Claims
- 1. A fail-safe fire retardant seal assembly for use in a segmented pipe-coupling of the type including plural coupling segments adapted to be secured in encircling relationship about the juxtaposed ends of pipes, and which provide an internal annular channel for the reception of said seal assembly, said seal assembly including:
- an annular seal member formed from a thermally destructible elastomeric material, said seal member comprising an annular body having axially aligned sealing surfaces on an inner periphery thereof which seal against the outer circumferential surfaces of the ends of the pipes, with said sealing surfaces defining a circumferentially extending slot in the inner periphery of said annular body;
- a radial flange of said seal member extending radially inwardly of said annular body and located between said sealing surfaces; and
- an annular ring of fire resistant material incorporated into said radial flange, said annular ring having axially spaced and radially inwardly extending legs for engagement with the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective pipes to be sealed, and defining a continuous cage in which the radially innermost portion of said radial flange is confined and protected against thermal destruction in the event of thermal destruction of the remainder of said seal member, said radially innermost portion of said flange being for engagement by the radial end faces of said pipes in sealing relationship therewith.
- 2. The seal assembly of claim 1, in which said annular ring is formed from metal.
- 3. The seal assembly of claim 2, in which said annular ring is formed from stainless steel.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of parent U.S. application Ser. No. 812136, Thau et al, filed Dec. 20, 1985, and allowed July 3, 1986 and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,461.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3869132 |
Taylor et al. |
Mar 1975 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
92964 |
Jun 1923 |
ATX |
1473793 |
Mar 1967 |
FRX |
33154 |
Oct 1970 |
JPX |
16748 |
Mar 1909 |
GBX |
315550 |
Jul 1924 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
812136 |
Dec 1985 |
|