Abstract: A gasket, a spigot, a bell and method of using same for reducing the force required to assemble a pipe or fitting joint, the method including isolating the act of progressively increasing compression of a heel portion of the gasket from the act of progressively increasing compression of a sealing portion of the gasket as the spigot advances into the bell and a seal is formed between the gasket and the spigot and bell. To isolate progressively increasing compression of the heel portion from progressively compressing the sealing portion, peak compression of the heel portion between the spigot and the bell is experienced by the heel portion prior to any material compression of the sealing portion of the gasket between the spigot and the bell occurring.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting separation of joined pipes including providing within a pipe bell a gasket including rigid segments, each segment having bell teeth configured for engaging the bell and a spigot tooth configured for engaging a pipe spigot seated in the bell. Upon pressurization and over-pressurization of the joint, resulting axial forces exerted on the joint, which can cause pipes to separate, are countered by wedging the segments between the bell and the spigot and rotating each segment so that the thrust forces are directed radially. To prevent radially-directed thrust forces from damaging the joint through over-rotation of the segments, the bell teeth and the spigot tooth are adapted and arranged to maintain the thrust forces load path carried by each segment within a desired angular range relative to the spigot by transferring the load path between adjacent bell teeth whereby the effective length of each segment is increased.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to methods and systems for reinforcing a plastic pipe bell. The disclosure may include arranging a sleeve fabricated from a heat shrinkable plastic around the plastic pipe bell, and shrinking the sleeve around the plastic pipe bell thereby forming a first interference fit between the sleeve and the plastic pipe bell. The disclosure may further include inserting a spigot into the plastic pipe bell and shrinking the sleeve around the spigot thereby and forming a second interference fit directly between the sleeve and the spigot.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to methods for manufacturing an improved plastic pipe. One method includes the steps of: providing a plastic pipe; heating a plastic pipe; inserting a mandrel into the heated plastic pipe to form a bell socket end, wherein the mandrel includes a Rieber gasket and a dummy gasket spanning the outer surface of the mandrel; cooling the plastic pipe; and removing the mandrel from the plastic pipe, wherein the Rieber gasket and dummy gasket remain within a gasket cavity formed in the newly-formed bell socket end of the plastic pipe. The method results in the bell socket end of the pipe having an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the opposing, spigot end of the pipe, wherein the bell socket end further includes a gasket cavity with a greater diameter than the remainder of the bell socket end.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides a restrained pipe joint including a first pipe including a bell with a spigot entryway and a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket, each restraining segment including a toothed inner face and a smooth, sliding front radial face arranged to slide against the front radial wall of the annular groove and facilitate wedging of the segment between the plastic pipes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic pipe including covering the teeth of a plurality of restraining segments circumferentially arranged and embedded within an annular gasket with a covering and placing the annular gasket on a mandrel with the covering arranged between the restraining segments and mandrel. The annular gasket and mandrel and are inserted into an end of a heated plastic pipe for forming a socket in the end of the plastic pipe, the socket including an annular cavity formed by the annular gasket. Upon removal of the mandrel from the socket, the covering functions to prevent acutely pointed teeth of the restraining segments from impinging upon the mandrel thereby allowing removal of the mandrel from the socket without removal of the annular gasket from the annular cavity.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides an internally restrained pipe joint including a bell with a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of toothed, rigid restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.

Abstract: A gasket for preventing the separation of a pipe joint formed between plastic pipes such as pipes manufactured from PVC. The invention provides a restrained pipe joint including a first pipe including a bell with a spigot entryway and a substantially V-shaped annular groove. The annular groove includes a front radial wall and a rear radial wall and a gasket seated in the annular groove. The gasket includes an inner radial face, an opening defined by the inner radial face and an outer radial face with a front radial section located adjacent to the front radial wall of the annular groove and a rear radial section located adjacent to the rear radial wall of the annular groove. A plurality of restraining segments is at least partially embedded in the gasket.