Patent Publication Number: US-2015084335-A1

Title: Pipe Coupling System and Methods of Use Thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/960,594, filed on Sep. 23, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Pipe coupling is the practice of joining or coupling two or more pipes together or joining pipes to mating assemblies. Many fitting  100 s used in pipe coupling require permanent engagement of the pipes and thus prevent the coupling system from being reused. Often fitting  100 s are limited in applicability to pipes made of specific material and thus are unreliable and non-versatile when applied to multiple pipes made of different material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure pertains to a coupling system for joining a first pipe to a mating member, said system having: a fitting having a first opening at a first end and a threaded portion, the first opening capable of receiving the first pipe, a nut having a nut opening and a threaded portion, the nut opening capable of receiving the first pipe, and a sealing member having a seal opening, the sealing member capable of receiving the first pipe, touching the first end of the fitting, and capable of being deformed by a compression force, the threaded portion of the nut capable of screwing onto the threaded portion of the fitting thereby applying a compression force onto the sealing member. One aspect of the disclosure is a coupling system where the mating member is a second pipe. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a coupling system where the sealing member applies an inward radial force onto the first pipe. Another aspect of the disclosure is a coupling system where the deformed sealing member seals a gap between the fitting and the first pipe. Another aspect of the disclosure is a coupling system where the deformed sealing member grips the first pipe thereby securing the first pipe to the coupling system. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the fitting further comprises an interior channel capable of receiving the sealing member. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where interior channel comprises a depth that allows for the top of the sealing member to protrude beyond the first end of the fitting when the sealing member is seated into the interior channel. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the interior channel comprises a frustoconical shape. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the fitting further comprises a collar and a seal stop, the collar and the seal stop defining the interior channel. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the seal stop is tapered. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the fitting further comprises a pipe stop. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the sealing member comprises a durometer level lower than the durometer level of the first pipe. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the system further comprises a ring. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the ring is positioned between the sealing member and the nut. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the system further comprises a filament ring. Another aspect of the disclosure is the coupling system where the filament ring is positioned between the sealing member and the nut. 
     With those and other objects, advantages and features on the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims, and the drawings attached hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fitting according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top down view of a fitting according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a fitting and a sealing member according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top down view of a fitting and a sealing member according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a sealing member according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective exploded view of a pipe coupling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural or logical changes may 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, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 
     The present disclosure pertains to a pipe coupling system  10  for coupling a first pipe  20  to a mating member  30  where medium, for example, without limitation, liquid, gas, or the like, passes from the first pipe  20  to the mating member  30  via a passageway  110  within the pipe coupling system  10 . The mating member can be any structure capable of mating to a fitting  100 , for example, a pipe, pump, reservoir, flow meter, indicator, manifold, container, or the like. For exemplar purposes, this disclosure describes the mating member  30  as a pipe or second pipe, however, although the disclosure describes this and other exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the pipe coupling system  10  can have a fitting  100 , a nut  200 , and a sealing member  300 . In one embodiment, the pipe coupling system  10  seals or prevents medium from passing between the first pipe  20  and the pipe coupling system  10 . The pipe coupling system  10  engages the first pipe  20 . In one embodiment, the pipe coupling system  10  can engage the first pipe  20  and the second pipe  30 . In one embodiment, the pipe coupling system  10  grips or secures the first pipe  20  thereby preventing the first pipe  20  from dislodging from the pipe coupling system  10 . 
     The sealing member  300  can have the shape of a ring having a seal opening  310  capable of receiving the first pipe  20 . The sealing member  300  can be an o-ring, gasket, or the like. In one embodiment, the sealing member  300  receives an end  21  of the first pipe  20  by way of the seal opening  310 . The sealing member  300  can be made of any suitable soft elastic or semi-rigid material such as thermoplastic materials or curable elastomeric materials that allow for the sealing member  300  to be compressed. The term “elastomer” refers generally to a polymeric material that has rubberlike properties. More specifically, most elastomers have a significant amount of resilience or the ability to recover from an elastic deformation. Examples of elastomers include, without limitation, natural rubbers, polyisoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, polysulfide rubber, polyurethane, and silicones. 
     The fitting  100  can be any type of pipe fitting, for example, without limitation, a coupler, adapter, reducer, elbow, tee, cross, cap, valve, or the like. For exemplar purposes, this disclosure will describe a pipe coupling system  10  utilizing a coupler, however, although the disclosure describes this and other exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  6 , the fitting  100  can have a tubular shape defining a passageway  110 , a first opening  120  at a first end  102 , and a second opening  130  at a second end  104 . The first opening  120  is capable of receiving the first pipe  20 . In one embodiment, the first opening  120  receives the end  21  of the first pipe  20 . At the first end  102 , the exterior of the fitting  100  has a threaded section. In one embodiment, the first end  102  engages the end  21  of the first pipe  20  and the second end  104  engages the end  31  of the second pipe  30 . The second end  31  can engage the second pipe  30  by any means in which a fitting  100  engages a pipe, for example, without limitation, by way of, male and female connectors, compression fitting, shrink fit, solvent welding, welding, soldering, brazing, adhesive, or the like. 
     The fitting  100  can be made of any material suitable for the intended purpose, for example, without limitation, plastic, nickel plated brass, stainless steel, copper, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), or the like. 
     Where the pipe coupling system  10  engages a second pipe  30 , a second sealing member  32  can be utilized to seal between the second end  104  of the fitting  100  and the second pipe  30 . The second sealing member  32  has a second seal hole  33  capable of receiving the second end  104  of the fitting  100 . The second sealing member  32  can be an o-ring, gasket, or the like. 
     The nut  200  can have a threaded interior, for example, without limitation, a female threaded interior for receiving a male threaded exterior, for threadably receiving the threads on the first end  102  of the fitting  100 . The nut  200  can have a nut opening  210  capable of receiving the first pipe  20 . In one embodiment, the nut  200  receives an end  21  of the first pipe  20  by way of the nut opening  210 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 , the first end of the fitting  100  can have a collar  140  and a seal stop  150  that, when the first pipe  20  is received by the fitting  100 , define an interior channel  160  positioned about the interior perimeter of the fitting  100 . The interior channel  160  is capable of receiving the sealing member  300 . The seal stop is capable of preventing the sealing member  200  from passing beyond a desirable distance through the fitting  100 . In one embodiment, the seal stop  150  is tapered thereby allowing for the seal stop  150  to have a frustoconical shape. As show in  FIGS. 7-8 , the interior channel  160  has a depth that allows for the top of the sealing member  300  to protrude beyond the first end  102  of the fitting  100  when the sealing member  300  is seated into the interior channel  160 . 
     In one embodiment, the fitting  100  can have a pipe stop  170  for stopping the second pipe  30  from passing beyond a desirable distance through the fitting  100 . While the pipe stop  170  can be any means for stopping a pipe in a fitting  100 , the pipe stop  170  is preferably a ledge extending from the interior surface of the fitting  100  inwardly, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In one embodiment, the ledge has a circular shape extending the interior perimeter of the fitting  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , when the sealing member  300  is compressed by the nut  200 , the portion of the sealing member  300  protruding beyond the first end  102  of the fitting  100  is compressed toward the second pipe  30  causing the sealing member  300  to be deformed. The deformation of the sealing member  300  causes a radial force to be exerted inward toward the longitudinal axis of the first pipe  20  and thus onto the exterior surface  22  of the first pipe  20 . The deformation of the sealing member  300  causes any gap between the sealing member  300  and the exterior surface of the first pipe  20  to be closed. The radial force exerted onto the first pipe  20  is capable of creating a seal between the first pipe  20  and the pipe coupling system  10  thereby preventing medium from passing between the first pipe  20  and the pipe coupling system  10 . In one embodiment, the radial force exerted onto the first pipe  20  is capable of securing the pipe coupling system  10  to the first pipe  20  by the pipe coupling system  10  gripping the first pipe  20  thereby preventing the first pipe  20  from easily dislodging, sliding, or being remove from the pipe coupling system  10 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the pipe coupling system  10  can have a ring  410  for providing additional sealing capability of the pipe coupling system  10 . The ring  410  can be positioned within the pipe coupling system  10  between the nut  200  and the sealing member  300 . While the ring  410  can be any size, the exterior diameter of the ring  410  is substantially larger than the exterior diameter of the interior channel  160 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the pipe coupling system  10  can have a filament ring  420  for providing additional sealing capability of the pipe coupling system  10 . The filament ring  420  can be positioned within the pipe coupling system  10  between the nut  300  and the sealing member  300 , the ring  410  and the sealing member  300 , the nut  300  and the ring  410 , or the sealing member  300  and the fitting  100 . While the filament ring  420  can be any size, the exterior diameter of the filament ring  420  is substantially larger than the exterior diameter of the interior channel  160 . 
     The pipe coupling system  10  can be used in conjunction with a tube made of any type of rigid or semi-rigid material, for example, without limitation, tubes made of plastic material, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), ABS/PC (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/Polycarbonate blend), Acetal/POM (Polyoxymethylene), Acrylic, ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate), FEP (Fluorinated ethylene propylene), MFA (Perfluoroalkoxy-methyl vinyl ether), Nylon, PEEK (Polyether ether ketone), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate, Copolymer), PFA (Perfluoroalkoxy alkane), PC (Polycarbonate), PE (Polyethylene) (LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene)), PP (Polypropylene), PU (Polyurethane), PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), PVC (Poly(vinyl chloride)), PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride), or THV (Tetrafluoroethylene)), metal material, such as, aluminum, steel, iron, stainless steel, nickel, nickel plated, titanium, copper, brass, bronze, lead, tin, zinc, bismuth, indium, or alloys, ceramics and crystalline solids such as glass, glass-mica, boron nitride, alumina, or silicates, the like, or any combination thereof. 
     In one embodiment, the radiant inward force applied by the sealing member  300  toward the surface of the first pipe  20  can be altered by altering the material of the sealing member  300 . Where the pipe coupling system  10  is used in conjunction with a pipe made of material with a low durometer level, for example, without limitation, glass, or the like, a sealing member  300  made of a low durometer level can be selected to ensure the sealing member  300  will deform and not damage or break the tube while compressing the sealing member  300 . 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     The foregoing has described the principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments described above, as they should be regarded as being illustrative and not as restrictive. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.