HOSE COUPLING SEAL

Abstract

There is proposed an annular seal for a pipe coupling, comprising, a lower portion beatable within an upwardly open annular groove in the pipe coupling, an upper portion having an upwardly facing abutment surface, a depending skirt and a stiffening ring. The depending skirt is configured for engagement over a circular upstand of the pipe coupling, which is located inwardly of the annular groove. The stiffening ring is located within the upper portion of the annular seal, and includes an annular portion that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the abutment surface and at least one circumferential leg depending from the annular portion that provides reinforcement for the depending leg.

Claims

1. A pipe coupling annular seal, comprising: a lower portion locatable within an upwardly open annular groove in said pipe coupling; an upper portion adjoining the lower portion and having an upwardly facing abutment surface; a skirt adjoining said upper portion circumferentially around an inner edge thereof and depending therefrom, the skirt configured for engagement over a circular upstand of said pipe coupling, the circular upstand being located inwardly of said annular groove, wherein the skirt includes an inner side that is configured to be positionable generally parallel with a flow path of the pipe coupling and an outer side that is oblique relative to the inner side, wherein the outer side is generally configured to abut with an inner side of said circular upstand or a part thereof; and a stiffening ring within at least said upper portion of the annular seal, wherein the stiffening ring includes an annular portion that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the abutment surface and at least one circumferential leg depending from said annular portion.

2. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein the annular portion of the stiffening ring comprises a generally flat annular portion or a curved annular portion, and the annular portion is positioned generally parallel with the abutment surface.

3. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 2, wherein the at least one circumferential leg of the stiffening ring includes an inner depending circumferential leg adjoining an inner edge of the generally flat annular portion or the curved annular portion, and an outer circumferential leg adjoining an outer edge of the generally flat annular portion or the curved annular portion.

4. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 3, wherein the annular portion, the inner circumferential leg and outer circumferential leg are unitary in construction or joined to form the stiffening ring.

5. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 3, wherein the outer circumferential leg extends downwardly to a greater extent than the inner circumferential leg, whereby the outer circumferential leg extends downwardly into or adjacent the lower portion of the annular seal, and the inner circumferential leg extends downwardly into or adjacent said skirt.

6. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 5, wherein the stiffening ring has a generally inverted J-shaped cross-sectional profile.

7. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower portion of said seal comprises a bellows portion, which includes a circumferential depending projection that is curved outwardly and includes at least two radial ribs that extend around an outer surface of said projection.

8. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein the skirt tapers inwardly to a free circumferential edge, which is spaced apart from the lower portion.

9. A pipe coupling having an annular seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circular upstand of the pipe coupling is tapered to an upper circumferential edge.

10. A pipe coupling having an annular seal in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upwardly open annular groove includes an enlarged inner annular chamber and an annular neck portion.

11. The pipe coupling in accordance with claim 10, wherein an insert is engageable within the upwardly open annular groove to form a restricted annular neck portion.

12. The pipe coupling in accordance with claim 11, wherein least a part of the lower portion of the annular seal is positionable within the enlarged inner annular chamber and the upper portion extends through and outwardly from the restricted annular neck portion.

13. The pipe coupling in accordance with claim 10, wherein when cooperating pipe couplings are connected, the abutment surfaces of the respective annular seals are caused to impinge upon each other to force respective upper portions to retract inwardly of the neck portion of respective annular grooves.

14. The pipe coupling in accordance with claim 13, wherein compression of the respective annular seals located in the respective annular grooves also causes the skirt of the respective annular seals, which are tapered, to slide down respective tapered upstands of respective cooperating pipe couplings.

15. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 10, wherein the stiffening ring is constructed from metal, plastic or rigid/semi-rigid material.

16. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 10, wherein the lower portion, upper portion and/or the skirt are/is constructed from a natural rubber or an artificial elastomer, synthetic rubber copolymer.

17. A claw coupling with annular seal, the annular seal comprising: a lower portion locatable within an upwardly open annular groove in the claw coupling; an upper portion adjoining the lower portion and having an upwardly facing abutment surface; a skirt adjoining said upper portion circumferentially around an inner edge thereof and depending therefrom, the skirt configured for engagement over a circular upstand of said claw coupling, wherein the skirt includes an inner side that is configured to be positionable generally parallel with a flow path of the claw coupling and an outer side that is oblique relative to the inner side, wherein the outer side is generally configured to abut with the inner side of said circular upstand or a part thereof, the circular upstand being located inwardly of said annular groove; and a stiffening ring within at least the upper portion of the annular seal, wherein the stiffening ring includes an annular portion that is generally parallel with and spaced apart from the abutment surface, and at least one circumferential leg depending from the annular portion.

18. A method of forming a seal between two cooperating couplings, said method including the steps of: providing an annular seal for each of the couplings, each respective annular seal including: a lower portion, an upper portion having an abutment surface, a skirt extending circumferentially around an inner edge of the upper portion and depending therefrom, wherein the skirt includes an inner side that is configured to be positionable generally parallel with a flow path of the pipe coupling and an outer side that is oblique relative to the inner side, wherein the outer side is generally configured to abut with an inner side of a circular upstand of a respective coupling or a part thereof, and a stiffening ring within at least the upper portion of the annular seal; positioning at least the lower portion of each the annular seal within a respective outwardly open annular groove in the respective coupling; connecting the cooperating couplings such that the abutment surfaces of the respective annular seals abut; and tightening the cooperating couplings, whereby the annular seals are compressed and the skirt of each respective annular seal engages with the circular upstand of the respective coupling, the circular upstand being located inwardly of a respective annular groove to thereby provide a seal.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18, further including a step of inserting a respective insert into each of said outwardly open annular grooves to thereby delineate an inner annular chamber and an annular neck portion.

20. The pipe coupling annular seal in accordance with claim 16, wherein the synthetic rubber copolymer is one of Hydrogenated Acrylonitrile Butadiene (HNBR) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene (NBR).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0047] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the claw coupling, insert and seal of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 is an underside perspective view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a top view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 4 is an underside view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a side view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through A-A of the seal of FIG. 5;

[0053] FIG. 7 is an underside perspective view of the stiffening ring of FIG. 6;

[0054] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the seal of FIG. 8 illustrating the position of the stiffening ring of FIG. 7 within the seal, which is shown in broken lines;

[0056] FIG. 10 is an underside perspective view of the seal of FIG. 1;

[0057] FIG. 11 is an underside top perspective view of the seal of FIG. 10 illustrating the position of the stiffening ring within the seal, which is shown in broken lines;

[0058] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the assembled claw coupling, insert and seal, illustrating the seal in an uncompressed arrangement;

[0059] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the assembled claw coupling, insert and seal of FIG. 13, illustrating the seal in a fully compressed arrangement;

[0060] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of two abutting assembled claw couplings, with a respective insert and a respective seal, illustrating the seals in a fully compressed arrangement;

[0061] FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the two assembled claw couplings of FIG. 14, in a locked position, illustrating the seals in a partly compressed arrangement;

[0062] FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating laminar flow of fluid along a flow path of the present invention, having generally parallel side;

[0063] FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating turbulent flow of fluid along a flow path of the prior art, having a narrowing of the passageway;

[0064] FIG. 18 is a schematic stylised view of one claw coupling of the prior art illustrating the annular ridge that is configured to locate the seal;

[0065] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the seal of the present invention, illustrating an alternate embodiment of the stiffening ring;

[0066] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the seal of the present invention, illustrating another alternate embodiment of the stiffening ring; and

[0067] FIG. 21 are the test results of the seal of the present invention (‘Ultraflow’) compared to a prior art seal (‘Market’).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0069] Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated an annular seal 10 for a pipe coupling 12, demonstrating by way of examples, arrangements in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pipe coupling 12 is a claw type coupling which includes, a head 14, a tail 16 and a passageway 18 extending therethrough. The head 14 of the pipe coupling 12 includes two outwardly extending hooks 20, 22 and two sidewardly extending protrusions 24, 26. The hooks 20, 22 on one pipe coupling are configured to engage with protrusions 24, 26 on a cooperating pipe coupling to thereby form an interference fit between the cooperating coupling bodies or fittings to thereby connect length of hoses 28, 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0071] An insert 32 is positionable within an upwardly or outwardly open annular groove 34 in the pipe coupling 12, as further illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15. The insert 32, as shown in FIG. 1, is generally ring-shaped and includes a generally chamfered inner edge 36 for abutment with an outer surface of the annular seal 10.

[0072] The insert 32 is positionable with the annular groove 34 to thereby form an enlarged inner annular chamber 38 and a restricted annular neck portion 40. The insert 32 is press fitted and held in place by a bonding agent. The reader should however appreciate that the annular chamber 38 and neck portion 40 of the upwardly open annular groove 34 may be formed without the use of an insert.

[0073] The coupling 12 further includes a circular upstand 42 positioned between at least a part of the annular groove 34 and the passageway 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15. The reader will appreciate that the circular upstand 42 forms at least part of a side of the upwardly open annular groove 34.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the circular upstand 42 has a tapered upper circumferential edge 44 having an inner side that slopes outwardly. The circular upstand 42 forms one side of the annular chamber 38 and neck portion 40.

[0075] The annular groove 34 is generally coaxial with the passageway 18 and separated therefrom by the circular upstand 42. The annular groove 34 may be formed in the head 14 or the groove 34 may be formed by the placement of a separate annular wall member (not shown) within the coupling that is generally aligned with the passageway, wherein a space between the outer edge of the annular wall member and a side of the coupling forms the groove 34.

[0076] The annular seal 10a is positionable within the groove 34 and extends outwardly therefrom for engagement with another seal 10b of a cooperating coupling member, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.

[0077] As the skilled addressee will appreciate, cooperating claw coupling members 12a, 12b of FIGS. 14 to 15, are pushed together, such that the respective seals 10a, 10b are fully compressed, as illustrated in FIG. 14, and the hooks 20, 22 are able to be rotated over respective lips 84 (shown in FIG. 1) of the sidewardly extending protrusions 24, 26 of the opposing coupling. Once the hooks 20, 22 are moved past the respective lip 84, the resiliently deformable seals act on the coupling members 12a, 12b such that the hooks 20, 22 bear against a shoulder 86 (shown in FIG. 1) of the protrusions 24 or 26 and the opposing surfaces of the cooperating coupling members 12a, 12b are spaced apart, by typically around 5 mm, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The reader will therefore appreciate that FIG. 14 shows the two claw couplings in a partially engaged position and FIG. 15 shows the two assembled claw couplings in a fully engaged or locked position.

[0078] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the annular seal 10 includes a lower portion 46 that is locatable within the annular chamber 38 of the annular groove 34. The lower portion 46 in the present embodiment comprises a bellows type seal part, which includes a circumferential depending projection 48 that is curved outwardly. The lower portion 46 further includes radial ribs 50 that extend around an outer surface of the projection 48, as is known in the art.

[0079] The seal 10 further includes an upper portion 52 having an upwardly or outwardly facing abutment surface 54. An annular skirt 56 adjoins and depends from an inner edge 58 of the upper portion 52, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The depending annular skirt 56 is configured to engage with the circular upstand 42 of the coupling 12, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15.

[0080] As further illustrated in FIG. 6, a stiffening ring 60 is contained within the seal 10. The stiffening ring 60 includes a flat generally annular portion 62, that is generally parallel with the abutment surface 54, an inner circumferential leg 64 and an out circumferential leg 66, wherein both legs 64, 66 depend from the annular portion 62.

[0081] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the depending inner circumferential leg 64 adjoins an inner edge of the flat generally annular portion 62, and the outer circumferential leg 66 adjoins an outer edge of the flat generally annular portion 62. The stiffening ring 60 in one embodiment is unitary and constructed from a metallic material, being press formed and having a thickness of around 0.5 mm.

[0082] The reader will appreciate that the stiffening ring 60 has a generally inverted J-shaped cross-sectional profile as illustrated in FIG. 6, however the opposing cooperating coupling will have a seal 10 that is reversed in relation to the description. Accordingly, the terms upper, lower, depending and upwardly may be replace respectively with the terms lower, upper, upwardly extending and downwardly. Therefore, the use of such relative terms in the description and claims in no way could be consider to restrict the scope of the invention.

[0083] The outer circumferential leg 66 extends downwardly to a greater extent than the inner circumferential leg 64. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8-11, the outer circumferential leg 66 extends downwardly into or adjacent the lower portion 48 of the seal 10 to provide not only stiffening to the abutment surface 54 but also to at least a part of the lower portion 48. Similarly, the inner circumferential leg 64 extends downwardly into or adjacent the depending skirt 56 to provide reinforcement thereof and to inhibit displacement of the seal 10.

[0084] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the depending skirt 56 tapers inwardly to a free circumferential edge 70, which is spaced apart from the lower portion 46.

[0085] The depending skirt 56 includes an inner side 72 that is configured to be positioned generally parallel with the flow path ‘X’ through passageway 18. An outer side 74 of the depending skirt 56 is oblique relative to the inner side 72 and is configured to abut with an inner side of the tapered upper circumferential edge 44 of the circular upstand 42, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0086] As further illustrated in FIG. 12, the curved side 76 of the enlarged inner annular chamber 38 is shaped to abut with the curved projection 48, as is known in the art.

[0087] The coupling 12 may also include a pressure relief valve 80 and thread, engagement member or clamp (not shown) for connection to a length of pipe.

[0088] When disconnected from a cooperating coupling the seal 10 is biased outwardly from within the annular groove 34, as shown in FIG. 12. Once the cooperating couplings 12a, 12b are connected, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the abutment surfaces 54 of the adjacent seals 10a, 10b are caused to impinge upon each other to force the respective upper portion 52 to retract inwardly of the respective annular grooves 34, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0089] The pipe coupling 12, also referred to as coupling fittings, are pushed together and twisted so that protrusions 24, 26 engage with and are retained by a respective hook 20 or 22, as is known in the art. This action forces the opposing seals 10 held within respective coupling members 12a and 12b together, whereby the flat abutment faces 54 of the seals 10, are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the couplings, and abut when the fittings are joined, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. This abutment makes a hydraulic or pneumatic seal between the flow paths through the fittings and the surrounding environment.

[0090] As can be seen in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, this compression of the respective seals 10a, 10b causes the tapered skirt 56 to slide down the respective tapered upstands 42. Accordingly, the respective passageways 18 of the cooperating coupling 12 and respective seals 10 are axially aligned to provide a generally smooth or even flow path therethrough.

[0091] In this way, when the cooperating couplings 12a, 12b are connected together the respective seals 10a, 10b do not extend significantly into the flow of medium passing through the joint, as indicated by broken arrow in FIG. 15. This configuration minimises turbulence and essentially creates a laminar flow, as indicated by the arrows, while still providing an adequate seal to inhibited leakage of the flowable substance out through the junction between the couplings 12a, 12b.

[0092] The tapered skirt 56 is, to a degree, forced laterally against the upstand by the pressure of the flowable substance within the flow path, which substantially inhibits movement of the flowable substance into the groove or cavity 34, which would otherwise cause turbulence. Any flowable substance that is able to force it way through into the groove or cavity 34, such as at low pressure, is inhibited from leaking out of the joint by the bellows type seal configuration of the lower portion 46.

[0093] The compression of the deformable lower portion 46 tends to bend and compress the curved projection 48 to thereby provide greater pressure against side 76 of the annular chamber 38 and also upward pressure against the opposing seal to thereby provide a tight fluid or pneumatic seal. The radial ribs 50 are deformable such that they are compressed against the side 76 of the annular chamber 38 and lower edge of the insert 32.

[0094] The annular elastomeric portion of the seal 10 is generally coaxial with a generally rigid stiffening ring 60. The lower 46 and upper 52 elastomeric portions of the seal are unitary in construction with the stiffening ring 60 being embedded therein during manufacture.

[0095] FIGS. 16 and 17 are included to illustrate the idea of laminar flow ‘X’ of the present invention and turbulent flow ‘Y’ of fluid of the prior art along a flow path 18. FIG. 16 illustrates a flow path 18 with generally parallel sides which result in a smooth flow ‘X’ of fluid along the flow path. On the other hand, FIG. 17 illustrates a flow path 18 with protrusions 88 extending inwardly of the flow path 18 which results in a narrowing, as is the case with the prior art. This narrowing results in turbulent flow ‘Y’ of the fluid along the flow path 18.

[0096] As the skilled addressee will appreciate, the seals of existing claw couplings extend into the flow path. Furthermore, some claw couplings include an annular ridge, that is configured to locate and support a seal. FIG. 18 illustrates a stylised claw coupling 12 of the prior art with annular ridge 90 for supporting the seal 92. The reader will however appreciate that other configurations may currently be on the market or disclosed in the published prior art.

[0097] The reader will appreciate from FIGS. 12 to 15 that the claw coupling of the present invention does not include an annular ridge. Therefore, the flow path 18 is generally smooth or regular to thereby improve laminar flow of the liquid therethrough. The configuration of the present invention therefore means that the seal does not extend substantially into the flow path and there is no annular ridge that would restrict flow and increase turbulence, thereby reducing efficiency.

[0098] The reader will appreciate that the seal 10 and coupling member 12 of the present invention is compatible with other like couplings having conventional seals, such as type A and type B couplings and couplings sold under the name SURELOK™. The seal 10 of the present invention can therefore be incorporated into all three types of claw couplings and thereby will eliminate medium hammer and improve laminar flow. This will create a claw coupling having carbon reduction because laminar flow greatly reduces energy used to pump air/water mediums throughout mine sites. The Inventor envisages that a typical mine site will reduce its energy consumption by use of the seal of the present invention.

[0099] The reader should appreciate that the position, shape and configuration of the stiffening ring 60 may vary without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0100] FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate two alternate configurations of the stiffening ring 60. In FIG. 19 the stiffening ring 60 has an inverted curved J-shaped configuration, with the depending leg portion 94 being shorter than the depending leg portion 96. In the present embodiment the depending leg portion 94 extends towards the depending skirt 56 with an end 98 being adjacent thereto. The reader should however appreciate that the end 98 of the depending leg portion 94 may extend into to the depending skirt 56.

[0101] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment wherein the stiffening ring 60 has an inverted U-shaped configuration, with the depending leg portion 94 being the same or similar length to the depending leg portion 96. In the present embodiment the depending leg portion 94 extends into the depending skirt 56 and is tapered to an edge 98.

[0102] FIG. 21 illustrates test results relating to the flow rate of the seal of the present invention (‘Ultraflow’) compared to a prior art seal (‘Market’). The test was undertaken by Bureau Veritas Asset Integrity and Reliability Services Pty Ltd at Thebarton, South Australia.

Test Results

[0103] Sample: Ultraflow claw joint fittings 50x, Market claw joint fittings 50x

[0104] Scope: Comparison of flow rate and pump power usage between Ultraflow and Market fittings.

[0105] Method: Pump and return using 2″ fittings and hose (water@ 20° C.) [0106] Pump: Warman 3-2 AH WRT centrifugal using Zenith power controller [0107] Flow meter: GE PT900 ultrasonic flow meter [0108] Power meter: Lutron 3 phase power analyser

[0109] Results: Results of the flow rate and power tests carried out on the samples supplied by the Applicant are set out in the graph of FIG. 21.

[0110] Summary: Ultraflow fittings have 74% better flow rate than equivalent Market fittings at the same pump power settings.

TABLE-US-00001 Sample Flow Rate l/s at 1 kW Market 1.63 Ultraflow 2.83

TABLE-US-00002 Power kW .Math. hr required to move Sample 1000 t of water (1 Ml) Market 170 Ultraflow 98

[0111] The reader will appreciate that the seal 10 is generally moved out of the flow path, with the majority of the seal siting behind a wall or upstand of the coupling. The seal also slides up and down the taper on the wall or upstand 42 and therefore the seal 10 works in conjunction with the coupling to create the sealing function, whilst inhibiting turbulence in the flow of medium.

[0112] The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the illustrated invention over the prior art. In one form the invention provides a reinforced seal that is inhibited from becoming dislodged during use. Furthermore, the seal reduces the formation of vortices or turbulence within the flow path. The tapered skirt of the seal engages with a cooperating shaped tapered upstand to improve engagement and reduce leakage out through the joint of the flowable substance.

[0113] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate the invention and it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.