摘要 |
A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship includes obtaining a coupling, the coupling including an annular gasket, at least one segment, and a fastener, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least two ends, each end including at least one of a tongue and a groove, each tongue protruding circumferentially from at least one end, each groove defined circumferentially in at least one end; slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element beyond any groove proximate the end of the first pipe element; aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element; slipping the coupling onto the second pipe element such that the segments of the coupling straddle the ends of the first and second pipe elements; and engaging each fastener to deform each segment into contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements. |
主权项 |
1. A method of coupling first and second pipe elements in end-to-end facing relationship comprising:
obtaining a coupling, the coupling including
an annular gasket, the annular gasket including at least one sealing surface directed radially inwardly and an outer surface directed radially outwardly;at least one segment, each segment being approximately semi-circular and including at least one inner surface, at least one outer surface, a first end and a second end, each segment including a fastener pad protruding proximate to each end, each fastener pad defining a fastener hole, the first end including a tongue and the second end including a groove, each tongue including an inner surface and protruding circumferentially from each first end, each groove comprising two side walls and defined circumferentially in each second end, each groove defining a groove shoulder surface extending between the two side walls, each tongue sized to be received between the two side walls of the groove, each tongue defining a tongue outer surface facing radially outwardly towards the groove shoulder surface, the tongue outer surface angled at a non-zero angle relative to the groove shoulder surface, the tongue outer surface being nonparallel to the groove shoulder surface; andat least one fastener, wherein at least one portion of a shaft portion of the fastener is sized to engage at least one fastener hole in at least one segment; slipping the coupling onto the first pipe element; aligning the second pipe element in end-to-end facing relationship with the first pipe element; engaging each fastener with the at least one fastener hole of each segment to bring each segment into contact with an outer surface of each of the first and second pipe elements; and deforming each segment around the outer surfaces of the first and second pipe elements to reduce a radius of each segment wherein deforming each segment aligns the tongue outer surface of each tongue with the groove shoulder surface of a one of each groove and positions the tongue outer surface of each tongue parallel and flush to the groove shoulder surface of a one of each groove. |