The invention relates most generally to coupling devices used to couple conduit in flow communication relationship. More particularly this invention relates to a specially designed connector which is used to couple in end-to-end relationship, and in flow communication relationship, cylindrical conduit or pipe for use in leaching systems. Even more particularly the invention relates to a specially designed connector, coupler, or means for coupling so-called corrugated cylindrical conduit which has ridges, channels and grooves over which may be laid or wrapped, either single or multiple layers of fabric. And further the invention may be used with smooth-walled pipe as opposed to corrugated types of pipe. In each instance, the pipe may be used to effectively process effluent in a leaching system.
There are many devices used in connecting pipe/conduit. In most instances the devices are not designed for ease of use, safety, or reuse, nor are they economic or simple for providing a coupling only sufficient to maintain relationship of the conduit being coupled without the need to have pressure fluid tight connection.
It would be advantageous to have a coupler especially for coupling corrugated pipe which emphasizes or addresses the relatively simple need for joining or coupling conduit without the concern or requirement for having no leaks under pressure.
There is nothing currently available which satisfies these needs and objectives. However, the invention disclosed herein does meet all of these objectives. No prior art of which Applicant is aware is as effective and as efficient as the instant coupler system. Clearly the instant invention provides many advantages over the prior art known by Applicant. None of the prior art meets the objects of the coupler of the invention, as used in septic and waste water treatment in a manner like that of the instant invention. None of them is as effective or as efficient.
It is also important to note that the use of the couplers of the present invention permit the easy coupling and decoupling of conduit and more particularly the coupling and decoupling of corrugated or smooth plastic septic pipe used in septic systems. The couplers may be used with standard forms of corrugated pipe and with special designs of perforated and corrugated pipe which may or may not be fabric wrapped such that liquids will be diffused/dispersed without channeling the liquids in a forced direction, thereby adding considerably to the life of any septic system. These couplers may also be used on corrugated or smooth-walled structures or any fluid-carrying structure that passes fluids through itself or through holes, slots, or cuts over, under, through or around.
In the most fundamental aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coupler device which will quickly, effectively, simply, safely and economically connect adjacent e nds of two pieces of conduit in fluid flow communication. The preferred coupler consists of two coupling members which may or may not be joined at one end in such a manner as to allow bending of coupling members relative to each other. The other end of each of the coupling members is configured so that such other ends are securely engageable with each other. The coupler, if wrapped around the adjacent ends of two end-to-end facing conduit and the ends of the coupler are securely engaged, will retain/maintain the end-to-end relationship of the two pieces of conduit. There may also be corrugations in the walls of one or both of the coupling members which corrugations fit within and mate, or interfit, with at least one of the corrugations of corrugated conduit if corrugated conduit is being connected. The inside diameter of the coupler is about equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of the conduit being thereby coupled. The coupler for coupling corrugated conduit is substantially functional to maintain the connection of the coupled conduit but not necessarily in a fluid-tight relationship. However, when considering gravity driven fluid flow, substantially all of the fluid will flow between and through each of the coupled conduit, and the connection will be essentially fluid-tight. For large diameter pipe, the manner of coupling may be made up of a plurality of single coupling members or a plurality of couplers devices configured to fit each to the other in sufficient numbers to completely wrap around the outer surface of the conduit being coupled.
The preferred form of the cooperating attaching components of the coupling members is similar in structure to that of “wire ties”, which, once attached are not readily unattachable. However, it is not necessary, and in many instances not desirable, to provide an attachment which is substantially unattachable. In many instances it is desirable to be able to decouple coupled conduit and to be able to reuse the coupler and/or the conduit.
Thus it is an advantage of the invention to provide a quick, effective, simple, safe and economical coupler device to connect adjacent ends of two pieces of conduit in fluid flow communication.
It is another advantage of the invention to provide a coupler device that can be permanently attached to conduit.
It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a coupler that is detachable such that the coupler and/or the conduit may be reused.
It is yet another advantage of the invention to provide a coupler device that can be easily used with conduit of various diameter by having one or more coupling members such that one coupling member may be used alone, or as many coupling members as necessary may by configured together to completely wrap around the outer surface of large(r) diameter conduit.
These and further advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and after a study of the present disclosure of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
The following is a description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is clear that there may be variations in the size and the shape of the coupling device, in the materials used in the construction and in the orientation of the various parts and the means for connection. However, the main features are consistent and the particular aspects, features and advantages are as noted.
In one embodiment of the invention, the detail of which is provided in drawing
There may also be corrugations 12c and/or 14c in the walls of one or both of the coupling members 12 and 14 which corrugations fit within and mate or interfit with at least one of the corrugations of corrugated conduit if corrugated conduit is being connected. However, as shown in
In addition, although also not shown, but easily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art without the need for specific illustration, there may be perforations in the coupling device 10. The perforations could be located in the wall of the coupling members 12, 14 and/or in the corrugations 12c/14c if the coupler 10 is corrugated. The perforations would be located, sized and spaced to mate, interfit, or align with perforations in perforated conduit or pipe if the coupling device were being used with perforated conduit in a septic, wastewater, or irrigation type application. Thus the perforations would assure that there would not be an area that is un-perforated where two pieces of conduit are joined, and would thereby assure that the coupling device would not disrupt passage of fluid into or out of the conduit through the walls of the conduit.
The inside diameter of the coupling device 10, when closed, is about equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of the conduit 8 being thereby coupled. The coupling device 10 for coupling conduit is substantially functional to maintain the connection of the coupled conduit 8, but not necessarily in a fluid-tight relationship. However, when considering gravity driven fluid flow, substantially all of the fluid will flow within and between each of the coupled conduit sections, thereby resulting in an essentially fluid-tight connection. However, the coupling device 10 may be made to be more fluid-tight by including an elastic material, (again not shown but easily understood, for example an “O-ring” type device), located on the interior surface of coupling members 12, 14 which, when the coupling device 10 is closed around the conduit 8, is compressed against the outer surface of the each of the conduit or pipe sections being connected or coupled. Such an elastic material could be one or more “O-ring” type structures (as would be known in the art for seal enhancement) used at the ends of coupling device 10, or could be a thin elastic material coating on the entire inner surface of coupling members 12, 14. In addition, there are clearly other ways to enhance the fluid-tight nature of the coupling if desired.
For illustration of the first embodiment of the coupling device 10 coupled around one section of conduit 8 (shown with only one section of conduit so the coupling mechanism can be seen), see in particular
Referring again to the preferred first embodiment, in greater detail; the first and second cooperating attaching components 16 comprise at least one insertion element or tab as the first attaching component 16, and at least one receiving element as the second attaching component 18. Insertion element(s) 16 is located at the outer end 12b of coupling member 12. Receiving element(s) 18 is located at the outer end 14b of coupling member 14. Each of the insertion elements or tabs 16 is insertable into the cooperating receiving element 18. Each of the insertion elements 16 also has a plurality of either dents, detents, scorings, or ridges 16a which slidingly interfit with either dents, detents, scorings, or ridges 18a within the receiving element 18. When the insertion element 16 is slid into or inserted into the receiving element 18, there is a substantial connection created which may or may not be easily disconnected depending upon the geometry of the cooperating dents, detents, scorings and ridges 16a and 18a. Greater detail of the dents, detents, scorings or ridges 16a can be seen in
Thus, the preferred means for forming the attachment of the ends of the coupling device 10 around the conduit 8 is somewhat similar to the ratchet type action of a “wire tie” in which attachment is easy as one end is slid into a slot in the other end, but detachment may be difficult or impossible due to the ridges on the tie. With the present invention attachment is either irreversible or reversible depending on the geometry and arrangement of the cooperating dents, detents, scorings, and ridges 16a, 18a.
There may also be a means 17 for limiting, or regulating, the degree of bend of the insertion component 16 located at the position where the first attaching component (or insertion element) 16 is contiguous with the first, or outer, end 12b of the coupling member 12. This means 17 for limiting or regulating the bend may be a bump or a ridge which contacts a stopping surface when the first cooperating attaching component 16 is bent past alignment with a tangent to the first, or outer, end 12b the coupling member 12. Greater detail of means 17 for limiting or regulating the degree of bend of the insertion component 16 can be seen in
At inner ends 12a and 14a is a hinge region 20. This hinge region 20 can be seen in
Finally, once the conduit has been coupled, the entire structure may be covered, (not shown), with a fabric covering if the conduit 8 and/or coupling device 10 is perforated and is being used in an irrigation, wastewater or septic application.
A second embodiment of the invention is a coupling device 10 having substantially the same function and purpose as that of the coupling device 10 of the first embodiment, but wherein the two coupling members 12 and 14, when hinged and positioned to connect two conduits, do not extend or wrap completely around the conduit because of the dimension of the circumference of the conduit being coupled. With larger such diameter conduit, coupling may be accomplished by connecting a plurality of individual coupling members 12 or 14, or a plurality of coupling devices 10, to each other in sufficient numbers to extend or wrap around such larger diameter conduit.
The dimensions of the coupling members 12,14 is such that there is required an even integer multiple (greater than two (2)) of coupling members 12,14 in order to fully wrap and connect the conduit. For example, where each of the coupling members 12, 14 is dimensioned to wrap about 180 degrees around the conduit, one coupling device 10 would be required which is according to the description of the first embodiment. Where the conduit is larger in diameter, each of the coupling members 12, 14 may be dimensioned to wrap for example about 90 degrees around the conduit, thereby requiring two coupling devices 10 comprised of four (4) total coupling members 12,14 with each of the coupling members having an inner surface with an arc length based upon about 90 degrees. Even larger conduit can be coupled where each of the coupling members 12,14 wraps 45 degrees around a conduit. In such an instance four (4) coupling devices 10 comprised of eight (8) total coupling members 12,14 would be required.
As in the first embodiment, with this second embodiment, or way of using the coupling device(s) 10, there may also be corrugations in the walls of one or both of the coupling members 12,14 which corrugations fit within and mate or interfit with at least one of the corrugations of corrugated conduit if corrugated conduit is being connected. With this second embodiment, as with the first embodiment, the inside diameter of an entire, connected coupling device is about equal to or slightly greater than the outside diameter of the conduit being thereby coupled. There may also be perforations located in the wall of coupling members 12, 14 of this embodiment if perforated conduit is being connected, as well as-perforations located in the corrugations in coupling members 12,14 if corrugated perforated conduit is being connected.
A third embodiment of the invention, as shown in
Using an appropriate number of the single coupling members 12′, conduits of various diameters may be coupled. Where corrugated pipe is being coupled, the inner surface of the single coupling member will have a means for interfitting with at least one of the corrugations of the corrugated conduit. In this example a plurality of corrugations 12c′ is shown. The single coupling member 12′ of this third embodiment is similar in configuration to the coupling members 12 and 14 of coupling device 10 but is not hinged, and has both the first and second cooperating attaching components 16′, 18′—one on each end. Single coupling member 12′ may also have a means 17′ for limiting or regulating the degree of bend permitted for the first cooperating attaching component(s) 16′. The means for regulating 17′ may be a bump or a ridge which contacts a stopping surface when the first cooperating attaching component 16′ is bent past alignment with a tangent to the first end 12b′ the coupling member 12′, such as during attachment of a coupling member 12′ to another coupling member 12′. This minimizes damage and breakage to coupling members during attachment of coupling members to each other.
As with the first and second embodiments, this third, single coupling member embodiment may include a plurality of perforations 12d′ in the wall of the coupling member 12′ if perforated conduit is being connected. Perforations may also be included on and in the corrugations 12c′ of coupling member 12′ if perforated corrugated conduit is being connected.
A fourth embodiment of the invention is a coupling device 10A for coupling smooth-walled conduit. A coupling device 10A for smooth-walled conduit is shown in
As with the previous three embodiments, and shown in
As noted above, in each of the four preferred embodiments of the invention there may also be a pressure producing element which increases coupling forces when the first and second cooperating attaching components 16, 16′, 16″, 16′″, 8, 18′, 18″, 18″′ are attached. The pressure producing element may simply be a lip which creates an outwardly directed force as the first and second cooperating attaching components are engaged. Again, while this feature is not shown in the drawing figures, from the foregoing description it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
It is thought that the present invention, the coupling device for coupling conduit, and most particularly for coupling corrugated pipe or other fluid conducting conduit structure for use within a drainage field, and many of its attendant advantages is understood from the foregoing description. It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment.
This application claims the benefit, under 35 USC 119(e), of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/241,511, filed Oct. 18, 2000 for Means for Coupling Conduit, by the same Inventor. This application also claims the benefit, under 35 USC 120, of prior U.S. Regular Application filed Oct. 17, 2001 for Means for Coupling Conduit, by the same Inventor.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60241511 | Oct 2000 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09982507 | Oct 2001 | US |
Child | 11017988 | Dec 2004 | US |