US-12624779-B2 - Pipe coupling for connecting circular elements

US12624779B2US 12624779 B2US12624779 B2US 12624779B2US-12624779-B2

Abstract

A pipe coupling for connecting circular elements, including a clamping ring having an inner annular concave groove and at least one fastener arranged to contract the clamping ring, where the pipe coupling further includes a plurality of grip elements each having a plurality of gripping protrusions on an inwards facing surface and a convex protrusion on an opposite outwards facing surface, where the convex protrusion of the plurality of grip elements is arranged in the inner annular concave groove of the clamping ring so that the plurality of grip elements may tilt in relation to the clamping ring.

Inventors

Christian Henrik SIMONSEN

Assignees

AVK HOLDING A/S

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230414
Priority Date: 20220422

Claims (9)

1 . A pipe coupling for connecting circular elements, said pipe coupling comprising a clamping ring including an inner annular concave groove, at least one fastening means arranged to contract said clamping ring, and a plurality of grip elements each having a plurality of gripping protrusions on an inwards facing surface and a convex protrusion on an opposite outwards facing surface, wherein said convex protrusion of said plurality of grip elements is arranged in said inner annular concave groove of said clamping ring so that said plurality of grip elements may tilt in relation to said clamping ring; wherein said inner annular concave groove and said plurality of grip elements are arranged at a first axial coupling end of said clamping ring for connecting said pipe coupling to a first circular element of said circular elements, and wherein an inner annular gasket groove comprising a gasket is arranged at a second axial coupling end of said clamping ring for connecting said pipe coupling to a second circular element of said circular elements.
2 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe coupling further comprises retainer means arranged to retain said convex protrusion of said plurality of grip elements in said inner annular concave groove of said clamping ring.
3 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said pipe coupling further comprises holding means arranged to maintain said plurality of grip elements in an initial position at least until said least one fastening means contract said clamping ring.
4 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said clamping ring comprises two or more clamping ring parts.
5 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of grip elements comprises, a plurality of first grip elements having first gripping protrusions with a first contact area facing inwards, and a plurality of second grip elements having second gripping protrusions with a second contact area facing inwards, wherein said first contact area is greater than said second contact area.
6 . The pipe coupling according to claim 5 , wherein said inwards facing surface, from which said second gripping protrusions of said plurality of the second grip elements protrudes, is concave.
7 . The pipe coupling according to claim 5 , wherein said first gripping protrusions are made from a plastic material and wherein said second gripping protrusions are made from metal.
8 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of grip elements has a longitudinal extent in the axial direction of said pipe coupling and wherein said convex protrusion is displaced from a middle of said grip elements in a direction towards said first axial coupling end.
9 . The pipe coupling according to claim 1 , wherein said concave groove is wider than said convex protrusion measured in the axial direction of said pipe coupling between an apex of said convex protrusion and a tilt axis of said grip elements.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to a pipe coupling for connecting circular elements. The pipe coupling comprises a clamping ring and at least one fastening means arranged to contract the clamping ring. BACKGROUND Pipe couplings are used for connecting many kinds of circular element such as pipes, valve flanges, pumps, other pipe couplings or other to each other typically in some sort of a piping system such as at a waterworks, a water distribution system, an industrial plant or other. However, when e.g., a circular element in the form of a pipe is connected to another circular element in the form of a flange of a valve it can be difficult to securely fixate the regular pipe end to the valve flange without the inside fluid pressure pushing the pipe and the valve axially apart e.g., when the valve is closed, and the fluid pressure rises. Same problem occurs e.g., when two regular pipe end has to be connected. Thus, from the European patent EP 2 905 522 B1 and the U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,239 B2 is known to form a pipe coupling by means of a clamping ring having an inner inclined surface against which wedge-shaped grip elements slide to provide a strong hold against a regular smooth and plane pipe surface. However, when this coupling design is used on weaker circular elements in the form of weaker pipe types such as plastic pipes, thinner metal pipes or composite pipes and the pipe is subjected to a pull away from the coupling, the wedging effect can be so forceful that the pipe is deformed to a degree where the wedge-shaped grip elements are pulled out of the pipe coupling and the pipe coupling is pulled apart. The disclosure therefore to provides for a better pipe coupling design. BRIEF SUMMARY The disclosure provides for a pipe coupling for connecting circular elements. The pipe coupling comprises a clamping ring including an inner annular concave groove and at least one fastening means arranged to contract the clamping ring. The pipe coupling further comprises a plurality of grip elements each having a plurality of gripping protrusions on an inwards facing surface and a convex protrusion on an opposite outwards facing surface. The convex protrusion of the plurality of grip elements is arranged in the inner annular concave groove of the clamping ring so that the plurality of grip elements may tilt in relation to the clamping ring. Forming the grip elements with convex protrusions on the backside and arranging these in an inner annular concave groove of the clamping ring enables that the grip elements may tilt—either by rotating in the concave groove or by rolling slightly on the concave groove surface—in the concave groove and exert more pressure on the outer surface of the circular element if the circular element is moved axially. Thus, the grip elements remain axially fixed or only move slightly in the axial direction when the circular element is pulled axially away from the pipe coupling and they thereby stay seated firmly in the concave groove hereby preventing that the grip elements are pulled out of the clamping ring even at a forceful axial pull in the circular element. It should be emphasised that the term “circular elements” is to be understood as any kind of pipe, tube, circular flange—e.g. on a valve, a branching, a pump or other—or any other kind of equipment, fitting, device or other having a circular end part suited to be joined by a pipe coupling according to the present disclosure. Furthermore, in this context the term “fastening means” is to be understood as any kind of fastener capable contracting the clamping ring. I.e., the term includes any kind of nut and bolt, screw, spindle, clamping device or other or any combination thereof. In an aspect of the disclosure, the pipe coupling further comprises retainer means arranged to retain the convex protrusion of the plurality of grip elements in the inner annular concave groove of the clamping ring. Providing the pipe coupling with retainer means arranged to keep the grip elements correctly positioned in the clamping ring is advantageous because it enables that the pipe coupling more easily may be mounted on a pipe and that the grip elements are maintained in place during handling, storage and other. In this context the term “retainer means” is to be understood as any kind of retainer capable of maintaining the convex protrusion of the plurality of grip elements in the inner annular concave groove of the clamping ring. I.e., the term includes any kind of retainer ring, spring arrangement, fasteners or other. In an aspect of the disclosure, the pipe coupling further comprises holding means arranged to maintain the plurality of grip elements in an initial position at least until the least one fastening means contract the clamping ring. The pipe coupling comprises a plurality of grip elements and it is advantageous to use holding means to maintain all the grip elements in their correct initial position until the pipe coupling is in use in that t