Pipe seal

Claim 2

A flexible gasket type seal for use in coupling together the adjacent ends of two pipes; comprising: a. an annular gasket, having a substantially triangular cross section, including a hollow annular central cavity of substantially triangular cross section, said gasket when viewed in cross section having a base portion and a pair of side portions extending upward from the respective ends of said base portion to converge at an apex point; and b. a vertical internal web portion extending from substantially the middle of said base portion to said apex so as to divide said centRal cavity into a pair of side cavities.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said side cavities have a cross sectional area in the range of 8 to 20 percent of the cross sectional area of said gasket, such that said side cavities permit lateral displacement of the outer portion of said gasket and said web portion provides for controlled compression of said seal.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein a plurality of V-shaped ridges are integrally formed on the outer surface of said gasket for sealing of localized surface roughness of the pipes.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 wherein the thickness of said web portion is approximately 50 percent greater than the thickness of said side portions.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said gasket is formed from a synthetic elastomeric type material.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2 wherein said gasket and said central cavity have a cross sectional shaped of an isosceles triangle.

Claim 8

In a pipe joint comprising a first pipe having an enlarged hub portion at its end, and a second pipe telescopically received in the hub portion of the first pipe having a circumferential recess for receiving a sealing gasket; an improved sealing gasket, comprising: a. an annular flexible gasket, having a substantially triangular cross section, substantially filling and confined within said recess and including a pair of hollow annular side cavities of substantially triangular cross section, said gasket when viewed in cross section having a base portion and a pair of side portions extending upward from the respective ends of said base portion to converge at an apex point; and b. a vertical internal web portion extending from substantially the middle of said base portion to said apex so as to divide said central cavity into a pair of side cavities; c. the unconfined internal diameter of said gasket being less than the external diameter of said recess in the second pipe and the unconfined external diameter of said gasket being greater than the internal diameter of said hub portion of the first pipe such that as said second pipe is received by said first pipe said gasket is compressed within said recess to effect a fluid seal therebetween.

Claim 9

In a pipe joint comprising a first pipe having an enlarged hub portion at its end, and a second pipe telescopically received in the hub portion of the first pipe having a circumferential recess for receiving a sealing gasket; an improved sealing gasket, comprising: a. an annular flexible gasket, having a substantially triangular cross section, substantially filling and confined within said recess and including a pair of hollow annular side cavities of substantially triangular cross section, said gasket when viewed in cross section having a base portion and a pair of side portions extending upward from the respective ends of said base portion to converge at an apex point; and b. a vertical internal web portion extending from substantially the middle of said base portion to said apex so as to divide said central cavity into a pair of side cavities; c. the unconfined internal diameter of said gasket being less than the external diameter of said recess in the second pipe and the unconfined external diameter of said gasket being greater than the internal diameter of said hub portion of the first pipe such that as said second pipe is received by said first pipe said gasket is compressed within said recess to effect a fluid seal therebetween.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein said base portion is positioned to contact the external surface of said recess and said side portions adjacent said apex being positioned to contact the internal surface of said hub portion.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein each of said side cavities have a cross sectional area in the range of 8 to 20 percent of the cross sectional area of said gasket, such that said side cavities permit lateral displacement of the outer portion of said gasket and said web portion provides for controlled compression of said gasket.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein said recess has outwardly flared sidewalls to provide for the flow of gasket material when said gasket is compressed within said recess.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein the thickness of said web portion is approximately 50 percent greater than the thickness of said side portions.