Abstract: A cap assembly is shown for a right of way line marker which includes a cap body with a conical exterior and an end opening. A mounting assembly including a lower, stationary disk and an upper, sliding disk are received within the end opening of the cap body. The lower disk has an aperture therein for receiving the upper end of a vertical support member. The upper sliding disk is positionable within the cap open interior upon contact with the upper end of the support member to thereby securely mount the cap assembly about the right of way line marker.

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. The gasket includes a ring shaped body which, when viewed in cross-section includes a leading nose region and a generally planar lower compression region, the leading nose region being joined to the lower compression region by a leading sloped surface region which forms an alignment ramp to guide a mating spigot end during insertion and which defines an angle .alpha. with respect to a horizontal axis drawn parallel to a central axis of the pipe, the lower compression region being joined to a secondary seal surface by a vertical lip portion which terminates in a trailing surface which defines a second angle .beta. with respect to the horizontal axis drawn parallel to the central axis of the pipe. The presence of the generally planar lower compression region prevents the vertical lip portion from bending backward under pressure loading and wherein the angles .alpha. and .beta.

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. The gasket has a ring shaped body of an elastomeric material and includes a metal reinforcing band. The metal reinforcing band has an angular profile, when viewed in cross-section, with an apex which is embedded within the gasket body but lies in close proximity to an exterior surface of the gasket. The apex provides a reinforced contact point during belling operations but is isolated from surrounding liquids passing through a pipe joint.

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. The gasket includes a ring shaped body which, when viewed in cross-section includes a leading nose region and a lower compression region. The leading nose region is joined to the lower compression region by a leading curved surface region which defines an angle .alpha. with respect to a horizontal axis drawn parallel to the central axis of the pipe. The lower compression region is joined to a secondary seal surface by a trailing curved surface region which defines a second angle .beta. with respect to the horizontal axis drawn parallel to the central axis of the pipe. The angles .alpha. and .beta. are selected to minimize the insertion force required when inserting the male spigot end within the female socket end of the pipe joint while guiding the spigot end and maintaining a compression seal between the pipe sections.

Abstract: A method is shown for installing a pipe gasket within the bell end of a pipe section. The bell end is oriented along a horizontal work axis. The annular gasket is inserted within the mouth opening of the bell end of the pipe. The gasket is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal axis, whereby a leading edge of the annular gasket moves past the annular groove provided in the bell end and a trailing edge of the gasket engages the annular groove. A retracting force is exerted on the gasket by pulling the leading edge backwards in the direction of the mouth opening of the bell end of the pipe until the gasket snaps into a lock-in position within the annular groove. The gasket body has an embedded relatively rigid ring which is precisely located to ensure that the gasket, once in snap-fit position, is securely retained within the gasket groove and cannot be displaced.

Abstract: An improved pipe belling process is shown which features a mandrel having spring loaded detents at one circumferential position on an outer working surface. A gasket is installed on the outer working surface in abutment with the exposed detents. The heated socket end of a thermoplastic pipe is forced over the mandrel exterior and over the gasket with the detents in an extended position. This action causes the heated socket end of the pipe to flow over the gasket and form a retention groove for retaining the gasket before again contacting the working surface of the mandrel. The heated end of the pipe is cooled and retracted from the working surface of the mandrel. The retraction step serves to force the spring loaded detents to the retracted position to allow travel of the thermoplastic pipe over the working surface of the mandrel with the gasket being retained within the formed groove.

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. The gasket has a ring shaped body of an elastomeric material and includes a metal reinforcing ring. The elastomeric body includes a first portion of relatively low durometer rubber and a second portion of a relatively high durometer rubber. The regions of relative hardness and the placement of the reinforcing ring assist in retention of the gasket during the pipe belling process and in field installation.

Abstract: An interlocking restraint plastic pipe joining system is shown which features female and male end connections for adjacent lengths of pipe. The female end connection has at least one radially extending indention or protrusion within the mouth opening thereof. The male end connection has at least one radially extending protrusion or indention formed on an exterior surface thereof. The indention and protrusion matingly engage in snap fit fashion as the joint is formed by forcing the male connection axially into the female connection.

Abstract: A pipe gasket is shown for use in forming a joint made up of an outer pipe having an annular groove therein for receiving the gasket and an inner pipe inserted within the outer pipe. The gasket includes a body formed from a resilient material having an interior and an exterior. The interior of the body includes a first portion formed of a hard, relatively high durometer material which is initially contacted by the inner pipe and a second portion formed of a relatively lower durometer, more flexible material. The second portion includes an inwardly extending projection which forms a primary sealing surface with respect to the inner pipe when the inner and outer pipes are assembled. Because the entry region initially contacted by the inner pipe is formed of a higher durometer material, the gasket tends to securely maintain its position within the outer pipe groove during the installation of the inner pipe.