Patent ID: 6702336
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A pipe coupling, comprising:a body having an external thread and annular inner surfaces defining a socket within said body of larger outer diameter at an outer end than at an intermediate location of said socket, said socket being adapted to receive a pipe therein; a nut having an internal thread at an inner end thereof engaging said body external thread, whereby said nut moves axially relative to said body from a first nut position to a second nut position, said nut including an inwardly facing abutment surface between ends of said nut and an outwardly converging internal circular surface between said abutment surface and an outer end of said nut; a substantially non-deformable first stop extending at least partially around said body annular inner surface in said intermediate location of said socket at a position offset from the end of said intermediate location where said end is distal from said outer end, said first stop being adapted to contact an end of said pipe when said pipe is inserted into said socket at a first pipe position and partially restrict axial movement of said pipe when said pipe abuts said first stop, whereby the axial force required to move said pipe beyond said first stop is substantially greater than the force required to manually insert said pipe into the socket intermediate part; a substantially non-deformable second stop extending at least partially around said body annular inner surface in said intermediate location of said socket at a position distal from said first stop, said second stop being adapted to contact said end of said pipe when said pipe is moved axially to a second pipe position and substantially restrict axial movement of said pipe when said pipe abuts said second stop; an annular sleeve having an abutment surface at its outer end co-operable with said nut abutment surface, and a resilient gasket secured to its inner end; a deformable gripping member having an outwardly converging outer surface complementary to said outwardly converging internal nut surface, said gripping member having an internal surface with barbs extending radially inwardly therefrom; the internal diameters of said socket inner end, sleeve and gripping member all being slightly greater than an external diameter of said pipe such that said end of said pipe is freely insertable through said socket outer end and said gripping member and into said socket intermediate part until it abuts said first stop, wherein tightening of said nut over said external thread at said first nut position causes axial movement of said gasket ring, sealable engagement of said gasket ring and said body, and radially inward deformation of said gripping member such that the said barbs engage said pipe, and wherein further tightening of said nut over said external thread to said second nut position, wherein said nut abutment surface abuts said annular sleeve abutment surface, causes axial movement of said pipe from said first pipe position to said second pipe position, â€œwherein the first and second stops are substantially vertical with regard to the longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the distance between said first and second pipe positions is greater than the distance between said first and second nut positions.â€