Patent Publication Number: US-2012025471-A1

Title: Self adjusting gasket for pipe joints

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/637,433 which was filed on Dec. 14, 2009 and is still pending. That application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/122.976 which was filed on Dec. 16, 2008. Both applications are incorporated by reference hereinto in their entireties.test 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present exemplary embodiment relates to a self adjusting gasket for pipe joints. It finds particular application in conjunction with pipe joints having an interface with a non-circular perimeter, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the gasket is usable with generally circular pipe joints as well as other like applications. 
     Pipe systems are utilized to transfer fluids from one location to another. There are many types of pipe systems including, for example, sanitary, domestic water, steam, air, fuel/oil and storm drainage systems. Pipe systems include a series of elongated hollow pipe sections having many different sizes and cross sectional shapes such as rectangular, square, oval and circular. Generally, the pipe sections are manufactured in a factory, transported to a fluid transfer site and installed on site at the location where the fluid is to be transferred. Materials commonly used to manufacture pipe sections include concrete, metal, stone, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other thermoplastic polymers. Additionally, many pipe systems are installed underground and subject to both external forces from the environment and internal forces from the fluid being transferred. 
     Many pipe systems utilize gaskets between the joints of each pipe section to help prevent the leakage of fluid. The joints exist at an interface between a first pipe section and a second pipe section. In bell and spigot piping systems, the gasket is placed at the interface to abut both a spigot end of a first pipe section and a bell end of a second pipe section, the spigot end being received within the bell end. Gaskets are made of a flexible waterproof material and meant to prevent fluid from leaking at the joint while they are subject to various external forces and internal forces that act on the pipe system. The sealing effect of the gasket may be compromised due to the various forces acting thereon and misalignment of the pipe sections or inconsistent gaps between the surfaces along the interface. 
     To improve the alignment and sealing effect of the interface, one manufacturer provides gaskets including a profile having at least one projection extending from the body of the gasket to compressively abut a surface on the spigot end and a surface on the bell end. Another manufacturer provides gaskets including a profile having a generally hollow tube protruding from the gasket body with a layer of locking teeth and lubricant along the inner surface of the tube to aid in the self alignment of the gasket in the joint. Additionally, self aligning gaskets are known to include an internal cavity within the gasket body to hold a fluid and provide a dynamic seal at circular interfaces. There are many other types of gasket systems having similar features. 
     However, these known gaskets do not conform to the perimeter sections of pipe ends that transition between radial or angular portions along the joints due to stresses that are, in part, caused by the transition in joint geometry. Known gaskets fail to provide a consistent seal at the interface between the surfaces of the bell and spigot, especially along a transitioning joint geometry such as between lateral portions and corner or angled portions of the joint, such as rectangular or square joints. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for a self aligning gasket for improved sealing of pipe systems utilizing a bell and spigot type joint which better conforms to transitioning radial and linear portions of the joint geometry. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a self adjusting gasket which retards leakage at a joint between an associated first pipe and an associated second pipe including a wedge shaped body made of a generally compressible, leak proof material. The wedge shaped body has a profile that includes a tapered front portion, a planar rear portion, a first contact surface, and an inclined second contact surface, including a first fin having a trailing edge oriented generally normal to the first contact surface and a second fin spaced from the first fin. A generally continuous annular cavity is located in the wedge shaped body wherein the cavity is not symmetrically shaped and a fluid disposed in the cavity. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a method of retarding leakage at an interface of a spigot end of a first pipe and a bell end of a second pipe. The method includes mounting a self adjustable gasket to the spigot end of the first pipe, the gasket having a wedge shaped profile with a continuous annular cavity having a generally asymmetrical profile relative to the interface, the cavity holding a fluid. The bell end of the second pipe is positioned on the spigot end of the first pipe along the interface. The gasket is compressed against the bell end of the second pipe. The fluid is distributed within the annular cavity to balance a compressive force along the interface such that a continuous seal is established along the interface. 
     In still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a self adjusting gasket including a compressible wedge shaped body is provided. The wedge shaped body includes a contact surface having a plurality of compression ribs, an inclined surface extends from the contact surface at a tapered front portion, the inclined surface including at least one resilient sealing member extending away from the inclined surface. An abutment surface is located opposite the tapered front portion, said abutment surface being oriented generally normal to the contact surface. An annular cavity is located within the gasket that encloses an amount of fluid, the annular cavity having an orientation that is generally asymmetrical relative to the contact surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure may take form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a partial pipe section illustrating a first embodiment of a self adjusting gasket mounted on a spigot end of a first pipe and spaced from a bell end of a second pipe during assembly according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the pipe joint of  FIG. 1  in an assembled condition with the self adjusting gasket compressed along an interface formed between the spigot end of the first pipe and the bell end of the second pipe; 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view of a partial pipe section illustrating a second embodiment of the self adjusting gasket mounted on the spigot end of the first pipe according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of the self adjusting gasket of  FIG. 3A  compressed along the interface between the spigot end of the first pipe and a bell end of the second pipe; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a portion of a self adjusting gasket mounted on the spigot end of the first pipe according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a fourth embodiment of a self adjusting gasket according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross sectional view of the self adjusting gasket of  FIG. 5A  compressed along the interface between the spigot end of a first pipe and the bell end of a second pipe; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of another embodiment of a self adjusting gasket according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the third embodiment of the self adjusting gasket of  FIG. 4  according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the first embodiment of the self adjusting gasket of  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that this detailed description and the figures are for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale and that portions of certain elements may be exaggerated for the purpose of clarity and ease of illustration. 
     The self adjusting gasket of the present disclosure is provided to mitigate deficiencies in the sealing and coupling of circular and especially non-circular piping systems utilizing a bell and spigot typed joint with a flexible gasket as the primary sealing element. Joint seals of bell and spigot type pipe systems are effective when, under compression, a gasket positioned between a surface of a spigot end and a surface of a bell end prevents leakage about the entire perimeter of the pipe joint. However, seal failures occur when the gasket is unable to seal the joint, for example, due to tolerances about angled or cornered edges, perimeter gaps, pipe installation misalignment or differential loading. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, a self adjusting gasket has been developed to facilitate effective sealing in a piping system where a flexible, leak resistant joint is required. The self adjusting gasket finds particular application where coupling installation is subject to significant tolerance issues such as with large concrete piping systems having a non-circular cross section. In many of these instances, pipe installations require the use of cranes or other automatic lifting methods to properly position and align each pipe section. Variations in the alignment of such large heavy pipe sections necessitated the development of a more effective self adjusting gasket, as disclosed herein. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 , a self adjusting gasket  100  includes a wedge shaped body  110  made of a generally compressible, leak proof materials such as rubber, EPDM, nitrile, neoprene, silicone, synthetic fluoropolymer, urethane, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) or other combinations of elastomeric type materials. The wedge shaped body  110  can be continuously extruded and then cut to a predetermined length relative to a perimeter of an associated spigot end  220  of a first pipe  240  to be coupled to an associated bell end  230  of a second pipe  250 . A first end of the gasket body is then joined to a second end thereof by conventional means (such as splicing and vulcanizing) to form a continuous gasket as described below. 
     The wedge shaped body  110  includes a profile having a tapered front portion  120 , a planar rear portion  130 , a first contact surface  140 , and an inclined second contact surface  150 . The planar rear portion  130  is an abutment surface that can be oriented generally normal to the first contact surface  140 . In one embodiment, the first contact surface  140  includes a plurality of compression ribs  145  for an improved grip to an associated pipe surface. Additionally, the first contact surface  140  can be mounted to the associated pipe surface with an adhesive (see  FIG. 5B ). The tapered front portion  120  can include various geometric shapes such as a pointed tip, a rounded or bullnose tip or a positioning flange extending therefrom. 
     The wedge shaped body  110  includes at least one protrusion or resilient sealing member such as a fin. In this illustrated embodiment, a first fin  160  extends from the inclined second contact surface  150  and includes a trailing edge  165  oriented generally normal to the first contact surface  140 . The first fin  160  extends outwardly from the inclined second contact surface  150 . A second fin  170  extends from the wedge shaped body  110  and is spaced from the first fin  160  such that the second fin  170  is oriented at an acute angle in relation to the first fin  160 . The second fin  170  extends from the trailing edge  165  of the first fin  160  and includes a planar trailing surface  175  connected to an angled end surface  135  that extends from the planar rear portion  130 . 
     Another way of looking at the gasket body  110  would be that the second contact surface  150  continues after the first fin  160  and that the second fin  170  begins at a vertical line (not shown) extending upwardly from the intersection of the planar trailing surface  175  with the angled end surface  135 . In one embodiment, the second fin  170  extends past the planar rear portion  130  such that the planar trailing surface  175  has a greater length than the planar end surface  135 . (see  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 ) In other embodiments, a planar rear portion  330 ,  530 ,  730 ,  930  of a gasket extends past a second fin  370 ,  570 ,  770 ,  970  such that a planar end surface  335 ,  535 ,  735 ,  935  has a greater length than a planar trailing surface  375 ,  575 ,  775 ,  975 . (see  FIGS. 3-7 ) 
     The self adjusting gasket  100  also includes a generally continuous annular cavity  200  located in the wedge shaped body  110 . A fluid  210  is disposed in the cavity  200  wherein the fluid  210  can be a gel type material. The fluid  210  can be a substantially incompressible fluid or gel material that is ideally stable in that it does not freeze or expand thermally under normal environmental conditions which are expected to be encountered in the field. Further disclosure concerning the fluid can be found in application Ser. No. 12/637,433 which is incorporated by reference hereinto in its entirety. Fluid  210  is injected within the annular cavity  200  through an injection port (not shown) and the injection port is then sealed. The cavity  200  is configured to accept and hold the fluid  210  when the gasket  100  is in both an uncompressed condition (see  FIG. 1 ) and in a compressed condition at the interface  180  between a spigot surface  225  of the spigot end  220  of a first pipe  240  and a bell surface  235  of the bell end  230  of a second pipe  250 . (see  FIG. 2 ) 
     Notably, the shape of the cavity  200  profile is not symmetrical. In one embodiment, the profile of the cavity  200  is non-symmetrical relative to the first contact surface  140  in the uncompressed condition. The profile of the cavity  200  can also be non-symmetrical relative to the surface  225  of the spigot end  220  of the first pipe  240  in the uncompressed condition. The asymmetry of the profile of the cavity  200  can be relative to the geometric shape and tolerance of the spigot surface  225  and the bell surface  235  along a portion of the perimeter of the coupled pipe sections. Additionally, various asymmetric shapes of the cavity  200  relative to the orientations of the planar rear portion  130 , first fin  160  and second fin  170  are contemplated to efficiently distribute the fluid  210  within the cavity  200  to sufficiently balance the pressure along the interface  180  and create a secure seal. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the cavity  200  generally includes an elongated profile having a first end  209  positioned towards the tapered front portion  120  and a second end  211  positioned towards the planar rear portion  130  such that the first end  209  is positioned in front of the first fin  160  and the second end  211  is positioned beneath the second fin  170 . The second end  211  of the continuous annular cavity has a larger dimension than the first end  209 . The self adjusting gasket  100  is a dynamic assembly to accommodate movement of the interface  180  which may be caused internally by effluents, externally by water table pressure or by movement of a backfill outside the pipe (if the pipe system is buried underground). 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the self adjusting gasket  100  is mounted on the surface  225  of the spigot end  220  of the first pipe  240 . The bell end  230  of the second pipe  250  is positioned in spaced relation to the spigot end  220 . The first gasket  100  includes the annular cavity  200  having a generally asymmetrical profile relative to the first contact surface  140  in an uncompressed condition. The first contact surface  140  and the spaced compression ribs  145  are mounted to the surface  225  of the spigot end  220 . Optionally, the gasket can be secured in place with adhesive (see  FIG. 5B ). The planar rear portion  130  continuously abuts a step  260  at the spigot end  220  of the first pipe  240 . The step  260  and configuration of the wedge shaped body  110  are adapted to hold the gasket  100  in place while the spigot end  220  is coupled to the bell end  230 . In this embodiment, the second fin  170  extends past the planar rear portion  130  such that the planar trailing surface  175  has a greater length than the planar end surface  135 . This configuration allows for more lateral shift of the gasket mass and can be used with smaller dimensioned pipe systems where the compressive forces acting on the gasket  100  are somewhat reduced. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the self adjusting gasket  100  is positioned along the interface  180  formed between the spigot end  220  of the first pipe  240  and the bell end  230  of the second pipe  250  of  FIG. 1 . As the bell end  230  is introduced to the spigot end  220 , the tapered front portion  120  having a rounded tip and the inclined second surface  150  of the wedge shaped body  110  are initially compressed between the spigot surface  225  and the bell surface  235 . The planar rear portion  130  acts as a pressure point to aid in the distribution of the fluid  210  as the first fin  160  engages the bell surface  235 . The pressure exerted herein compresses the sealing protrusion or first fin  160  and forces the fluid  210  to distribute within the annular cavity  200  to areas with less pressure applied on the wedge shaped body  110 . As the bell end  230  comes to rest against the spigot end  220 , the second fin  170  is also compressed and the fluid  210  within the cavity  200  is sufficiently distributed from areas having higher compressive forces to areas having lower compressive forces along the perimeter of the interface  180 . The distribution of fluid balances the pressure exerted from the gasket  100  along the interface  180  against both the spigot surface  225  and bell surface  235 . The asymmetric shape of the cavity  200  allows for a gradual buildup of compression forces to sufficiently distribute the fluid  210  from narrow, high pressure, high compression areas to wide, low pressure, low compression areas along the interface  180  as the bell surface  235  is drawn to the spigot surface  225 . 
     The second fin  170  and planar rear portion  130  of the compressed gasket  100  functions as a hydraulic seal that is energized by the compressing forces of the first pipe  240  and second pipe  250  and by hydrostatic pressure from the environment outside the pipe. In  FIG. 2 , the second fin  170  extends past the planar rear portion  130  such that the second fin  170  assists in a pressure increase or “kick up” for the activation of the hydraulic seal. The geometric shape of the first fin  160  and the second fin  170  include generally planar sides having sufficient stiffness in the uncompressed condition to allow for a controlled deflection of the gasket  100  into the compressed orientation illustrated by  FIG. 2 . Additionally, the orientation and location of the planar rear portion  130 , the first fin  160  and the second fin  170  relative to the shape of the cavity  200  offers sufficient stiffness to enhance fluid  210  distribution for the necessary sealing pressure in off-center alignment and maximum deflected or gapped areas along the interface  180 . The cavity  200  can be non-symmetrical relative to the interface  180  along the perimeter of the coupled pipe sections in the compressed condition. However, the cavity  200  and fluid  210  may have various cross sectional profiles along the interface  180  in a compressed orientation due to the changes in the width of the interface  180  and or changing geometric shape of the surfaces  225 ,  235  along the interface  180 . 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the planar rear portion  330  of gasket  300  extends past the second fin  370  such that the planar end surface  335  has a greater length than the planar trailing surface  375 . This configuration is suitable for pipe systems having deeper joints where it is preferable to keep the gasket material centered or local within the length of a first contact surface  340 . A tapered front portion  320  includes a geometric shape having a generally pointed tip. Additionally, an annular cavity  400 , holding a fluid  410 , includes an asymmetrical profile having an elongated configuration with a continuous groove  415  along an interior surface  405  of the cavity  400 . The groove  415  has a wedge shaped front portion  417  that mimics the configuration of a first fin  360  and an inclined second surface  350 . A concave rear portion  419  extends between the groove  415  and a second end  411  that is opposite a slender first end  409 . 
       FIG. 3B  shows the gasket  300  of  FIG. 3A  in the compressed condition between a spigot end  420  and a bell end  430  of a pair of pipes. The compressed second fin  370  remains local within the footprint of the first contact surface  340  and the cavity  400  remains asymmetric relative to the first contact surface  340  in the compressed orientation but can have different elongated profiles along the perimeter in the compressed orientation. The fluid  410  is distributed throughout the annular cavity  400  to seal an interface  380  of the joint. 
       FIGS. 4 and 7  illustrate still another embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a gasket  500  includes a tapered front portion  520  with a positioning flange or locator flap  525 . The positioning flange  525  extends from the tapered front portion  520  to engage an edge  623  of a spigot end  620  of a pipe. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the edge  623  of the spigot end  620  is oriented generally normal to a spigot surface  625  such that a first contact surface  540  of gasket  500  conforms to the geometry therein to provide a sufficient pressure point to maintain the position of the gasket  500  during pipe coupling. Additionally, the planar rear portion  530  of gasket  500  extends past the second fin  570  such that planar end surface  535  has a greater length than planar trailing surface  575 . This configuration allows the second fin  570  to remain within the footprint of the first contact surface  540  when compressed within a pipe joint. 
     A cavity  600  of the gasket  500  of  FIGS. 4 and 7  includes an elongated profile having a first end  609  positioned towards the tapered front portion  520  and a second end  611  positioned towards planar rear portion  530  such that the first end  609  is positioned in front of first fin  560  and the second end  611  is positioned beneath second fin  570 . The second end  611  of the continuous annular cavity  600  is a slightly larger dimension than the first end  609 . In this embodiment, cavity  600  is asymmetrical relative to the first contact surface  540  and includes a groove  613  positioned beneath second fin  570  that is adjacent to second end  609  of the elongated cavity  600 . Additionally, planar rear portion  530  is mounted in close proximity to a step  660  of the spigot end  620 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate another embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a gasket  700  is provided with a cavity  800  having an elongated asymmetrical profile relative to a first contact surface  740  and further including two spaced enlarged areas along an interior surface  805 . A first enlarged area  806  is defined by a groove positioned beneath first fin  760  and a second enlarged area  807  is positioned beneath second fin  770 . A space  808  between the first enlarge area  806  and the second enlarged area  807  includes a profile that mimics a portion of the geometry of the wedge shaped body  710  where the second fin  770  extends from trailing edge  765  of the first fin  760 . This orientation is adapted to utilize a fluid  810  within the cavity  800  along with the wedge shaped body  710  to provide a dynamic seal at the interface  780  between a spigot end  820  with an angled spigot surface  825  and a bell end  830  with an angled bell surface  835 . Notably, the spigot end  820  does not include a step in this embodiment as a positioning flange  725  depends from tapered front portion  720  of the gasket and continuously abuts edge  823  adjacent to the angled spigot surface  825  to hold the gasket  700  in place during coupling. 
     Adhesive  790  can be applied between first contact surface  740  and the angled spigot surface  825  to mount the gasket  700  in place on the spigot. Additionally, planar rear portion  730  of gasket  700  extends past second fin  770  such that planar end surface  735  has a greater length than planar trailing surface  775 . This configuration allows the second fin  770  to remain within the footprint of the first contact surface  740  when compressed within the interface  780  of the pipe joint. 
     With reference now to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , a gasket  900  can include a positioning flange  925  extending from a tapered front portion  920  and also having a continuous annular cavity with different asymmetric and elongated profiles. Gasket  900  includes a cavity  1000  having an elongated profile with a first end  1009  that is positioned in front of a first fin  960  and a second end  1011  that is positioned beneath second fin  970 . The second end  1011  of the continuous annular cavity  1000  has a slightly larger dimension than the first end  1009 . The elongated profile of cavity  1000  is similar to cavity  200  of gasket  100  in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 . 
     The following description of the gasket is with particular reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 . However, the following description can also be attributed to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3-7 . The cavity  200  is configured to allow the wedge shaped body  110  to conform to radial and linear portions of pipe surfaces  225 ,  235  due to stresses that are naturally occurring from the changes in joint geometry. More particularly, the changes in joint geometry occur along the perimeter of the pipe interface  180  such as along both the spigot end  220  of the first pipe  240  and the bell end  230  of the second pipe  250  where radial areas such as corners or angles transition to linear areas. More particularly, rectangular shaped pipes have circular/radial areas and extended portions of noncircular/linear areas. The changes in geometry, such as from radial to linear portions along the perimeter, cause an increased level of tension and compression forces acting on the gasket mounted therein as the spigot end  220  is coupled to the bell end  230  along these areas. Various forces are placed on the gasket  100  having a plurality of force vector profiles. These force vector profiles have different directions and magnitudes that are not easily identified by an associated installer at the site of the pipe section installation. 
     Notably, geometric changes along the perimeter of the pipe ends are addressed externally by the shape of the wedge shaped body  110  and internally by the dynamic fluid  210  within the asymmetrical cavity  200 . More particularly, the first fin  160  and second fin  170  extend outwardly from the wedge shaped body  110  and utilize static compression and hydraulic pressure to create a leak resistant, and preferably leak proof seal against the surface  225  of the spigot end  220  simultaneously to the surface  235  of the bell end  230  when under compression. The configuration of the first fin  160  extends from the inclined second surface  150  to create a sealed effect with the surface  235  of the bell end  230  as a compression sealing function. The configuration of the second fin  170  provides a hydraulic pressure sealing function that extends from the wedge shaped body  110  to create a sealed effect with the surface  235  of the bell end  230 . The first and second fins  160 ,  170  provide a dynamic seal along the interface  180  to prevent leakage of fluid from within the pipe system and to prevent leakage of fluid from the environment into the pipe system. 
     Additionally, the cavity  200  within the gasket  100  has a particular shape and location within the body  110  that is adapted to allow the fluid gel material  210  to continuously flow within the entire length of the cavity  200  throughout the gasket  100  to balance out the various tension and compression forces acting thereon. The cavity  200  is configured, with optional combinations of asymmetric shapes (such as grooves  415  and  613  or enlarged areas  806  and  807 ) along the interior surface  205 , for distributing the fluid  210  in response to contact pressure that the gasket  100  exerts against the surfaces of the spigot end  220  and bell end  230 . The ability of the fluid  210  to move within the cavity  200  in a predetermined orientation allows for the gasket  100  to effectively seal along the interface  180  in situations such as where geometric transitions occur along the perimeter, where deflection of the interface  180  occurs or where the irregular gapping between the surfaces  225 ,  235  is a problem. Typically, during coupling, when one side of the interface  180  is narrowed along the perimeter, the opposing side is widened. The dimensional tolerances may be slight along the pipe interface  180 , however, even slight tolerances can compromise a seal and introduce a leak. The apparatus and method of the present disclosure allows for reducing mass of the self adjusting gasket  100  in tighter/narrower areas along the interface  180  and increasing the mass of the gasket  100  in open/wider areas along the perimeter in other areas. 
     More particularly, in many instances, the spigot surface  225  and the bell surface  235  include a slope or a taper relative to an exterior surface of the first and second pipes  240 ,  250 . The slope of the pipe ends is designed to ease manufacturing concerns as well as allowing for simpler coupling to opposing pipe ends. In one embodiment, the shape of the cavity  200  is non-symmetric relative to the first contact surface  140  of the wedge shaped body  110 . The shape of the cavity  200  can be sloped relative to the spigot surface  225  and bell surface  235  but will react to the slope or taper of the intersection to allow for lower compression forces and accomplish a homing or a self-adjusted fitting of the pipe ends during coupling. The shape of the cavity  200  is based upon directing the pressure to the area of the joint that is most in need. 
     During coupling, the tapered front portion  120  of the wedge shaped body  110  compresses first and the pressure exerted on the gasket  100  is directed to the planar rear portion  130 . At this point, coupling pressure can be directed in multiple directions towards the planar rear portion  130  and can be manipulated by the asymmetrical shape of the cavity  200 . The shape of the cavity  200  and location of the cavity  200  relative to the first fin  160  and second fin  170 , depends at least on the annular space, slope, and tightness of the joint area. The shape of the cavity  200 , having an elongated asymmetrical profile with a combination of grooves and enlarged areas, is designed to force the fluid  210  into the area of least resistance and provide a pressure balancing of the gasket  100  against the bell surface  235  and the spigot surface  225 . 
     The gasket of the present disclosure simplifies pipe section installation where insertion force and point loading during coupling occurs at non-circular locations (such as oval, square, rectangular) along the perimeter of the pipe end. The asymmetrically shaped fluid filled cavity relative to the first and second fin orientations allow the gasket to yield and distribute the load throughout a broader pattern on the joint face. 
     The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. Combinations of the various features can be combined in each embodiment. It is intended that the instant disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.