Coupling having gasket pocket of varying depth

摘要

A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements has segments joined end to end, each segment having a pocket of varying depth for receiving a ring gasket. The varying depth of the pocket is used to control the distortion of the ring gasket between a round shape and a non-round shape when the segments are arranged in spaced apart relation around the ring gasket, the spacing between the segments being sufficient to permit insertion of the pipe elements without disassembly of the coupling.

主权项

1. A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising:
a plurality of segments joined end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space for receiving said pipe elements, at least one of said segments defining an eccentrically shaped gasket pocket, said at least one segment comprising: a pair of projections positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said one segment and extending toward said central axis, at least a portion of each of said projections being engageable with a respective one of said pipe elements, at least one of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis; a back wall extending between said projections and eccentric to said at least one projection as manifest by said back wall having an arcuate surface facing said central axis, a distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surface of said at least one projection, as measured along a radially projecting line extending from said central axis, being a first value at a first point midway between said ends of said at least one segment, said distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surface of said at least one projection being a second value at a second point proximate to at least one of said ends of said at least one segment, and said distance between said arcuate surface of said back wall and said arcuate surface of said at least one projection being a third value at a third point proximate to at least another one of said ends of said at least one segment, said first value being less than said second value and said third value; and a ring gasket positioned within said central space, said ring gasket having an outer circumference having a length greater than the sum of the lengths of said arcuate surfaces of said back walls of said segments, said ring gasket supporting at least two of said segments in spaced apart relation; said eccentrically shaped gasket pocket controlling a degree of distortion of said ring gasket out of round.