Pipe and Tubing Connecting Sleeve

This invention relates to pipe and tubing connectors and particularly to a connector or coupling adapted to connect metal or plastic pipe or tubing to metal or plastic pipe or tubing to prevent leakage and separation.

There are many connectors or couplings proposed for connecting metal or plastic pipe ends together or for connecting metal to plastic pipe or tubing. One of the most critical areas for such couplings is in the gas industry where even the smallest amount of leakage can lead to serious, if not fatal, consequences. A very serious problem in this area is to provide a coupling which will permit expansion of the pipe being coupled but will prevent separation of the pipe.

The present invention provides a coupling which solves these problems of the prior art, particularly as they have applied to the gas industry, and provides a coupling which can be used to connect metal pipe to plastic pipe, metal pipe to metal pipe or plastic pipe to plastic pipe. It is, in short, universally adaptable to the materials now used to conduct fluid materials. It will permit the metal pipe ends to expand into the connector but will not permit them to be withdrawn and it will provide a leak proof connection.

There is provided in the present coupling an elongate sleeve adapted to receive coaxially two opposing pipe or tube ends to be connected, said sleeve having frusto-conical enlarged ends, a pair of frusto-conical elastomer gaskets adapted to fit in said frusto-conical ends in tight engagement around the pipe or tube ends to be connected, said gaskets extending out of said frusto-conical ends of the sleeve, a follower member at each end of the sleeve bearing on said gaskets to force them into the frusto-conical ends of said sleeve, a frusto-conical opening in each follower member around the pipe ends being connected, a plurality of spaced apart generally triangular jaws regularly spaced apart around each pipe end to be connected within the frusto-conical opening in the follower member and abutting the resilient gasket, surfacing engaging means on the face of each triangular jaw adapted to engage the surface of the pipe end to be connected and tightening means extending between the follower means acting to move them axially of the sleeve and pipe ends being joined to force the gaskets into tight sealing engagement with the pipe ends being joined and the sleeve and simultaneously force the triangular jaws into tight radial engagement with the pipe ends being connected so as to prevent their being pulled out of the connector. Preferably the triangular jaws are connected together by generally resilient means permitting them to form a generally frusto-conical ring which can be compressed to smaller diameter to engage the pipes being connected. This may be accomplished by machining a frusto-conical ring and slitting it axially to a point adjacent its base to form a plurality of side-by-side triangular jaws, with one slit passing completely through the cone to permit its reduction in diameter. The jaws may also be individually formed and connected together by intermediate rubber bonding members which permit the jaws to be bent in a circle to form a frusto-conical member. Preferably the jaw faces designed to engage the pipe are provided with teeth or knurling to engage the pipe surface. The tightening means between the followers is preferably a plurality of bolts extending between them through lugs extending radially outwardly from the followers.

In the foregoing general description certain objects, purposes and advantages of this invention have been set out. Other objects, purposes and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a connector according to this invention showing a connection to a metal pipe at one end and a plastic pipe at the other;

FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary view of the right end of the connector of FIG. 1 showing the parts involved and one form of triangular jaw holding member;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of triangular jaw member assembly according to this invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of triangular jaw assembly in which spaced jaws are connected by elastomer connectors in a continuous band from which a piece can be cut to form a jaw member assembly for this invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of jaw assembly; and

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of jaw assembly for use in the elastomer assembly of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a metal pipe 10 and a plastic pipe 11 to be connected. A sleeve 12, having a slightly larger internal diameter than the external diameter of pipes 10 and 11, is placed coaxially around the two pipes 10 and 11 to be connected. Each end of sleeve 12 has a flared or frusto-conical portion 13 receiving an elastomeric gasket 14 having a cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical end portion 14a adapted to fit in the flared end 13 of the sleeve. The elastomeric gasket 14 is adapted to fit snugly around the pipe ends 10 and 11 to be joined. In the case of plastic pipe 11 a support or stiffener sleeve 15 must be inserted into the interior end to be connected. Such sleeves are a well known article of commerce and are generally provided with a radial ring 15a at one end to abut the end of the plastic pipe. An annular cup shaped follower 16 surrounds each pipe 10 and 11, abuts the gasket 14 and is provided with radial lugs 17 having holes 17a receiving bolts 18 with tightening nuts 18a for drawing the followers axially toward the sleeve. Each of the followers 16 has a generally frusto-conical opening 16a receiving spaced triangular jaws 19 either as separate jaw members or preferably connected together in a ring. Each jaw has toothed grooves 20 adapted to engage the surface of pipes 10 and 11. The jaws 19 may bear against elastomer gasket 14 as shown at the right of FIG. 1 or against an intermediate washer 21 as shown at the left of FIG. 1. When nuts 18a are tightened on bolts 18 the gaskets 14 are forced into flared ends 13 tightly engaging and sealing the sleeve 12 to the pipe ends 10 and 11. At the same time jaws 19 are compressed by the frusto-conical opening 16a of follower 16 into tight engagement with the exterior surface of pipes 10 and 11 forcing the toothed grooves 20 into the surface of the pipe to hold it against withdrawal from sleeve 12. Thus the middle ring and pipe ends 10 and 11 are simultaneously sealed by gasket 14 and held against withdrawal by jaws 19 upon tightening of nuts 18a on bolts 18.

In the exploded view, FIG. 2, one form of jaw 19 assembly is illustrated. In this form a frusto-conical metal ring 30 is machined and axial slots 31 are cut from the apex and toward the base but terminates short of the base. A single slot 32 is cut completely through the ring to permit it to be compressed in diameter around pipe 10.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 3 triangular jaws 19a with grooves 20a are connected by elastomer members 40 bonded between each of the jaw assembly 19a and thus permitting the jaws to be compressed about pipes 10 and 11.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 4, jaws 19b provided with knurling 50, are connected by elastomer members 51 bonded to the jaws to form an elongante strip from which a portion may be cut through one of the elastomer members 51 suitable for any given pipe diameter. In the embodiment it is not necessary to carry a plurality of different sizes of jaw rings for different diameters of pipe to be connected because an appropriate length can be cut in the field to suit the particular pipe being joined.

It is, of course, possible to use a plurality of separate jaws spaced about the pipes to be joined but their application is simplified by joining as described herein.

In the jaw assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 a frusto-conical metal ring 60 is machined and axial slots 61 are cut from the apex end toward the base but terminate short of the base. A second set of axial slots 62 are cut from the base between slots 61. This gives the unit more radial compressibility.

In FIG. 6 is illustrated a second form of jaw structure in which the base of the jaw is cut at an angle of about 45.degree.. This reduces the likelihood of the jaw being tilted as a greater portion of the jaw extends through the conical openings 16a.

While certain preferred embodiments and practices of this invention have been illustrated and described in the foregoing specification, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.