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CA-3025091-C - SELF-ALIGNING PIPE COUPLING

CA3025091CCA 3025091 CCA3025091 CCA 3025091CCA-3025091-C

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes. The pipe coupling comprises: a tubular casing (102) for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system (102) for tightening the casing around the outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member (108), coupled to and extending away from a first axial end of the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a pipe coupling and a pipe, the pipe coupling being pre-installed on one end of the pipe, and configured to receive a second pipe.

Inventors

  • Christopher Richard Webb

Assignees

  • TAYLOR KERR (COUPLINGS) LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20170601
Priority Date
20160601

Claims (20)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes, the pipe coupling comprising: a tubular casing for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system for tightening the casing around an outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member, coupled to a first axial end of the tubular casing and extending, axially outwardly, away from said first axial end of the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing through the first axial end.
  2. 2. A pipe coupling according to Claim 1, wherein the guide member is frusto-conical, a diameter of a free end of the guide member being greater than the diameter of an end coupled to the casing.
  3. 3. A pipe coupling according to Claim 2, the guide member being configured such that a longitudinal axis of the frusto-conical guide member is at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the pipe coupling.
  4. 4. A pipe coupling according to Claim 3, wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the frusto-conical guide member to the longitudinal axis of the pipe coupling is between about 10 degrees and about 40 degrees.
  5. 5. A pipe coupling according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the longitudinal axis of the frusto-conical is displaced from the longitudinal axis of the pipe coupling at the first axial end of the tubular casing, such that an apparent radius of the free end of the guide member is greater than a radius of the inner surface of the tubular casing.
  6. 6. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the diameter of the free end of the guide member is between about 1.5 times and about 3 times the diameter of the end coupled to the casing.
  7. 7. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein a cone angle of the guide member is between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.
  8. 8. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein the guide member is formed of an arcuate flat sheet having a hole on a first edge, configured to receive a foldable tab provided on a second opposing edge to retain the guide member in the frusto-conical shape.
  9. 9. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the guide member comprises a plurality holes disposed around the circumference.
  10. 10. A pipe coupling according to Claim 9, wherein the holes are spaced apart substantially evenly around the circumference of the guide member.
  11. 11. A pipe coupling according to Claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a plurality of elongate fingers, each finger extending radially and axially from the first axial end of the casing.
  12. 12. A pipe coupling according to Claim 11, wherein the guide member comprises at least three fingers.
  13. 13. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the guide member comprises a first portion coupled to the first axial end of the tubular casing, and a second portion, the second portion of the guide member comprises a plurality of articulated members configured to rotate about the first portion upon insertion of the pipe into the tubular casing via the guide member.
  14. 14. A pipe coupling according to Claim 13, wherein each articulated member comprises an activation tab configured to radially project inwardly from the guide member, wherein upon insertion of the pipe into the tubular casing, the pipe acts on each tab to rotate each articulated member such that the free end of the guide member moves towards the pipe.
  15. 15. A pipe coupling according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein each articulated member comprises at least two articulation tabs configured to engage with the first portion of the guide member to enable articulation.
  16. 16. A pipe coupling according to Claim 15 when dependent on Claim 14, wherein said first portion of the guide member comprises a plurality of elongate slits, each slit configured to receive a respective one of the activation tabs, the articulation tabs being configured to abut an outer surface of the first portion of the guide member adjacent said elongate slit.
  17. 17. A pipe coupling according to Claim 15, wherein said first portion of the guide member comprises a plurality of elongate slits, each slit configured to receive an articulation tab from a first articulation member and an articulation tab from a second articulation member adjacent the first articulation member.
  18. 18. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 13 to 17, wherein each articulation member comprises a stop, on a first edge, configured to engage with a second edge of an adjacent articulation member to form a, or, if dependent on Claim 2, the, frusto-conical guide member from the plurality of articulation members.
  19. 19. A pipe coupling according to Claim 18, wherein the second edge of the articulation member comprises a recess configured to receive the stop.
  20. 20. A pipe coupling according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, the casing being of generally U-shaped cross-section having a web portion with flanges projecting radially inwardly from the axial ends of the web portion to define an annular channel, and the guide member comprising a plurality of coupling tabs, wherein the annular flange at the first axial end of the casing couples the guide member to the casing by retaining the plurality of coupling tabs.

Description

SELF-ALIGNING PIPE COUPLING The present invention relates to self-aligning pipe couplings. The pipe couplings find particular use during construction of poured concrete pilings. 5 In building construction using cast in-situ pilings, there is a need to ensure the integrity of the pilings. The process of casting piles in-situ involves boring the pile, lowering reinforcement cage into the pile, and pouring concrete into the pile to form the piling. Often, piles are too deep to use a single section of cage, and therefore in these situations multiple sections of cage are connected to each other as they are lowered into the pile. To ensure 10 the integrity of the pile, pipes are often lowered into the pile within the reinforcement caging to enable test equipment to be lowered into the piling. In addition, pipes may be provided which enables base grouting of the pile once the concrete has been poured and is sufficiently stable. Since pilings may be 100 m or more deep, multiple sections of piping are required, which must be coupled together in a fluid tight manner. Often the sections of piping are the 15 same length as the sections of cage and are coupled together at the same time as the cage sections are connected together. To enable testing of the piling, at least two pipes are provided to receive probes; an ultrasonic emitter, and an ultrasonic sonic receiver. The receiver and emitter are both lowered to the bottom of their respective pipes, and slowly brought to the surface. The emitted signal 20 is received by the receiver and a determination of the integrity of the piling can be made. The test equipment plots the travel time between the pipes versus the depth in the pile. If the travel time is substantially constant, it is assumed that there is no change in concrete quality with depth. However, a sudden increase of the travel time at any depth indicates a defect. As will be appreciated, it is critical that the pipes are fluid tight to prevent the ingress of 25 concrete which would impair or prevent such testing. If required, at least one further pipe is provided to enable base grouting. The base grouting process entails installation of a grout delivery system, which comprises a plurality of pipes coupled by pipe couplings, during the reinforcing cage preparation. Concrete is then poured around the pipes, and then grout is injected under high pressure once the concrete 30 has gained sufficient strength. The bottom of the pipe is provided with a burst disc to prevent ingress of concrete during the initial pour. The grout is then pumped into the pipe under sufficient pressure to burst the disc. The in situ soil at the toe and any debris left by the drilling process is compressed by the grout. As a result, the ultimate end bearing resistance can typically be increased as compared to a piling that has not been base grouted. 35 In both cases, the pilings may be 100 m deep or more, and so the fluid pressure of the concrete can be significant. It is thus a requirement that the pipe couplings are capable of withstanding at least 80 bar pressure. Indeed, the burst disc for base grouting may be typically rated at 80 bar burst pressure. In addition to the pressure requirements of the pipe couplings, there is a requirement that the couplings may be installed quickly and easily. Present systems often use threaded 5 couplings, which require the installer to reach through the cage to thread the pipe sections together before the cage and pipes are lowered into the pile. Such an operation may be hazardous to the installer since the cage and pipes are large, heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pipe coupling which can 10 withstand high fluid pressure, while reducing the requirement for installer input. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes. The pipe coupling comprises: a tubular casing for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system for tightening the casing around the outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member, coupled to, and extending away, from a first axial end of 15 the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing. By providing a guide member coupled to an axial end of the pipe coupling, the requirement for physical input from the installer can be minimised. In use, the pipe coupling is preferably pre-installed onto one end of a pipe. The pipe is then lowered into the piling, or the like, until the end of the pipe comprising the coupling is approximately at the top of the 20 piling. A second pipe is then lowered, together with a reinforcement cage, to be coupled to the second pipe. During the step of lowering the pipe, the installer may use a guide arm to ensure the second pipe is received into the guide member of the pipe coupling. No further input is required by the installer for the pipe to be fully received in th