US3771820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adhesive bonded split sleeve coupling for pipes and tubular members
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-22
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1992-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A split, sleeve-like structure of identical cross-sectional elements, which when secured to a pipe or tubular member joint by a curable adhesive provides a permanent joint of strength greater than the joined pipe or tubular members, the joint being leakproof with a connector or coupling at as little as 20 percent of the weight of mechanical pipe or tube connectors. Overlapping portions of adjacent sleeve elements include flat confronting surfaces to permit sliding in a linear relationship relative to each other as they are moved radially relative to the members being joined whereby an increase in the joint bond line is attained, as well as manufacturing tolerance variations in the outer diameter of the members being jointed becomes substantially immaterial to the completed joint strength. Placement of the sleeve elements over a leak or hole in the wall of a pipe or conduit, or other damaged portion thereof, permits repair of the leak or damaged portion without cutting of the pipe or conduit. This sleeve coupling permits joining of any metal or composite (e.g., carbon fiber, boron fiber, glass fiber, etc.) pipe or tubular members, as well as the joining of dissimilar materials, and whether the jointed members are of the same or different size diameters.
Inventors
- 👤 W Hoss
- 👤 R Kilpatrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L13/00; F16L13/10; F16L13/103; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S285/00; Y10S285/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A segmented sleeve structure for adhesive bonding to the circumference of a tubular member comprising: a plurality of adjacent sleeve segment means having longitudinal confronting edge portions, each sleeve segment means configured to extend in partial longitudinal and circumferential directions for installation over a portion of the tubular member wherein such installation is solely an adhesive bonding interconnection between the inner surface of said segment means and the tubular member and between each pair of confronting longitudinal edge portions of said sleeve segment means when the segmented sleeve structure is installed, each segment means having a substantially identical arcuate cross-sectional configuration with inner and outer diameter portions providing a combined circumferential arcuate extension, said inner diameter portion having an effective diameter of no less than the outer diameter of the tubular member and a circumferential arcuate extension of no greater than 180* and less than said combined circumferential arcuate extension, the longitudinal edge portions of each said segment means including at least one flat surface with the plane of at least one of said flat surfaces along each longitudinal edge portion angulated greater than 90* and less than 180* to the diametric plane of the tubular member including the arcuate extremity of the inner diameter circumferential portion nearest said angulated flat surface, one of said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means formed on the outer side of the segment edge portion whose inner side comprises a part of the inner diameter portion surface, the other of said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means formed on the inner side of the segment edge portion that comprises the circumferential arcuate extension beyond said inner diameter portion in confrontation to the outer diameter of the tubular member, said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means in confrontation to the opposite longitudinal edge flat surfaces of adjacent corresponding segment means comprising a 360* sleeve structure, and at least one interference means in the seam between each pair of adjacent segment means to restrict radially inward inner diameter reducing movement of each pair of adjacent segment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A segmented sleeve structure for adhesive bonding to the circumference of a tubular member comprising: a plurality of adjacent sleeve segment means having longitudinal confronting edge portions, each sleeve segment means configured to extend in partial longitudinal and circumferential directions for installation over a portion of the tubular member wherein such installation is solely an adhesive bonding interconnection between the inner surface of said segment means and the tubular member and between each pair of confronting longitudinal edge portions of said sleeve segment means when the segmented sleeve structure is installed, each segment means having a substantially identical arcuate cross-sectional configuration with inner and outer diameter portions providing a combined circumferential arcuate extension, said inner diameter portion having an effective diameter of no less than the outer diameter of the tubular member and a circumferential arcuate extension of no greater than 180* and less than said combined circumferential arcuate extension, the longitudinal edge portions of each said segment means including at least one flat surface with the plane of at least one of said flat surfaces along each longitudinal edge portion angulated greater than 90* and less than 180* to the diametric plane of the tubular member including the arcuate extremity of the inner diameter circumferential portion nearest said angulated flat surface, one of said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means formed on the outer side of the segment edge portion whose inner side comprises a part of the inner diameter portion surface, the other of said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means formed on the inner side of the segment edge portion that comprises the circumferential arcuate extension beyond said inner diameter portion in confrontation to the outer diameter of the tubular member, said longitudinal edge flat surfaces of each segment means in confrontation to the opposite longitudinal edge flat surfaces of adjacent corresponding segment means comprising a 360* sleeve structure, and at least one interference means in the seam between each pair of adjacent segment means to restrict radially inward inner diameter reducing movement of each pair of adjacent segment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A joint for joining tubular members comprising the segmented sleeve structure of Claim 1 bonded to the circumferential end portions of at least two contiguous tubular members by a curable adhesive, said adhesive located between the outer circumferential portions of the tubular members and the inner diameter portions of each sleeve segment means having direct confrontation therebetween as well as between the confronting flat surfaces of each pair of adjacent sleeve segment means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A joint as defined in claim 2 wherein the adhesive is of a thermo-setting material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A joint as defined in claim 2 wherein the adhesive is of an ambient-setting material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A segmented sleeve structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the thickness of each sleeve segment means between said inner and outer diamter portions is constant longitudinally throughout any longitudinal plane therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A segmented sleeve structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer diameter portion of each sleeve segment means comprises an intermediate portion between opposite end portions; the thickness of each sleeve segment means through said intermediate portion is constant longitudinally throughout any longitudinal plane therein, and the longitudinal thickness through said opposite end portions varies by the outer diameter surface of the opposite end portions tapering from the intermediate portiOn radially inward toward the inner diameter portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A segmented sleeve structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the effective diameter of said inner diameter portion of each sleeve segment means is approximately 0.001 to 0.015 inch greater than the tubular member outer diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A joint for joining tubular members as defined in claim 2 and including a second said segmented sleeve structure of larger effective diameters adhesively bonded over at least a longitudinal portion of the first segmented sleeve structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A segmented sleeve structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each said sleeve segment means is longitudinally adapted and configured to have at least a first and second effective inner diameter portions whereby said structure may be adhesive bonded to the contiguous ends of tubular members having at least two different outer diameters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |