System for conduit squeeze retainer

Abstract

A pipe system includes a tubular body with an axis, a bore that is axial and a retainer groove formed in the bore of the tubular body. A retainer is mounted in the retainer groove. An entirety of the retainer is both axially movable and radially movable relative to the retainer groove during formation of a pipe assembly with a pipe in the bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe system comprising:
 a tubular body having an axis, a bore that is axial and a retainer groove formed in the bore of the tubular body, wherein the retainer groove has a shallow radius and a deep radius that is greater than the shallow radius;   a retainer configured to be mounted in the retainer groove, wherein the retainer comprises a radial thickness T 1  that is greater than a radial thickness T 2  of the shallow radius of the retainer groove; and   the radial thickness T 1  of the retainer is less than or equal to a radial thickness T 3  of the deep radius of the retainer groove.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer has a relaxed, default state wherein, relative to the axis, an inner radius R I  of the retainer is less than an outer radius R P  of a pipe for the tubular body. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe system of  claim 2 , wherein the inner radius R I  of the retainer is less than or equal to an outer radius R PG  of a pipe retainer groove in an exterior of the pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer has a relaxed, default state wherein, relative to the axis, an outer radius Ro of the retainer is less than an inner radius R G  of the shallow radius of the retainer groove, and the outer radius Ro of the retainer is greater than an inner radius R B  of the bore of the tubular body. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is configured to be fully radially expanded into and seat completely within the deep radius of the retainer groove in the tubular body. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein a radial size of the retainer is configured to radially expand relative to the axis when a pipe is axially inserted through the retainer in the tubular body. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe system of  claim 6 , wherein a chamfer on the retainer or on the pipe is configured to translate axial motion of the pipe through the retainer into a radial motion of the retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe system of  claim 6 , wherein the tubular body is one of a coupling or an integrated bell on an axial end of a pipe. 
     
     
         9 . A pipe system comprising:
 a tubular body having an axis, a bore that is axial and a retainer groove formed in the bore of the tubular body; and   a retainer configured to be mounted in the retainer groove, and an entirety of the retainer is configured to be both axially movable and radially movable relative to the retainer groove during formation of a pipe assembly with a pipe in the bore.   
     
     
         10 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer is configured to automatically engage the pipe without manual intervention with the retainer when the pipe is inserted into the bore of the tubular body. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the pipe assembly is configured to be reversible such that actuation of the retainer releases the pipe from the tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the pipe assembly is configured to be repeatably reversible such that the tubular body, retainer and pipe can repeatably form and un-form the pipe assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer comprises a radial inner surface having a chamfer on a corner thereof configured to face in an axial direction of the pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer comprises a split ring with circumferentially overlapping ends and wherein the split ring is configured to comprise a relaxed state with a first diameter, and a radially expanded state with a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein tubular body comprises visual indicia configured to indicate if the tubular body and the pipe are in tension. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein, in response to tension being applied to the pipe assembly, the retainer is configured to engage in the retainer groove at a shallowest radial depth thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer is configured to:
 radially expand when the pipe is inserted into the tubular body; and   move axially into a shallower portion of the retainer groove when the pipe assembly is put in tension.   
     
     
         18 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer is configured to comprise:
 a nominal configuration having a nominal diameter relative to the axis prior to formation of the pipe assembly with the pipe;   an expanded configuration having an expanded diameter relative to the axis during formation of the pipe assembly, and the expanded diameter is greater than the nominal diameter; and   an engaged configuration having an engaged diameter after formation of the pipe assembly, wherein the nominal diameter<the engaged diameter<the expanded diameter.   
     
     
         19 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer consists of only one retainer, and the only one retainer is the only retainer that is configured to retain the pipe to the tubular body. 
     
     
         20 . The pipe system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer comprises radial extensions relative to the axis, and the radially extensions are configured to be manipulated to change a dimension of the retainer.