Patent Publication Number: US-10788153-B2

Title: Joint assembly for fluid carrying pipes

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the current invention relate to joints for irrigation system pipes and other pipes that carry fluids. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Fluid carrying pipes may be implemented in crop irrigation systems, gas or oil pipelines, refineries and processing plants, plumbing systems, drainage systems, and the like. Typically, the pipes are joined to one another to form systems that carry the fluid over great distances. To create a joint between two pipes, each pipe may include a pipe flange extending radially outward from the circumference of each end of the pipe. Each pipe may further include a pair of liners, each liner including a sleeve and a liner flange with the liner flange coupled to one end of the sleeve. One liner fits within each end of the pipe such that an inner surface of the liner flange contacts at least a portion of the outer surface of the pipe flange. The pipes may be joined together such that the outer surface of one pipe flange may contact the outer surface of an adjacent pipe flange. Typically the one pipe flange is coupled to the adjacent pipe flange using circumferentially-spaced fasteners such as screws which extend through both flanges to hold them together and form a seal between the two liner flanges. 
     Many prior art pipe flanges include a raised face on the outer surface wherein an annular portion of the flange, adjacent to the inner circumference, has a height above the rest of the outer surface. The height differential creates a gap adjacent to the outer circumference between the two pipe flanges when they are joined together. The fasteners holding the two pipe flanges together are usually positioned closer to the outer circumference, or radially outward from the raised face—which means the fasteners extend from one flange to the other through the gap. Coupling one pipe flange to the other across the gap may lead to non-uniform pressure around the circumference being applied to the seal, which may cause problems during operation of the system in which the pipes are utilized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the current invention solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems and provide a distinct advance in the art of assemblies for joining two pipes together. Specifically, the current invention provides a joint assembly that includes first and second pipe flanges, each with a plurality of raised plateaus on an outer surface. The first and second pipe flanges couple to one another such that the plateaus on the first pipe flange contact the plateaus on the second pipe flange. This structure provides uniform pressure on a seal formed between the pipes that are joined together. In addition, varying the height of the plateaus varies the pressure on the seal. 
     In one embodiment, the joint assembly comprises first and second liners and first and second pipe flanges. Each liner includes a sleeve and a liner flange with the liner flange coupled to one end of the sleeve. The first liner is configured to be positioned within a first pipe and the second liner is configured to be positioned within a second pipe. Each pipe flange is of generally annular disc shape with an inner surface and an opposing outer surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced plateaus positioned thereon. Each plateau has a height above the outer surface. The first pipe flange is configured to be coupled to one end of the first pipe and the second pipe flange is configured to be coupled to one end of the second pipe. The first and second pipe flanges are configured to couple to one another such that each plateau on the first pipe flange contacts a corresponding plateau on the second pipe flange. 
     In another embodiment, the current invention provides a two pipe assembly comprising first and second pipes, first and second liners, and first and second pipe flanges. The first and second pipes are axially aligned with one another. Each liner includes a sleeve and a liner flange with the liner flange coupled to one end of the sleeve. Each liner flange includes an inner surface adjacent to the sleeve and an outer surface facing away from the sleeve. The first liner is positioned within the first pipe, and the second liner positioned within the second pipe. The first and second liners face each other such that the outer surface of the first liner contacts the outer surface of the second liner to form a seal between the first pipe and the second pipe. 
     Each pipe flange is of generally annular disc shape with an inner surface and an opposing outer surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced plateaus positioned thereon. Each plateau has a height above the outer surface. The first pipe flange is coupled to one end of the first pipe, and the second pipe flange is coupled to one end of the second pipe. The first and second pipe flanges are coupled to one another such that each plateau on the first pipe flange contacts a corresponding plateau on the second pipe flange. 
     Still another embodiment of the current invention provides a pipe comprising a hollow tubular section and first and second pipe flanges. Each pipe flange is of generally annular disc shape with an inner surface and an opposing outer surface including a plurality of circumferentially spaced plateaus positioned thereon. Each plateau has a height above the outer surface. The first pipe flange is coupled to one end of the tubular section, and the second pipe flange is coupled to the other end of the tubular section such that the outer surface of each pipe flange faces away from the tubular section. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the current invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Embodiments of the current invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a joint assembly, constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention, for joining two pipes together, the joint assembly including at least first and second pipe flanges; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the joint assembly with the first and second pipe flanges and further including first and second liners; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the joint assembly cut along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the two pipes, the first and second flanges, and the first and second liners forming a seal between the pipes; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged portion of a cross sectional view of a liner including a sleeve and a liner flange illustrating that the liner flange has a thickness T; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged portion of a cross sectional view of a pipe flange including an inset and a plateau, illustrating that the plateau has a height H above an outer surface of the pipe flange; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a joint assembly including other embodiments of the first and second pipe flanges; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged portion of a cross sectional view of one of the pipe flanges of  FIG. 6 , the pipe flange including a recess with a depth D; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a joint assembly including still other embodiments of the first and second pipe flanges; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged portion of a cross sectional view of one of the pipe flanges of  FIG. 8 , the pipe flange including an recess with a depth D and an inner recess. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the current invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     A joint assembly  10 , constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention, for fluid carrying pipes is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The joint assembly  10  may broadly comprise a first liner  12 , a second liner  14 , a first pipe flange  16 , and a second pipe flange  18 . The joint assembly  10  may be implemented with pipes  20  ( 20 A,  20 B) that are joined together to carry a large volume of fluid. Each pipe  20  is generally of hollow cylindrical or tubular shape with opposing open ends and may be formed from metals or plastics. Embodiments of the current invention are particularly suited for use with mobile irrigation systems, but may be used with any fluid-carrying pipes. 
     The first liner  12  may include a sleeve  22  and a liner flange  24 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . The sleeve  22  may be of hollow cylindrical or tubular shape. The liner flange  24  is attached to one end of the sleeve  22  and is of generally annular disc shape with an inner surface  23  and an opposing outer surface  25 . The liner flange  24  includes an inner edge to which the sleeve  22  is attached and a radially-spaced outer edge with a plurality of circumferentially-distributed cutouts  26  formed thereon. One embodiment of the liner flange  24  includes six cutouts  26  along the outer edge spaced apart by a rotational angle of approximately 60 degrees. Each cutout  26  may have a semicircular, semioval, semielliptical, or generally arcuate concave shape. The inner edge of the liner flange  24  is coupled to one end of the sleeve  22  along an outer circumference thereof. Furthermore, the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  faces away from the sleeve  22 , while the inner surface  23  is positioned adjacent to the sleeve  22 . In some embodiments, the first liner  12  may be of monolithic construction with the sleeve  22  and liner flange  24  forming a single piece. In other embodiments, the sleeve  22  and the liner flange  24  may be separate pieces that are rigidly connected to one another. 
     The first liner  12  is positioned within a pipe  20  and has a length that is just a fraction of the length of the pipe  20 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The sleeve  22  of the first liner  12  has an outer diameter that is slightly less than an inner diameter of the pipe  20 . The first liner  12  may be formed from metals or plastics. 
     The second liner  14  is substantially identical to the first liner  12  and therefore will not be described in detail. 
     The first pipe flange  16  is of generally annular disc shape with an inner surface  27  and an opposing outer surface  29  with plurality of fastener openings  28  formed through the two surfaces  27 ,  29  at predetermined rotational angular locations. An embodiment of the first pipe flange  16  includes six fastener openings  28  positioned at rotational angle intervals of approximately 60 degrees. The first pipe flange  16  further includes an inner edge and a radially-spaced outer edge along which there may be features such as flat edges, cut outs, or the like to provide alignment during the joining process or to provide other functions. 
     The first pipe flange  16  further includes a plurality of raised plateaus  30  and a plurality of insets  32 , as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . Each plateau  30  is positioned on the outer surface  29  of the first pipe flange  16  and includes raised material with a generally planar top surface that has a height above the outer surface  29 . The perimeter of each plateau  30  may have a U shape, although square, rectangular, or other shapes are possible. Each inset  32  is positioned on the inner surface  27  of the first pipe flange  16  and may include a recess that has a depth below the inner surface  27 . Similar to the plateau  30 , the perimeter of each inset  32  may have a U shape, although square, rectangular, or other shapes are possible. The plateaus  30  and the insets  32  are aligned with one another such that each plateau  30  is aligned on the outer surface  29  with a respective inset  32  on the inner surface  27 . Typically, the plateau  30  and inset  32  combinations are positioned on the first pipe flange  16  to intersect the outer edge or circumference thereof and spaced apart from one another. In addition, each plateau  30  and inset  32  combination are aligned with a fastener opening  28 , such that a fastener opening  28  extends from each plateau  30  to its aligned inset  32 . An exemplary first pipe flange  16  may include six plateau  30 , inset  32 , and fastener opening  28  combinations positioned at rotational angle intervals of approximately 60 degrees. In other embodiments, the first pipe flange  16  may have greater or fewer plateau  30 , inset  32 , and fastener opening  28  combinations. The first pipe flange  16  may be formed from metals or plastics. The plateau  30  and inset  32  combinations may be formed by molding, machining, tooling, or similar processes. 
     The second pipe flange  18  may be substantially identical to the first pipe flange  16  and therefore will not be described in detail. 
     Referring primarily to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the joint assembly  10  has a structure as follows. The first pipe flange  16  is coupled to one end of a first pipe  20 A, while the second pipe flange  18  is coupled to one end of a second pipe  20 B. In some embodiments, each pipe flange  16 ,  18  is rigidly connected to the end of a pipe  20  by using techniques such as welding or through the use of adhesives. In other embodiments, each pipe flange  16 ,  18  may include threads on its inner circumferential edge, while one end of each pipe  20  may include threads on its outer circumferential edge. Each pipe flange  16 ,  18  is coupled to one end of each pipe  20  by screwing one onto the other. In still other embodiments, each pipe  20  is formed to include one pipe flange  16 ,  18  coupled to each end thereof, such that one pipe  20  and two pipe flanges  16 ,  18  are a monolithic unit. 
     Each pipe flange  16 ,  18  is coupled to one end of each pipe  20  such that the outer surface  29  of each pipe flange  16 ,  18  faces away from the pipe  20 . And the inner surface  27  of each pipe flange  16 ,  18  is adjacent to the pipe  20  and faces the pipe  20 . In general, and to form a larger system, each pipe  20  may have a pipe flange, such as pipe flanges  16 ,  18 , coupled to each end thereof. 
     The first liner  12  is positioned within one end of the first pipe  20 A such that the outer surface of the sleeve  22  faces the inner surface of the pipe  20 , and the inner surface  23  of the liner flange  24  faces the outer surface  29  of the first pipe flange  16 . The inner surface  23  of the liner flange  24  contacts at least a portion of the outer surface  29  of the first pipe flange  16 . Each cutout  26  of the liner flange  24  is aligned with a successive one of the plateaus  30  on the outer surface  29  of the first pipe flange  16 , and wraps around a portion of the plateau  30 . In addition, the outer edge of the first liner  12  extends radially outward beyond an inner edge of each plateau  30 . The second liner  14  is positioned within one end of the second pipe  20 B in a substantially identical fashion as the first liner  12  within the first pipe  20 A. 
     The first and second pipes  20 A,  20 B are axially aligned and the first pipe  20 A abuts the second pipe  20 B such that the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  contacts the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14 . And each plateau  30  of the first pipe flange  16  faces a corresponding one of the plateaus  30  of the second pipe flange  18 . In addition, the fastener opening  28  on each plateau  30  of the first pipe flange  16  aligns and pairs with the fastener opening  28  on the corresponding plateau  30  of the second pipe flange  18 . One fastener, such as a screw and a bolt, is positioned within each fastener opening  28  pair. The bolt is tightened on the screw of each fastener such that each plateau  30  of the first pipe flange  16  contacts the corresponding one of the plateaus  30  of the second pipe flange  18 —thereby forming a tight seal  34  between the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  and the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     Having each bolt tightened until each plateau  30  of the first pipe flange  16  contacts the corresponding one of the plateaus  30  of the second pipe flange  18  ensures that uniform pressure is applied across the area of the inner surface  23  of each liner flange  24 . Hence, uniform pressure is applied to the seal  34  formed between the two liner flanges  24  as well. 
     The liner flange  24  of each liner  12 ,  14  has a thickness, T, between the inner surface  23  and the outer surface  25 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . Each plateau  30  of the pipe flanges  16 ,  18  has a height, H, above the outer surface  29  of the pipe flange  16 ,  18 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . Generally, the height H of each plateau  30  is approximately equal to the thickness T of the each liner flange  24  to ensure nominal, adequate pressure on the seal  34  formed between the two liner flanges  24 . Furthermore, the height H is typically the same value for each plateau  30 , and the thickness T is typically the same value for each liner flange  24 . Varying the height of the plateaus  30  varies the pressure applied to the seal  34  between the two liner flanges  24 . If the pressure on the seal  34  between the two liner flanges  24  needs to be increased to be greater than the nominal pressure, usually the height H is decreased to be less than the thickness T, although it is possible that the thickness T is increased to be greater than the height H. Alternatively, if the pressure on the seal  34  between the two liner flanges  24  needs to be decreased to be less than the nominal pressure, usually the height H is increased to be greater than the thickness T, although it is possible that the thickness T is decreased to be less than the height H. 
     Another embodiment of the current invention may provide a joint assembly  100  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The joint assembly  100  may be utilized with pipes  20 A,  20 B and includes the first and second pipe liners  12 ,  14 , substantially identical to those described above. The joint assembly  100  further includes first and second pipe flanges  116 ,  118 . In contrast to first and second pipe flanges  16 ,  18 , each pipe flange  116 ,  118  does not include the plateaus  30  and the insets  32 . Instead, each pipe flange  116 ,  118  includes an annular recess  136  on an outer surface  129  adjacent to an inner edge of the flange  116 ,  118 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the recess  136  has a depth D roughly equal to the thickness T of the liner flanges  24 . The recess  136  may be formed by molding, machining, or the like. Each pipe flange  116 ,  118  also includes a plurality of fastener openings  128  extending from an inner surface  127  of the flange  116 ,  118  to the outer surface  129 . The fastener openings  128  are positioned at rotational angle intervals, or circumferentially spaced along a circular path, in the vicinity of the outer edge. 
     The joint assembly  100  has a structure that is similar to the joint assembly  10 . The pipe flanges  116 ,  118  are coupled to the pipes  20 A,  20 B in the same fashion as discussed above. The first and second liners  12 ,  14  are positioned within the pipes  20 A,  20 B as discussed above, such that the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  is positioned within the recess  136  of the first pipe flange  116  and the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14  is positioned within the recess  136  of the second pipe flange  118 . The outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  contacts the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14 . And at least a portion of the outer surface  129  of the first pipe flange  116  contacts at least a portion of the outer surface  129  of the second pipe flange  118 . 
     Yet another embodiment of the current invention may provide a joint assembly  200  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The joint assembly  200  may be utilized with pipes  20 A,  20 B and includes the first and second pipe liners  12 ,  14 , substantially identical to those described above. The joint assembly  200  further includes first and second pipe flanges  216 ,  218 . Like the pipe flanges  116 ,  118 , each pipe flange  216 ,  218  does not include the plateaus  30  and the insets  32 . Instead, each pipe flange  216 ,  218  includes an outer annular recess  236  on an outer surface  229  adjacent to an inner edge of the flange  216 ,  218  and an inner annular recess  238  on an inner surface  227  adjacent to an outer edge of the flange  216 ,  218 . The inner recess  236  has a depth D roughly equal to the thickness T of the liner flanges  24 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , the outer and inner recesses  236 ,  238  may be formed by molding, machining, pressing, punching, or other forming techniques. Each pipe flange  216 ,  218  also includes a plurality of fastener openings  228  extending from the inner surface  227  of the flange  216 ,  218  to the outer surface  229 . The fastener openings  228  are positioned at rotational angle intervals, or circumferentially spaced along a circular path, in the vicinity of the outer edge. 
     The joint assembly  200  has a structure that is similar to the joint assembly  10 . The pipe flanges  216 ,  218  are coupled to the pipes  20 A,  20 B in the same fashion as discussed above. The first and second liners  12 ,  14  are positioned within the pipes  20 A,  20 B as discussed above, such that the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  is positioned within the outer recess  236  of the first pipe flange  216  and the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14  is positioned within the outer recess  236  of the second pipe flange  218 . The outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the first liner  12  contacts the outer surface  25  of the liner flange  24  of the second liner  14 . And at least a portion of the outer surface  229  of the first pipe flange  216  contacts at least a portion of the outer surface  229  of the second pipe flange  218 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.