MXPA97002917A - Coupling member comprising lainclinac - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coupling member for joining two sections of a conduit, each having circumferential end grooves, the coupling member being characterized in that it comprises: a ring for fitting in the respective end grooves, the ring has a predetermined angle of inclination: a seal to create a seal between the ring and the end slots, the joint comprises: a first wall and a second wall, joined at one end of nose or heel each of the walls has an outer surface, said walls and the nose end define an interior cavity having an open end for receiving the ring, wherein the repective thickness of the first wall and the second wall vary from the nose end to the open end, resulting in walls with sections taper cross-sections to accommodate the angle of inclination of the anil

Description

COUPLING MEMBER COMPENSATING THE TILT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the technique of pipe joints, particularly those used to join large sections of plastic pipe of the type used in re-lining culvert lines. The conduit joint of the present invention can also be used to join pipes and conduits of a variety of types, which can be used in many different applications. In recent years, techniques have been developed to re-line degraded culvert lines by axially driven sections of plastic pipe within a culvert line. Such pipes must be connected using special joints capable of supporting the high axial loads, which are applied during the insertion of the pipe, while providing a fluid tight seal during operational use. An example of such a pre-piping joint is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The two pipe sections 12, 14 each have circumferentially continuous end slots 16, 18. A coupling member 20 fits within the end slots for joining and sealing the butt contact ends of the pipe sections.

The coupling member 20 includes a rigid core 22 in the form of an annular ring or a section of cylindrical tube. An elastic elastomeric gasket 26 is formed which engages the annular ring 22. The gasket 26 is formed with a plurality of fins 28, which create a fluid-tight seal when inserted into the end slots 16, 18. annular ring 22 can be formed of many materials, preferably glass fiber, which imparts the desired properties of mechanical strength and rigidity. However, it is difficult to manufacture such part with an annular or cylindrical shape because such cylindrical parts are difficult to remove from the molds without actually damaging the parts. This increases the expense and difficulty of the manufacturing process. In view of the difficulties and disadvantages encountered with coupling members it would be advantageous to provide a coupling member that includes components which are easier to manufacture. Therefore, there is a need for a coupling member, which includes an improved annular ring, which can be easily removed from the manufacturing equipment. There is also a need for a coupling member that includes a seal which cooperates with the improved annular ring to effectively provide a fluid tight seal. There is also a need for a coupling member that includes a seal which cooperates with the improved annular ring to effectively transmit the insertion force. These needs and others are made by the coupling member of the present invention, in which the ring is formed at a predetermined angle of inclination, such that it can be easily removed from the mold. A specially formed gasket is then provided to compensate for the angle of inclination to create a seal between the inclined sides of the ring and the end grooves of a conduit, which generally have uniform, straight walls. The seal comprises a first wall and a second wall, which defines an interior cavity for receiving the ring. A plurality of fins are preferably formed integrally on the outside of each wall to create an interference fit with the end slots. The first and second walls have differential thicknesses to accommodate the pull angle of the ring. In the preferred embodiment, the. The first wall is substantially thicker than the second wall and the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. Also, the respective thicknesses of the first wall and the second wall are preferably tapered to define an interior cavity having an angle of inclination equal to that of the ring. As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other and different modalities and its various details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be considered as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the appended figures, in which the members bear similar reference numbers and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of tube sections joined using a pre-bond structure. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the area enclosed in a circle of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the ring with the angle of inclination according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view illustrating the coupling member including the joint and tilt compensation according to the present invention. Figure 5 is an oblique view illustrating the configuration of the gasket according to the present invention. Now with reference to the drawings, which are for purposes of illustration only of the preferred embodiment of the invention and not for purposes of limiting the same, Figures 3-5 show a coupling member for joining two sections of the conduit of the type where each conduit section is formed with outer and inner walls and a space therebetween, which preferably defines circumferentially continuous end slots at the end of each conduit. Turning specifically to Figure 3, a ring 30 is shown which forms the rigid core of the coupling member according to the present invention. The ring 30 is preferably symmetrical about an axis A and is formed of glass fiber, preferably in the form of a short, hollow, generally cylindrical section having an outer surface 36 and an inner surface 38. To facilitate the release of the mold during manufacture, the ring 30 is formed with a small angle of inclination?.

As used herein, the "tilt angle" refers to the light taper imparted to the shape of the ring 30. To create the tilt angle, the ring is inclined inward toward the cylindrical axis A. Ring 30 of this The shape has a light truncated cone shape, with one end 32 having a diameter smaller than the other end 34. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of inclination is approximately three quarters of a degree. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the gasket 40 of the present invention is designed to compensate for the inclination of the ring 30. The present gasket 40 is formed of an elastomeric material, preferably polyisoprene and includes a first wall 42 and a second one. wall 44, which are preferably joined by a rounded end tip 46, to define an interior cavity 48 for receiving the ring 30. The first and second walls 42, 44 are preferably made with differential thicknesses, i.e. the wall of each wall 42, 44 varies from the tip end to the open end. These differential thicknesses result in a wall with a tapered cross section. In this form, the surfaces of the inner cavity 48 are not parallel to the outer surfaces of the walls 47, 44 but are inclined to correspond to the angle of inclination of the ring 30. In this form, the joint 40 compensates for the angle of inclination of the ring 30 in such a way that it can be inserted in the straight radial end grooves of the pipe, so that they uniformly fill the groove and provide a uniform compression of the gasket 40 around the sides. In the preferred embodiment, the outer surfaces of the first wall 42 the second wall 44 are generally parallel. A plurality of fins 50 are formed on the outer surfaces. Due to the angle of inclination, the ring 30 tends to receive in an eccentric position within the end slot. To further compensate the angle of inclination, the first wall 42 becomes substantially thicker than the second wall 44. For a ring 30 with an inclination angle of approximately three-quarters of a degree, the first wall 42 is preferably made of approximately 8% thicker than the second wall 44. Also, the fins 60 extending from the first wall 42, are also preferably made 11% thicker (i.e., extending beyond the wall) than the fins 50. which extend from the second wall 44. Alternatively, the walls 42, 44 can be made with approximately the same thickness, with the fins 50 on the second wall 44 made correspondingly different to compensate for the angle of inclination of the ring 30., the fins 50 can be made of equal thickness with the wall thicknesses that differ to compensate for the angle of inclination in this way. By providing a seal 40 having the walls 42, 44 and the fins 50 with different thicknesses, the ring 30 fits level within the end slots, such that the spaces between the outer surface 36 and the inner surface 38 of the ring 30 are likewise compensated within the end groove by gasket 40. In this form, the gasket provides an equal distribution of sealing force between ring 30 and the end groove. By insertion into the end slots, the fins 50 are compressed radially, forming an interference fit fluid-tight with the inner surfaces of the end slots, provide an equal distribution of force, the seal 40 allows a fluid tight seal between the surfaces of parallel end slots and the inclined surfaces of the ring 30. As described above, the present invention solves many problems associated with the previous systems and exhibits improved efficiency and operability. However, it will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of the parts which have been described herein and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, can be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope. of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

Claims (26)

1. CLAIMS 1. A coupling member for joining two sections of a conduit, each having circumferential end grooves, the coupling member is characterized in that it comprises: a ring for adjusting it in the respective end grooves, the ring has an angle of predetermined inclination; a seal to create a seal between the ring and the end grooves, the joint comprises: a first wall and a second wall, each of the walls have an outer surface, the walls defining an interior cavity to receive the ring, in that the first wall and the second wall have different thicknesses to accommodate the angle of inclination of the ring. The coupling member according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fins placed on the outside of the joint to create an interference fit with the end slots. The coupling member according to claim 2, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. 4. The coupling member according to claim 2, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the first wall is thicker than the second wall. The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the thicknesses of the respective first and second walls are tapered to define an interior cavity having an angle of inclination equal to that of the ring. The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring has a generally circular cross-section. The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination is approximately three quarters of a degree. 9. A gasket for use with a coupling member for joining two sections of the conduit, which have circumferential end grooves, the coupling member comprises a ring to fit within the respective end grooves, the ring has an angle of inclination respective, the ring having a predetermined angle of inclination, the joint to create a seal between the ring and the end slots, the joint is characterized in that it comprises: a first wall and a second wall, each of the walls having a outer surface, the walls defining an interior cavity for receiving the ring, wherein the first wall and the second wall have different thicknesses to accommodate the angle of inclination of the ring. 10. The board in accordance with the claim 9, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fins placed on the outside of the joint to create an interference fit with the end slots. 11. The board in accordance with the claim 10, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. The gasket according to claim 10, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. 13. The board in accordance with the claim 9, characterized in that the first wall is thicker than the second wall. The gasket according to claim 9, characterized in that the thicknesses of the respective first and second walls are tapered to define an interior cavity having an angle of inclination equal to that of the ring. 15. A coupling member for joining two sections of a conduit, each having circumferential end grooves, the coupling member is characterized in that it comprises: a ring for fitting in the respective end grooves, the ring has an angle of predetermined inclination; a seal for creating a seal between the ring and the end slots, the joint comprises: a first wall and a second wall, each of the walls having an outer surface, the walls defining an interior cavity for receiving the ring; a plurality of fins placed on the outside of the joint to create an interference fit with the end slots, whereby any of the first wall, the second wall and the plurality of fins are formed with a respective thickness different from the others respective thicknesses. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. 17. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the first wall is thicker than the second wall. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the thicknesses of the respective first and second walls are tapered to define an interior cavity having an angle of inclination equal to that of the ring. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the ring has a generally circular cross section. The coupling member according to claim 15, characterized in that the angle of inclination is approximately three quarters of a degree. 22. A gasket for use with a coupling member for joining two sections of the conduit, each having circumferential end grooves, the coupling member comprising a ring for fitting within the respective end grooves, the ring having an angle of predetermined inclination, the joint to create a seal between the ring and the end grooves, the joint is characterized -because it comprises: a first wall and a second wall, each of the walls having an outer surface, the walls that define an inner cavity to receive the ring; a plurality of fins placed on the outside of the joint to create an interference fit with the end slots, whereby any of the first wall, the second wall and the plurality of fins are formed with a respective thickness different from the others respective thicknesses. 23. The gasket according to claim 22, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. 24. The gasket according to claim 22, characterized in that the fins on the outside of the first wall are thicker than the fins on the outside of the second wall. 25. The board in accordance with the claim 22, characterized in that the first wall is thicker than the second wall. 26. The gasket according to claim 22, characterized in that the thicknesses of the respective first and second walls are tapered to define an interior cavity having an angle of inclination equal to that of the ring.