Coupling with projections having angularly oriented surface portions

Abstract

A mechanical coupling for joining pipe elements has segments joined end to end, each segment having projections with surface portions oriented angularly with respect to other surface portions to serve as a guide for the insertion of pipe elements between the segments when arranged in spaced apart relation around a ring gasket. A method of assembling a pipe joint includes engaging the surfaces with ends of the pipe elements and rotating the segments relative to one another to permit insertion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said pipe coupling comprising:
 a plurality of coupling segments joined end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space for receiving said pipe elements, at least one of said coupling segments comprising:   a pair of projections positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said one coupling 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, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis,   wherein at least one of said projections comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, said first surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, said first surface portion subtending an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said first surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from a first line extending between a first end of said one coupling segment and a second end of said one coupling segment. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said first surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one projection further comprises a third outwardly facing surface portion, said third surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, said third surface portion subtending an angle along said projection of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis, said second surface portion being positioned between said first and third surface portions. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 4 , wherein said third surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from said first line. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 4 , wherein said third surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 1 , comprising only a first and a second of said segments joined end to end surrounding said central axis, said coupling further comprising a ring gasket positioned between said first and second segments, said ring gasket supporting said first and second segments in spaced apart relation sufficient to insert said pipe elements between said coupling segments. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 7 , wherein said first and second segments comprise sidewalls from which said projections extend and a back wall extending between said projections, said sidewalls being attached to said back wall, said sidewalls and said back wall together defining a pocket, said pocket being adapted to receive said ring gasket. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one notch positioned in at least one of said projections of each said segment, each said notch located at an end of one of said segments. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one notch comprises first and second notches positioned on opposite ends of said one segment. 
     
     
         11 . A pipe coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said pipe coupling comprising:
 first and second coupling segments joined end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space for receiving said pipe elements, each one of said coupling segments comprising:   first and second projections, each positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said coupling segments 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, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis,   wherein each of said projections comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, and wherein, for each of said projections, said first surface portion is angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, and wherein, for each of said projections, said first surface portion subtends an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis.   
     
     
         12 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 11 , wherein, for each of said projections on each of said coupling segments, said first surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from a first line extending between a first end of said second coupling segment and a second end of said second coupling segment. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 12 , wherein, for each of said projections on each of said coupling segments, said first surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said projections further comprises a third outwardly facing surface portion, wherein, for each of said projections, said third surface portion is angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, wherein, for each of said projections, said third surface portion subtends an angle along said projection of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis, and wherein, for each of said projections, said second surface portion is positioned between said first and third surface portions. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 14 , wherein, for each of said projections on each of said coupling segments, said third surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from said first line. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 14 , wherein, for each of said projections on each of said coupling segments, said third surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         17 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 11 , further comprising a ring gasket positioned between said first and second coupling segments, said ring gasket supporting said first and second segments in spaced apart relation sufficient to insert said pipe elements between said coupling segments. 
     
     
         18 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said coupling segments comprises sidewalls from which said projections extend and a back wall extending between said projections, and wherein, for each of said coupling segments, said sidewalls are attached to said back wall, said sidewalls and said back wall together define a pocket, and said pocket is adapted to receive said ring gasket. 
     
     
         19 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 11 , wherein, each of said projections on each of said coupling segments further comprises at least one notch positioned in said projection, each said notch located at an end of one of said coupling segments. 
     
     
         20 . The pipe coupling according to  claim 19 , wherein, for each of said projections on each of said coupling segments, said at least one notch comprises first and second notches positioned on opposite ends of said one segment. 
     
     
         21 . A pipe coupling segment, used in a coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation, said coupling comprising a plurality of said segments joined end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space for receiving said pipe elements, said segment comprising:
 a pair of projections positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said coupling 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, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis,   wherein at least one of said projections comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, and wherein, for said at least one projection, said first surface portion is angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, and wherein, for said at least one projection, said first surface portion subtends an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis.   
     
     
         22 . The pipe coupling segment according to  claim 21 , wherein said first surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from a first line extending between a first end of said coupling segment and a second end of said coupling segment. 
     
     
         23 . The pipe coupling segment according to  claim 22 , wherein said first surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         24 . The pipe coupling segment according to  claim 22 , wherein said at least one projection further comprises a third outwardly facing surface portion, said third surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, said third surface portion subtending an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis, said second surface portion being positioned between said first and third surface portions. 
     
     
         25 . The pipe coupling segment according to  claim 24 , wherein said third surface portion is centered on a line extending from said central axis and oriented from an angle of about 30° to about 50° measured from said first line. 
     
     
         26 . The pipe coupling segment according to  claim 24 , wherein said third surface portion has an orientation angle relative to said second surface portion from about 15° to about 60°. 
     
     
         27 . A method for coupling first and second pipe elements in end to end relation, said method comprising:
 using a pipe coupling having first and second coupling segments attached to one another end to end surrounding a central axis and defining a central space, said coupling segments being supported in spaced apart relation on an elastic ring gasket, said coupling segments having adjustable connection members at each end for drawing said coupling segments toward said central space when said connection members are tightened, at least one of said coupling segments comprising:
 a pair of projections positioned in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of said one coupling 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, each of said projections having an arcuate surface facing said central axis, 
 wherein at least one of said projections comprises first and second outwardly facing surface portions, said first surface portion being angularly oriented relatively to said second surface portion, said first surface portion subtending an angle of about 35° to about 60° measured with respect to said central axis; 
   inserting said first pipe element into said central space from one side of said pipe coupling, said first pipe element engaging and thereby rotating said coupling segments relatively to one another about an axis passing through said connection members to provide clearance for inserting said first pipe element;   inserting said second pipe element into said central space from an opposite side of said pipe coupling; and   tightening said connection members and thereby drawing said coupling segments toward one another and into engagement with said first and second pipe elements to couple them in end to end relation.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said step of inserting said second pipe element into said central space from an opposite side of said pipe coupling comprises engaging said coupling segments with said second pipe element and thereby rotating said coupling segments relatively to one another about said axis passing through said connection members to provide clearance for inserting said second pipe element.