Patent US3924877A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3924877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stab-type coupling joint
Assignee: Mueller Co
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Filing: 1974-09-09
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A stab-type coupling joint for connecting an end portion of a smooth wall pipe or tube to fittings or other pipes. The stabtype coupling joint includes a hollow body member or sleeve member made from steel, the sleeve member being rolled at least at one end and at a point spaced from the end for retaining pipe gripping and sealing means such as a solid annular backup insert ring, a solid annular finger pipe gripper washer, a rigid annular washer, and a second insert ring with sealing rings in series and the sleeve member further including stop means spaced inwardly from the pipe receiving aperture of the same to prevent overinsertion of the pipe through the annular finger pipe gripper washer. Suitable sealing means are provided between the exterior of the pipe and the second insert ring, as well as between the interior of the sleeve member and the second insert means, these sealing means being positioned outwardly of the annular finger pipe gripper washer whereby ground fluids are sealed out, the length of insertion of the pipe is reduced, and the sealing means between the pipe and the second insert do not have to seal across scratches on the exterior of the pipe. The sleeve member may have identical end portions with mirror-image or reversed pipe gripper and sealing means therein whereby pipes may be stabbed from opposite ends of the sleeve member or the sleeve member may have one end for connection to a fitting or to another pipe by means of welds, threads, or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Wilbur R Leopold
- 👤 Frank C Hackman
- 👤 Lawrence F Luckenbill
- 👤 Daniel A Ellis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:34
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L21/00; F16L21/02; F16L21/03; F16L21/022; F16L37/00; F16L37/08; F16L37/084; F16L37/0845; F16L37/091
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A stab-type coupling joint for connecting an end portion of a smooth wall pipe to fittings or other pipes comprising: a sleeve member having a substantially uniform wall thickness, said sleeve member having at least one frusto-conical end portion terminating in a pipe receiving aperture, a cylindrical portion adjacent to and merging with the larger end of said frusto-conical end portion and a second frusto-conical portion tapering inwardly from the other end of said cylindrical portion; stop means spaced inwardly away from said pipe receiving apertUre and inwardly of the other end of said cylindrical portion to prevent over-insertion of the pipe through said pipe receiving aperture; said one frusto-conical end portion, said cylindrical portion, and said second frusto-conical portion defining an annular interior space in said sleeve member; an annular backup insert ring, an annular finger pipe gripper washer having radially inwardly extending gripper fingers, a rigid annular washer, and a second insert ring in series and positioned in said annular interior space and retained between said second frusto-conical portion and said frusto-conical end portion, respectively, said second annular insert ring having an exterior configuration substantially complementary to a portion of said cylindrical portion and said frusto-conical end portion; and at least one sealing ring carried by said second insert ring on the interior surface of the same for sealing with the exterior of the pipe and at least one sealing ring carried on the exterior of said second insert ring for sealing with the interior of said sleeve member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A stab-type coupling joint for connecting an end portion of a smooth wall pipe to fittings or other pipes comprising: a sleeve member having a substantially uniform wall thickness, said sleeve member having at least one frusto-conical end portion terminating in a pipe receiving aperture, a cylindrical portion adjacent to and merging with the larger end of said frusto-conical end portion and a second frusto-conical portion tapering inwardly from the other end of said cylindrical portion; stop means spaced inwardly away from said pipe receiving apertUre and inwardly of the other end of said cylindrical portion to prevent over-insertion of the pipe through said pipe receiving aperture; said one frusto-conical end portion, said cylindrical portion, and said second frusto-conical portion defining an annular interior space in said sleeve member; an annular backup insert ring, an annular finger pipe gripper washer having radially inwardly extending gripper fingers, a rigid annular washer, and a second insert ring in series and positioned in said annular interior space and retained between said second frusto-conical portion and said frusto-conical end portion, respectively, said second annular insert ring having an exterior configuration substantially complementary to a portion of said cylindrical portion and said frusto-conical end portion; and at least one sealing ring carried by said second insert ring on the interior surface of the same for sealing with the exterior of the pipe and at least one sealing ring carried on the exterior of said second insert ring for sealing with the interior of said sleeve member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said sleeve member is made of steel and in which said frusto-conical end portion and said second frusto-conical portion are rolled with said annular backup ring, said annular finger pipe gripper washer, said rigid annular washer, and said second insert ring being preliminarily positioned within the sleeve member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 2 in which said backup insert ring and said second insert ring are made of a substantially rigid plastic material and in which said rigid annular washer is steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 2 in which said second frusto-conical portion of said sleeve member is so rolled as to have an interior diameter less than the exterior diameter of the pipe and thereby functioning as said stop means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said second insert ring is provided with a counterbore, said counterbore and said rigid annular washer defining a groove for the sealing ring on the interior surface of said second insert ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said backup insert ring has an exterior diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of the cylindrical portion of said sleeve member and is provided with a counterbore whereby it is L-shaped in radial section, said counterbore defining with an axial inner end of said second insert ring, an annular groove for receiving said gripper washer, and said steel rigid annular washer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 6 in which said rigid annular washer is L-shaped in radial section and in which said gripper washer has its peripheral portion received between said rigid annular washer and said annular backup insert ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 7 in which said second insert ring is provided with a counterbore, said counterbore and said rigid annular washer defining a groove for the sealing ring on the interior surface of said second insert ring and in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on its exterior cylindrical surface for said sealing ring carried on the exterior of the same.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 8 in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on the end of its frusto-conical surface for receiving a second sealing ring on the exterior of the same, said second sealing ring providing a secondary seal between the exterior of the second insert ring and the interior of said sleeve member from leakage within said sleeve member and further functioning as a primary seal against ingress of fluid from the exterior of said sleeve member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on its exterior cylindrical surface for said sealing ring carried on the exterior of the same.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 10 in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on the end of its frusto-conical surface for receiving a second sealing ring on the exterior of the same, said second sealing ring providing a secondary seal between the exterior of said second insert ring and the interior of said sleeve member from leakage from within said sleeve member and further functioning as a primary seal against ingress of fluid from the exterior of said sleeve member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said backup insert ring, said gripper washer, and said rigid annular washer each have an exterior diameter substantially equal to the interior diameter of said cylindrical portion of said sleeve member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 12 in which said annular backup insert ring is provided with a frusto-conical recess adjacent said gripper ring to provide a space for fingers of said gripper ring whereby said fingers can flex when the pipe is inserted into said sleeve member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 13 in which said second insert ring is provided with a counterbore, said counterbore and said rigid annular washer defining a groove for the sealing ring on the interior surface of said second insert ring and in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on its exterior cylindrical surface for said sealing ring carried on the exterior of the same.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 14 in which said second insert ring is provided with a groove on the end of its frusto-conical surface for receiving a second sealing ring on the exterior of the same, said second sealing ring providing a secondary seal between the exterior of said second insert and the interior of said sleeve member from leakage from within said sleeve member and further functioning as a primary seal against the ingress of fluid from the exterior of said sleeve member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said stop means includes an annular stop ring having a circumscribed outside diameter approximately equal to that of an inside diameter of said sleeve member inwardly of said second frusto-conical portion and a circumscribed inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the pipe to be inserted, said stop ring being fixedly secured against axial movement within said sleeve member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 16 in which said stop ring is spot-welded to said sleeve member at least at discrete points.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 16 in which said stop ring has an undulating shape when viewed axially.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 18 in which said stop ring is split.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 16 in which said second frusto-conical portion merges at its smaller end with a third frusto-conical portion, said third frusto-conical portion merging at its larger end with a third cylindrical portion, said third cylindrical portion merging with a fourth frusto-conical portion tapering inwardly, said stop ring being positioned between said third and fourth frusto-conical portions whereby the same is restrained from axial movement by the third and fourth frusto-conical portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 20 in which an end portion of said sleeve member opposite the end portion formed by said first frusto-conical portion, said cylindrical portion, and said second frusto-conical portion is a reverse of and substantially identical thereto and wherein pipe gripper means, which are a reverse of and substantially identical to those provided between the first and second frusto-conical portions, are provided in the opposite end portion of said sleeve member so that another pipe may be stabbed from the opposite direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 1 in which said second frusto-conical portion of said sleEve member merges at its smaller end into a second cylindrical portion, said second cylindrical portion at its other end merging into a third frusto-conical portion having an interior diameter at its smaller end less than the exterior diameter of the pipe and thereby functioning as said stop means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A stab-type coupling joint as claimed in claim 22 in which the smaller end of said third frusto-conical portion merges into a cylindrical portion to define the opposite end of said sleeve member, said cylindrical portion being adapted to be welded to the end of another pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |