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,398,980, issued Mar. 21, 1995, to T. Hunter, O. Jackson
and M. Pannell; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,698, issued Nov. 7, 1995, to
R. Gilchrist; and in U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,615, issued Apr. 29, 1958
to A. Summers. Although each of these devices embodies a system
that purports to couple pipes in sealing relation to one another,
each system requires that conventional metal pipe bells be used,
thus limiting the flexibility of those assembling the pipeline, and
increasing the transportation and storage difficulties incurred by
the pipeline assemblers. There is, consequently, a need in the
industry for a compact, lightweight, easy to install pipe fitting
which converts plain pipe to various pipe joint configurations such
as a flanged or a mechanical joint.
[0015] The present invention embodies a significant advancement in
the field of pipe manufacture and assembly. The new fitting can be
used on standard pipe which needs no special preparation such as
welding or threading prior to attachment. As a one-piece pipe
fitting, gland pipe fitting described herein is simple to
manufacture (and therefore economical), is easy to assemble in the
field, and is equally or more stable and secure than other
alternatives now available. By accomplishing these and other
objectives, the disclosed gland pipe fitting offers those in the
business of constructing pipelines with a valuable new component
for connecting pipe ends.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The improvements described herein have been achieved in a
gland pipe fitting to be used in receiving and joining a first pipe
and a second pipe. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the fitting is best utilized to mate the bell end of one
pipe with the spigot end of a second pipe.
[0017] The gland pipe fitting disclosed is a one-piece, tubular
casting having an internal chamber and first and second openings at
the first and second extremities, respectively, of said tubular
casting. The tubular casting is fabricated such that the interior
surface profile of the internal chamber forms a socket for
receiving the spigot end of a pipe. This is accomplished by
fashioning an annular member integrally attached to form the second
extremity at said second opening of tubular body such that the
diameter of said second opening is smaller than the diameter of
said first opening and no greater than the inner diameter of the
pipe to be axially inserted through said first opening. It will be
appreciated that, so configured, the exterior surface of said
tubular body forms a raised annular lip extending outwardly at the
juncture of the annular member and the remainder of said tubular
body. Said lip will serve to compress an external gasket during the
formation of a mechanical joint as will be described more fully
below. Said annular member extends a sufficient length from the
remainder of said tubular body to seat comfortably within the bell
end of a second pipe as will also be described.
[0018] The surface of the internal chamber is further fabricated
such that the throat of the socket formed therein contains an
annularly recess designed to receive an internal, cylindrical
gasket for sealing, and where desired, for restraining purposes
when used to form a push-on joint. One such gasket is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,228.
[0019] The tubular casting further has a shoulder, or flanged
portion, extending radially outward at a substantially right angle
relative to the exterior surface of said tubular casting thereby
forming a cylindrical face encircling the tubular casting. In a
preferred embodiment, the face of the flanged portion has a
plurality of aperatures for receiving bolts or other connecting
means in order to mate the apparatus to the bell end or other
appropriately configured second pipe. However, it will be
understood by those in the industry that alternative means exist
for mating pipe fittings together, and the present invention is not
restricted to the use of bolts and bolt apertures. The flanged
portion can be cast in different locations along the exterior
surface of the tubular casting to suit the needs of the user,
although it will usually be located at the first extremity defined
by the first opening.
[0020] The new gland pipe fitting facilitates connections between
pipe in the field without the need for sophisticated and
time-consuming machining. Because the annular recess is fabricated
within the socket of the pipe gland, the location of the gasket and
the extent to which the spigot must be inserted into the flange
component is predetermined, thus eliminating the need for making
precise measurements as is required by the invention disclosed by
U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,750, issued Jun. 29, 1971 to P. Dunmire. These
same features of the present invention also reduce substantially
the possibility that the gasket will be displaced or damaged during
assembly as is the case with Dunmire. Thus, the instant invention
provides a significant improvement over current devices because it
is makes assembly of pipeline more efficient, economical and
error-free.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing and other objects or features and advantages
of the present invention will be made apparent from the detailed
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and from
the following list of drawings which are for illustration purposes
and are not to scale:
[0022] FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical cross sectional view of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is an assembled vertical cross sectional view of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the new gland pipe fitting is
an apparatus for joining the spigot end 2 of first pipe 4 with the
bell end 38 of a second pipe 5. The pipe fitting comprises a
tubular body 6 having an internal chamber 10 and first and second
openings, 7 and 8 respectively, at the first and second
extremities. respectively, of said tubular body.
[0026] Said tubular body 6 has an annular member 35 integrally
attached to form the second extremity at said second opening 8 such
that the inner diameter of said second opening 8 is smaller than
the diameter of said first opening 7 and no greater than the
diameter of the spigot end 2 of a first pipe 4 to be axially
inserted through the first opening 7. It will be appreciated that,
so configured, the profile of the internal chamber 10 forms a
socket such that spigot end 2 of the first pipe 4 seats against the
bottom 11 of the socket when fully inserted through said first
opening 7 into the chamber of the tubular body, as best reflected
in FIG. 2.
[0027] A raised annular lip 36 extending outwardly from the
exterior surface of said tubular body is formed at the juncture 37
of the annular member 35 and the remainder of said tubular body.
Said lip serves to compress an external gasket 32 during the
formation of a mechanical joint as will be described more fully
below. Said annular member 35 extends a sufficient length from the
remainder of said tubular body 6 to seat comfortably within the
bell end 38 of a second pipe 5 as will also be described below.
[0028] Tubular body 6 further has an annular flange 15 extending
outwardly in roughly perpendicular fashion to the exterior surface
18 of tubular body 6. In a preferred embodiment, the annular flange
15 has a plurality of apertures 19 that are parallel to the axis of
the tubular body and distanced sufficiently from the exterior
surface 18 of the tubular body 6 to permit the annular flange 15 to
be affixed by bolting or other appropriate means 20 to the bell end
38 of second pipe 5. The annular flange 15 can be positioned at any
point along the exterior surface 18 of the tubular body 6. However,
a preferred embodiment locates the annular flange at the extremity
at said first opening 7 of the tubular body 6.
[0029] An annular recess 21 circumscribes the throat of the socket
of internal chamber 10. The annular recess 21 is shaped to receive
an internal sealing gasket 22, shown in FIG. 1, of dimensions
corresponding to the dimensions of annular recess 21. Referring to
FIG. 1, the profile of the annular recess 21 will be determined by
the exterior profile of the internal sealing gasket 22 to be used.
The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 configures the annular
recess 21 to be compatible with the profile of a gasket such as
that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,228 and U.S. Pat. No.
2,953,398. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, the
annular recess 21 is defined by a front radial wall 23 and a rear
radial wall 24 which are joined by a third wall 25, said third wall
being substantially parallel with the surface of the throat of the
socket. Said third wall 25 is divided into two compartments by a
small annular protrusion 26 extending inwardly from the third wall
25 of the annular recess 21. In the preferred embodiment, the first
compartment 27 is generally smaller than the second compartment 29
and serves as a retainer seat to receive the heel 28 of the gasket.
The second compartment 29 of the annular recess is fabricated for
receiving the bulb 30 of the gasket as it is compressed by the
insertion of the spigot end 2 of the pipe 4, as reflected in FIG.
2.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembly of a pipe joint
employing the present invention is now explained. The appropriate
internal sealing gasket 22 is inserted into the socket with the
heel 28 of the internal sealing gasket 22 in first compartment 27
of the annular recess 21. The spigot end 2 of the pipe 4 is axially
inserted through the first opening 7 of the tubular body 6. The
spigot end 2 is then forcibly inserted beyond the internal sealing
gasket 22 until the spigot end 2 of the pipe 4 seats against the
bottom of the socket 11 formed by the annular member 35.
[0031] The annular member 35 is ready for insertion into the bell
end 38 of an appropriately sized second pipe 5. It will be
appreciated that a standard bell end 38 generally has a flanged
portion 39 extending generally radially outward from the external
surface of the bell end. Flanged portion 39 has a plurality of
apertures 33 that are in complementary allignment with the
apertures 19 of the annular flange 15 of tubular body 6. It will
further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the surface
of the flanged portion 39 has fashioned at its internal diameter,
at the juncture of flanged portion 39 and the bell end 38, notched
portion 41 designed to receive a complementally-shaped, external
gasket. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the industry
that a conically-shaped gasket, such as external gasket 32 shown in
FIG. 2, is often employed.
[0032] Annular flange 15 of the tubular body 6 is joined by bolting
means 20 to the flanged portion 39 of the bell end 38 of the second
pipe 5. As the joint is tightened by bolting or other means 20, the
lip 36 of the tubular body 6 compresses external sealing gasket 32
seated in notched portion 41 of the bell end 38 of said second pipe
5. It will be understood that said gland fitting is thereby used to
form a mechanical joint.
[0033] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention are
shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art
may devise various modifications of the present invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. The invention is
not intended to be limited by the foregoing disclosure, but only by
the following claims.
* * * * *