Abstract: A method for joining molecularly oriented pipe in which a coupling is provided which is formed of a material other than molecularly oriented pipe, such as ordinary PVC pipe. The coupling if formed as a tubular body with a combination sealing and restraint mechanism located in each of two opposing end openings of the coupling that seal and restrain mating plain spigot ends of the molecularly oriented pipe. Because the coupling is made of a material such as ordinary PVC, the sealing and restraint mechanisms can be installed in internal grooves provided in the coupling interior during normal pipe belling operations without introducing unacceptable levels of stress or strain into the product.

Abstract: A restrained pipe joining system is shown comprising male and female ends each having aligned circumferential grooves which form a canal for passage of a locking key strap. During manufacture, the female belled end is sequentially formed over a Rieber style gasket and then over a ring shaped casing member having an inner circumferential groove formed on its inner circumferential surface. Preferably, the ring shaped casing has circumferentially spaced teeth that act as a pipe stop in cooperation with an outer circumferential groove on the male spigot to index the pipes to be coupled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining plastic pipe against both internal and external forces at a pipe or fitting connection and to join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline is shown featuring an improved restraining and sealing mechanism. The restraining and sealing mechanism includes a circumferential housing and a companion sealing ring which are received within a mating groove provided in the belled end of a female pipe. The circumferential housing has an interior region which contains a gripping ring insert. The sealing ring and housing are integrally located within a belled pipe end during belling operations. Either the exterior of the gripping ring or the interior of the housing is provided with a low friction coating.

Abstract: A combination sealing and restraint system for an as-cast ductile iron fitting is shown for both sealing and preventing separation of an iron pipe fitting and a mating male pipe. A ring-shaped body is installed within a mating groove provided in a mouth region of the as-cast fitting after the fitting has been cast at the manufacturing plant. The ring-shaped body carries a gripping member with teeth on an inner surface thereof which are initially angled away from an outer surface of a mating male pipe. The teeth are forced into engagement with the exterior surface of the mating male pipe as the pipe joint at the fitting is assembled. The teeth are oriented to allow movement of the male pipe in a first direction relative to an end opening of the fitting during assembly, but to resist movement in a opposite direction after the fitting joint has been assembled. The ring-shaped body also includes a relatively flexible portion formed of an elastomer which forms a sealing member with the mating male pipe.

Abstract: A combination sealing and restraint system for an as-cast ductile iron fitting is shown for both sealing and preventing separation of an iron pipe fitting and a mating male pipe. A ring-shaped body is installed within a mating groove provided in a mouth region of the as-cast fitting after the fitting has been cast at the manufacturing plant. The ring-shaped body is formed of an injection molded elastomeric material and carries a series of gripping segments which have teeth on an inner surface thereof which are designed to engage an outer surface of a mating male pipe. The teeth are oriented to allow movement of the male pipe in a first direction relative to an end opening of the fitting during assembly, but to resist movement in a opposite direction after the fitting joint has been assembled. The gripping segments have shelf regions which are mechanically secured to the elastomeric body of the gasket.

Abstract: A sealing gasket is shown for use in a ductile iron piping system to form a sealed joint between mating male and female pipe ends. A sealing gasket body is provided with a series of retainer inserts which extend outwardly from a leading nose region of the elastomeric gasket body. The mating male pipe end contacts the retainer inserts prior to contacting the remainder of the gasket body during the make up of the pipe joint. The inserts help to retain the gasket within its associated groove during high pressure field conditions. The inserts are spaced circumferentially about the gasket nose region, allowing the gasket the necessary flexibility to allow insertion within the groove provided in the female, belled pipe end.

Abstract: A combination sealing and restraint system for an as-cast ductile iron fitting is shown for both sealing and preventing separation of an iron pipe fitting and a mating male pipe. A ring-shaped body is installed within a mating groove provided in a mouth region of the as-cast fitting after the fitting has been cast at the manufacturing plant. The ring-shaped body is formed of an injection molded elastomeric material and carries a series of gripping segments which have teeth on an inner surface thereof which are designed to engage an outer surface of a mating male pipe. The teeth are oriented to allow movement of the male pipe in a first direction relative to an end opening o f the fitting during assembly, but to resist movement in a opposite direction after the fitting joint has been assembled. The gripping segments are mechanically bonded to the elastomeric body of the gasket during the injection molding operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining pipe against internal forces at a pipe or fitting connection and to join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline is shown featuring an improved restraining/sealing mechanism. The restraining/sealing mechanism includes a relatively rigid gripper ring and a companion sealing ring which are received within one or more mating grooves provided in the belled end of a female pipe. The gripper ring and sealing ring can be combined or attached, or they can be separate members located in the same retaining groove or separate grooves in the female belled pipe end.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within a socket end of a thermoplastic pipe such as PVC pipe used in municipal water and sewer installations. The gasket has a ring shaped body of an elastomeric material and includes a metal reinforcing band. The metal reinforcing band is entirely embedded within the body of elastomeric material during the gasket manufacturing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for restraining pipe against both internal and external forces at a pipe or fitting connection and to join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline featuring an improved restraining and sealing mechanism. The restraining and sealing mechanism includes a circumferential housing and a companion sealing ring which are received within a mating groove provided in the belled end of a female pipe. The circumferential housing has an interior region which contains a gripping ring insert. The sealing ring and housing are integrally located within a belled pipe end during belling operations.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within a socket end of a thermoplastic pipe in a pipe sealing system. The sealing system includes a male, spigot pipe end which is joined to a mating female belled pipe end. The belled pipe end has an internal groove adjacent a mouth region thereof which is simultaneously formed under temperature and pressure as the mouth region is forced over a forming mandrel and about a sealing gasket located on the forming mandrel so that the sealing gasket is prelocated within the internal groove. The sealing gaskets of the invention have a specially designed sealing capability to seal volume ratio.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within the belled, socket end of a plastic pipe. The sealing gasket has a body formed of resilient material and has a retainer ring embedded therein which circumscribes the gasket body. The groove in the plastic pipe is preformed during the manufacture of the plastic pipe and the gasket is installed thereafter. The gasket nominal diameter exceeds the internal diameter of the belled pipe end. The retainer ring is placed within the body of the sealing gasket at a precisely determined location which most effectively retains the ring in position while withstanding the forces of the assembly of the pipe joint.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within a belled, socket end of a plastic pipe. The groove in the plastic pipe is preformed during manufacture and the gasket is installed thereafter. The gasket nominal diameter exceeds the internal diameter of the belled pipe end. A special installation tool is used to pull the gasket from an initially deformed, elliptical shape to a normal cylindrical shape. The installation tool uses only one fluid cylinder for power and can be hand installed and operated.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within the belled, socket end of a plastic pipe. The sealing gasket has a body formed of resilient material and has a retainer ring embedded therein which circumscribes the gasket body. The groove in the plastic pipe is preformed during the manufacture of the plastic pipe and the gasket is installed thereafter. The gasket nominal diameter exceeds the internal diameter of the belled pipe end. The retainer ring is placed within the body of the sealing gasket at a precisely determined location which most effectively retains the ring in position while withstanding the forces of the assembly of the pipe joint.

Abstract: A restraining gasket for both sealing and preventing separation of a pipe joint used to join a bell end of a female ductile iron pipe to the male end of a mating ductile iron pipe. The gasket has a body formed from a compressible elastomeric material having a hardened metal ring located therein with gripping teeth. The hardened ring has an opening at one point in its circumference which is filled with rubber. The rubber-filled gap ensures that the gasket body seals first prior to engagement of the gripping teeth as the pipe joint is assembled.

Abstract: A seismic coupling is provided for coupling a first longitudinal section of plain end plastic pipe to a second longitudinal section of plastic pipe. The coupling is provided in two halves with a left half being initially installed on the plain end of the first section of pipe. An internal shoulder is fused onto the first section of pipe and a right half of the coupling is then fused onto the left half to capture the first end of pipe within the coupling. The second pipe end is then installed within an end opening of the coupling and held in position by a connector installed between the right half of the coupling and the second pipe end. Internal seals are provided for sealing the first and second pipe ends within the interior of the coupling.

Abstract: A manhole assembly for a manhole having generally cylindrical sidewalls defined between an outside surface and an inside surface separated by a wall thickness and having a wall opening communicating the outside and inside sidewall surfaces of the manhole for insertion of a mating pipe. The wall opening defines a peripheral surface relatively perpendicular to the outside and inside sidewall surfaces which receives a ring shaped elastomeric gasket. The gasket has a retaining ring whose location is precisely determined to allow the gasket to be obliquely inserted within the wall opening of the manhole and to be subsequently snap-fitted into position on the peripheral surface, whereby the gasket is securely retained in a locked-in position with respect to the wall opening in the sidewall of the manhole.

Abstract: A combination sealing and restraint system for an as-cast ductile iron fitting is shown for both sealing and preventing separation of an iron pipe fitting and a mating male pipe. The restraint system includes both a sealing ring and a combination gripping ring which are installed in a groove provided in a mouth region of the iron fitting. The gripping ring has teeth on an inner surface which are initially angled away from an outer surface of the male pipe. The teeth are forced into engagement with the exterior surface of the mating male pipe as the pipe joint at the fitting is assembled. The teeth are oriented to allow movement of the male pipe in a first direction relative to an end opening of the fitting during assembly, but to resist movement in a opposite direction after the fitting joint has been assembled. The sealing ring and gripping ring are installed in the annular groove of the as-cast iron fitting after the iron casting operation at the factory.