Pipe joint assembly with snap ring and associated method

摘要

A pipe joint is restrained against axial separation by the use of a bearing ring. Various embodiments of bearing rings having wedging surfaces cause an increase in the resistance to pipe separation as the joint separating thrust increases. That is, as the force tending to cause pipe separation increases, the wedging surface on the bearing ring cooperates with a corresponding wedging surface on a spigot ring to increase the resistance of the pipe joint to separation. The spigot rings are connected to the spigots by welding, set screws, heat-shrinking, etc. A specially shaped snap ring or bearing ring and associated method of making the bearing ring is used to avoid possible problems resulting from manufacturing tolerances. Specifically, the bearing ring is constructed with a major diameter greater than diameters at other locations on the ring.