Abstract:
A slip coupling. A tube having smooth outer walls is joined to a larger hollow outer casing using a slip coupling assembly. The casing has an interior cavity and a flanged end. An annular seal is placed adjacent the flanged end. A split flange is positioned adjacent the annular seal to compress the seal toward the flanged end. The split flange further includes a gasket seat for a gasket circumferentially extending around the smooth outer wall of the pipe, to form a fluid tight seal between the split ring and the outer wall of the pipe. One or more backing rings and a plurality of fasteners are utilized to secure (1) the flanged end of the outer casing, (2) the annular seal, (3) the split flange, and (4) the gasket, in a fluid tight relationship. The design is suitable for manufacture of parts in high density polyethylene.

Description:
COPYRIGHT RIGHTS IN THE DRAWING 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The applicant has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to couplings for pipe, and especially as may be employed in applications where pipe connections are required to accommodate longitudinal movement along the axis of the pipe, such as elongation or contraction. Such apparatus is particularly well suited to gas gathering operations in sanitary landfill applications. 
   BACKGROUND 
   When pipes are employed in situations where movement may be experienced between components of a piping system, the piping system needs to be designed to accommodate such movement, in order to avoid excess stress, strain, or bending moment, which may result in premature failure of the piping system. In one application, namely the collection of gas from sanitary landfills, the normally used plastic pipe products, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), is subject to stress and strain from subsidence of the landfill mass below the surface of the landfill. Settlement, as well as temperature fluctuations, make design of piping systems for such applications problematic. The challenge of providing a safe, fluid tight, and sanitary environment for collection of gas from a landfill, has continued to require development of new apparatus and methods, especially to take advantage of bio-gas and route the same to an apparatus which can productively utilized such gas for the generation of heat and/or electrical or mechanical power. Currently, there is a great but as yet unmet need for systems that can easily accommodate telescoping of a pipe joint as the unstable landfill moves and settles, whether along a pipeline run or below a wellhead. Additionally, slip joints suitable for such a job could also find application for other utility applications, such as water or sewer pipe, or electrical conduit, where actual elongation or contraction is expected in normal operation and must be accommodated, or in applications where the potential for such movement must be included in the equipment installed, for example in connections between buildings and earthquake resistant/tolerant foundations. Consequently, this disclosure provides description of a novel slip coupling apparatus for pipe joints, and describes novel methods of employing such slip joints, such as in gas gathering piping in sanitary landfill applications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In order to enable the reader to attain a more complete appreciation of the invention, and of the novel features and the advantages thereof, attention is directed to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  provides a front perspective view of one embodiment of a slip coupling apparatus taught herein, showing a first, smooth wall well pipe exiting the ground such as in a landfill, then a larger, outer casing which is provided and secured thereabove, as well as an outer casing backing flange that is used to secure a flanged end (not visible, see  FIG. 2 ) of the outer casing to a split ring, and a compression retainer which is utilized to secure the split ring circumferentially about the well pipe. 
       FIG. 2  provides an exploded perspective view of one embodiment for a slip coupling, showing the outer casing with flanged end, a outer casing backing flange, an annular seal, one embodiment of a split ring, a gasket which is secured about a pipe by the split ring, and a compression ring used to secure the split ring about a pipe, as well as a plurality of fasteners. 
       FIG. 3  provides a top view, looking down at the embodiment of a suitable split ring that was first illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  provides a vertical cross-sectional view of one embodiment for a slip coupling as taught herein, showing an outer casing with flanged end, an outlet casing backing flange, an annular seal, a split ring with gasket secured in an annular groove, so that the smooth wall of a pipe may slide relative to the gasket by a distance L, as well as a plurality of suitable fasteners. 
       FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of another embodiment of a suitable split ring, which embodiment may be used in lieu of that first shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; in this embodiment, the first split ring portion and the second split ring portion are identical, and may be easily matched for installation to secure a gasket. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a slip coupling, here utilizing an integral outer casing flange, an annular seal for sealing engagement between the integral outer casing flange and an obverse surface of one embodiment of a split ring, and also using a backing flange for the split ring. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the embodiment first shown in  FIG. 6 , and shows the use of the integral outer casing flange, an annular seal, a slip ring with centered annular groove to accommodate a gasket which is sealed against a pipe, a seal ring backing flange, and a plurality of fasteners to secure the components together to provide a pressurizible, leak tight joint. 
       FIG. 8  provides a perspective view similar to the embodiment just illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , but now showing the same components where the bolts used for fasteners are inverted as compared to the illustration provided in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  provides a still further embodiment of my slip coupling, here showing the use of an outer casing backing flange, a flanged end on the outer casing, an annular seal, a split ring with gasket, and a backing flange for the split ring, with fasteners to secure the slip coupling in a leak tight configuration, as well as the use of the circumferential compression retainer around the slip ring. 
       FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13  provide further details of one embodiment of a suitable slip ring, showing the configuration provided in perspective view in  FIG. 2 . First, in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the slip ring is shown with the first portion and the second portion joined in a closed, working position, and dimensions are provided as typical of one suitable configuration, and such dimensions should be considered illustrative and not limiting to the precise sizes depicted. Then, in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the slip ring is shown with the first portion and the second portion separated in an open position. 
       FIG. 10  provides a top, plan view of the slip ring. 
       FIG. 11  provides a vertical cross-section view, taken across line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  provides a top, plan view of the slip ring, now in a separated, open position. 
       FIG. 13  provides a vertical cross-section view of a slip ring, now in a separated, open position, taken across line  13 — 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  provides a top plan view of a outer casing backing flange, showing the fastener hole pattern that may be typically supplied to match the fastener hole pattern in a slip ring. 
       FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18  provide further details of another embodiment of a suitable slip ring, showing the configuration provided in perspective view in  FIG. 5 , where both the first ring portion and the second ring portion are identical. First, in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the slip ring is shown with the first portion and the second portion joined in a closed, working position, and dimensions are provided as typical of one suitable configuration, and such dimensions should be considered illustrative and not limiting to the precise sizes depicted. Then, in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the slip ring is shown with the first portion and the second portion separated in an open position. 
       FIG. 15  provides a top, plan view of the slip ring. 
       FIG. 16  provides a vertical cross-section view, taken across line  16 — 16  of  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 17  provides a top, plan view of the slip ring, now in a separated, open position. 
       FIG. 18  provides a vertical cross-section view of a slip ring, now in a separated, open position, taken across line  18 — 18  of  FIG. 17 . 
   

   The foregoing figures, being merely exemplary, contain various elements that may be present or omitted from actual implementations and various configurations of a slip coupling which may be used for a variety of pipe joint situations, depending upon the circumstances. An attempt has been made to draw the figures in a way that illustrates at least those elements that are significant for an understanding of the various embodiments and aspects of the invention. However, various other elements of the unique slip coupling are also shown and briefly described to enable the reader to understand how various features, including optional or alternate features, may be utilized in order to provide a simple slip coupling for piping systems. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In many piping applications, it would be advantageous to provide a joint, and especially a fluid tight joint, that would enable a first pipe and a second pipe, such as may occur in gas gathering pipe, to move relative one to the other. Such a joint is provided in the slip-coupling  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where a pipe  22  having a longitudinal axis  24  and a smooth outer wall  26  is joined to an outer casing  40 . As configured, the pipe  22  is substantially cylindrical with a pipe interior passageway  30  defined by interior wall  32  and a pipe upper end  34 . The pipe upper end  34  is free to move within a casing interior passageway  36 , defined by interior casing wall  38  of outer casing  40 , along longitudinal axis  24  by a preseleted distance L. Thus, the casing interior passageway  36  is sized and shaped to fit therein at least some length of the pipe  22 , so as to allow for expansion or contraction. For example, in typical landfill applications, the pipe upper end  34  may move downward in the direction of reference arrow  42 , via subsidence in the landfill, relative to a selected reference plan R. Alternately, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pipe upper end  34  may move in a contraction fashion to a new location  34 ′, rather than in the elongation fashion as just depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
   Further details of a first embodiment for a slip coupling  20  are depicted in  FIG. 4 . Here, the flange end  44  of outer casing  40  is shown. A split ring  50 , also shown in  FIG. 3 , is provided. The split ring  50  has first  50 , and second  50   2  ring portions. The first  50   1  and second  50   2  ring portions each have an interior wall,  50 W 1 , and  50 W 2 , respectively. The interior walls  50 W 1  and  50 W 2  each include at least one gasket seat  52   1  and  52   2 , respectively. A gasket  54  is provided, in one embodiment in the form of a continuous ring gasket  54  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , which is located by the gasket seat  52  formed by in inner walls  50 W 1 , and  50 W 2  by gasket seat portions  52   1  and  52   2 , respectively. Gasket  54  is adapted to slidably receive the smooth outer wall  26  of the pipe  22  and to provide a fluid tight seal between the split ring  50  and the smooth outer wall  26  of the pipe  22 . 
   The gasket  54  can be made of a resilient material having a coefficient of friction sufficiently low that the gasket  54  remains seated during sliding movement of the gasket  54  over said smooth outer wall  26  of the pipe  22 . Of course, such necessary characteristics may vary depending upon the size and shape of the gasket seat, the size and shape of the gasket, and the material of construction of pipe  22 . Slip couplings as taught herein are especially suited for applications where piping utilized is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE), but many other types of pipe, including stainless steel, aluminum, or other thermoplastic materials could be utilized for pipe  22 . In any event, one suitable gasket  54  material useful for HDPE applications is a gasket  54  made of VITON® brand fluorolastomer (hexafluoropropylene-vinylidene) marketed by Dupont Dow Elastomers LLC of Wilmington, Del., USA. Functional equivalents from other vendors may be utilized for this or other specific applications, depending of course on the nature of the surface which moves relative to the gasket material. One commonly available functional equivalent is a FLUOREL® brand fluorolastomer marketed by 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minn., USA, or the current owner of the FLUOREL® brand, Dyneon LLC of Oakdale, Minn. USA. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first  50 , and second  502  ring portions may be provided in an open position as seen in these two figures, wherein first  50   1  and second  50   2  ring portions open to allow their attachment to or removal from the pipe  22 . By removal of selected fasteners  58  such as bolts  60  (having shafts  61 ) and companion nuts  62 , (accompanied by upper  64  and lower  66  washers as may be easily determined by those of ordinary skill in the art), split ring  50  can be positioned in an open position, ready for attachment to or removal from pipe  22 . Then by repositioning the fist  50   1  and second  50   2  split ring portions, and then tightening fasteners  58 , the split ring can be secured in a closed position wherein said first  50   1  and second  50   2  split ring portions are secured in close fitting engagement around pipe  22 , and in particular, positioned so as to bring gasket  54  in to sealing circumferential engagement with the smooth outer surface  26  of pipe  22 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , a compression retainer  60  can be provided, where the compression retainer  70  circumferentially confines the split ring  50  against radially outward movement. In one embodiment, the compression retainer  70  is provided in the form of an adjustably tightenable substantially circular metallic band. As further detailed in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, a suitable compression retainer  70  may be provided in the form of a pair of substantially semi-circular metallic band portions  72  and  74 , which semi-circular metallic band portions have opposing attachment ear portions  76 . The opposing attachment ear portions securable each toward the other by adjustably tightenable fasteners  78 , which may be provided in the form of bolt  80  and nut  82 . 
   In one embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4  the outer casing  40  is provided with a flanged end  41 , and an outer casing backing flange  92  is provided, sized and shaped for close fitting engagement over the flanged end  41  of the outer casing  40 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the outer casing backing flange  41  has eight apertures  100  for bolt holes, each defined by an aperture edge wall portion  102 . The eight apertures  100  are, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , spaced equally angularly apart, or, in other words, forty five degrees (45°) angularly apart. 
   Generally, the first  50   1  and second  50   2  ring portions, when in a closed position, form a split ring  50  having a substantially annular ring shape which extends between an outer wall  94  (having outer wall portions  94   1  and  94   2 ), and the interior wall  50 W, made up of inner wall portions  50 W 1  and  50 W 2 . The split ring  50  also normally includes a plurality of longitudinally extending bolt through apertures defined by bolt hole interior walls  96 . 
   Also, the outer casing backing flange  92  includes a plurality of fastener through apertures  100 , wherein each fastener through aperture is defined by an aperture edge wall portion  102 . The shaft portions  61  of fasteners  58  are sized and shaped for fitting through one of the fastener through apertures  100  in the outer casing backing flange  92  and through a companion axially aligned bolt through aperture  96  in the split ring  50 . At least one, and in most embodiments, a plurality, and in the embodiments shown, eight through apertures  100  are utilized, and thus eight fasteners  58  are utilized. The fasteners  58  are adjustably tightenable to secure the outer casing backing flange  92  and the split ring  50  each toward the other. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  11  and  13 , the gasket seat  52  can be provided, in one embodiment, in the form of a recess or annular groove  110  in the interior sidewall  50 W of said first  50   1  and second  50   2  ring portions. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the annular groove  110  is spaced in a centered relationship between the obverse side  112  and the reverse side  114  of the split ring  50 . More particularly, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 11 , the annular groove  110  has a height H A  extending between a lower groove side  116  and an upper groove side  118 . In one embodiment, a groove  110  height H A  of about one half inch (0.5″) in height and of about one quarter inch (0.25″) in depth has been found adequate, in an application where the overall split ring has a total height of about one and one-half inches (1.5″). In some designs, the first  50   1  and second  50   2  ring portions have an upper interior body portion  120   1  and  120   2 , respectively, above the upper groove side  118 , and a lower interior body portion  1221  and  1222 , respectively, below the lower groove side  116 . As shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 11 , the upper interior body portions  120   1  and  120   2  extend between the obverse side  112  of the first  50   1  or second  50   2  split ring portion and said upper groove side  118  of the annular groove  110 , and the upper interior body portion  120   1  or 120 2  has a thickness H I  equal to height H A  of the annular groove. Likewise, with equidistant spacing, the lower interior body portion  122   1  or  122   2  extends between the reverse side  114  of the first  50   1  or the second  50   2  split ring portion and the lower groove side  116  of the annular groove  110 , and wherein the lower interior body portion  122   1  or  122   2  has a thickness H L  equal to height H A  of the annular groove  110 . 
   Returning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in one embodiment, the outer casing  40  is provided with an integral outer casing flange  130  of width W 130  sufficient to provide, along a longitudinal axis, a plurality of fastener holes  132  defined by flange interior hole edge walls  134 . In any event, flange  41  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or flange  130  as shown in  FIG. 6 , has a flange face portion  41 F or  130 F, respectively against which a resilient annular seal  140  is compressed. The annular seal  140  is sized and shaped for sealing engagement with and compression between the selected flanged face portion ( 41 F or  130 F) and the obverse side  112  of the split ring  50 . 
   For additional stability, a split ring backing flange  150  can be provided. As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the split ring backing flange  150  is sized and shaped for close fitting, secured engagement against the split ring  50 , where the positioning can be secured via fasteners  58 . In such event, the split ring backing flange  150  has a plurality of fastener through apertures  152 , each of which are defined by an aperture edge wall portion  154 . The shaft portions  61  of the fasteners are sized and shaped for fitting through one of the fastener through apertures  152  in the split ring backing flange  150 , and through a companion axially aligned bolt  60  through aperture defined by edge wall  96  in the split ring  50 . As noted above, at least one, and in most embodiments, a plurality, and in the embodiments shown, eight through apertures  152  are utilized, and thus eight fasteners  58  are utilized. The fasteners  58  are adjustably tightenable to secure the split ring backing flange  150  and the split ring  50  each toward the other. 
   For many applications an outer casing  40  can be provided in high density polyethylene, which, for example is commonly utilized in landfill gas gathering applications. Likewise, in such applications, the split ring  50  can be made from high density polyethylene. And similarly, in such cases it is often useful to provide the split ring backing flange  150  in high density polyethylene. However, those of ordinary skill in the art and to which this specification is directed will recognize that alternate materials are sometimes necessary or desirable. For example, an outer casing backing flange  92  can be provided in ductile iron, or in an another suitable material for a specific service requirement or cost objective. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  10 – 13 , the split ring  50  can, in one embodiment, be provided with obverse side  112  and reverse side  114  which are identical. Alternately, as seen in  FIGS. 5 , and  15 – 18 , in another embodiment SOB for a split ring, the obverse side  112 ′ and the reverse side  114 ′ are not identical, but, rather, the obverse side  112 ′ matches, identically, the reverse side  114 ′ of a companion flange suitable for mating engagement. In either case, whether with split ring  50  or with split ring SOB, each one of the split ring portions  50   1  and  50   2 , or  50 B 1  and  50 B 2 , has a pair of ear portions E. Each ear portion E has a face portion E F  adapted for matching engagement with a matching face portion E F  of another split ring portion. In various embodiments, ear portions extend arcuately so that the ear portions of a first ring portion and the ear portions of a second ring portion are configured for close fitting mating engagement when the split ring portions are in the closed position. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 10 , in one embodiment, an outer upper end wall  160  of first split ring portion  50   1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with inner upper end wall  162  of second split ring portion  50   2 . And, inner upper end wall  164  of first split ring portion  50   1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with outer upper end wall  166  of second split ring portion  50   2 . In the same embodiment, an outer lower end wall  170  of first split ring portion  50   1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with inner lower end wall  172  of second split ring portion  50   2 . And, inner lower end wall  174  of first split ring portion  50   1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with outer lower end wall  176  of second split ring portion  50   2 . 
   Similarly, in an alternate embodiment as seen in  FIGS. 5 , and  15 – 18 , a first upper end wall  180  of first split ring portion  50 B 1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with first outer upper end wall  182  of second split ring portion  50 B 2 . And, second upper end wall  184  of first split ring portion  50 B 1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with second outer upper end wall  186  of second split ring portion  50 B 2 . In the same embodiment, a first outer lower end wall  190  of first split ring portion  50 B 1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with first inner lower end wall  192  of second split ring portion  50 B 2 . And, second lower end wall  194  of first split ring portion  50 B 1  fits in close fitting matching engagement with second inner lower end wall  196  of second split ring portion  50 B 2 . 
   As shown in FIGS.  5  and  15 – 18 , split ring portions  50 B 1  and  50 B 2  can be provided where each has a first arc portion  200   1  and  200   2 , respectively, on the obverse side  112 ′ having a first thickness H I  on one side of the gasket seat  52   1  or  52   2 , respectively, and a second arc portion  202   1  and  202   2  on the reverse side  114 ′ having a second thickness of H L  on a longitudinally opposite side of the gasket seat  52   1  or  52   2 , respectively. As shown, first arc portion  200   1  is less than one hundred eighty degrees (180°) degrees, and said second arc portion  202   1  is more than one hundred eighty degrees (180°). And, in matching angular fashion, first arc portion  200   2  is less than one hundred eighty degrees (180°) degrees, and said second arc portion  202   2  is more than one hundred eighty degrees (180°). In one suitable embodiment, the first arc portion  200   1  of the first split ring portion  50 B 1  is one hundred fifty degrees (150°), and the second arc portion  202   1  is two hundred ten degrees (210°). In the same embodiment, in the second split ring portion  50 B 2 , the first arc portion  200   2  is two hundred ten degrees (210°), and the second arc portion  202   2  is one hundred fifty degrees (150°). 
   Alternately, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  10 – 13 , the split ring portions  50   1  and  50   2  each have a first arc portion  210   1  and  210   2 , respectively, on the obverse side  112  having a first thickness H I  on one side of the gasket seat  52   1  or  52   2 , respectively, and a second arc portion  212   1  and  212   2  on the reverse side  114  having a second thickness of H L  on a longitudinally opposite side of the gasket seat  52   1  or  52   2 , respectively. As shown, first arc portion  210   1  is one hundred eighty degrees (180°) degrees, and said second arc portion  212   1  is one hundred eighty degrees (180°). However, the first arc portion  210   1  is offset from the second arc portion  212   1  by a preselected angle alpha (α). And, in matching angular fashion, first arc portion  210   2  is offset from second arc portion  2121  by the same preselected angle alpha (α). As shown, one suitable angle alpha (α) has been found to be about thirty degrees (30°). 
   With the various components have been described in detail, it is easy to understand how a piping structure can be manufactured which incorporates the slip coupling  20  described herein to allow a smooth wall pipe  22  to expand or contract relative to a suitable outer casing  40 . I have found that a slip coupling manufactured according to the teachings herein can be used for containment of pressurized fluids, and in particular, pressurized gases. In fact, a pressurizable fluid seal is provided which can easily be used for service up to about one hundred and fifty (150) pounds of fluid pressure, such as pressurized gas. Such a configuration can easily be used for rather long expansion, or subsidence situations, as encountered in landfill gas applications. For example, the slip coupling  20  is slidable along a preselected length L of pipe  22 , which length may easily be configured for a change of at least two (2) feet. By use of the same techniques as taught herein, and normal piping supports as known by those of ordinary skill in the art, a length of change in length L of at least 10 feet can be accommodated. In some applications, and again especially for landfill situations, it is expected that a change in length of at least forty (40) or more feet can be accommodated. Thus, the slip coupling provided herein allows the easy, leak tight connection to well head piping in a landfill gas gathering situation, or in other utility line connections. 
   Although various aspects and elements of the invention are herein disclosed for illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that the slip coupling for pipe, and the method of use of the slip coupling in landfill gas gathering systems, are important improvements in the state of the art of devices and methods for piping joints. Although only a few exemplary aspects have been described in detail, various details are sufficiently set forth in the figures of the drawing and in the specification provided herein to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention(s), which need not be further described by additional writing in this detailed description. Importantly, the aspects and embodiments described and claimed herein may be modified from those shown without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages provided as described herein, and may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. It is especially pointed out that the size, and extent of movement of a pipe relative to an outer casing, or the length of a slip coupling to accommodate an anticipated degree of movement, and the precise shape of the apparatus suitable for a specific situation, will vary widely based on the nature of the physical situation and the fluids being handled. Therefore, the embodiments presented herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, this disclosure is intended to cover the structures described herein and not only structural equivalents thereof, but also equivalent structures. Numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the various piping components, including pipe, outer casing, backing rings, split rings, or backing rings for split rings, may, for a particular service requirement, be made of may materials, including (a) high density polyethylene, (b) an aluminum alloy, (c) stainless steel, (d) brass, (e) carbon steel, (f) polyvinyl chloride, or (g) a moldable reinforced composite material. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention(s) may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Thus, the scope of the invention(s) is as described herein and as set forth in the appended claims, and as indicated by the drawing and by the foregoing description, is intended to include variations from the embodiments provided which are nevertheless described by the broad interpretation and range properly afforded to the plain meaning of the language of the claims set forth below.