Patents by Inventor Douglas R. Dole

Douglas R. Dole has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Pipe processing device having floating drive roller
    Patent number: 8302514
    Abstract: A device for processing a pipe has a bearing plate slidably mounted on a support plate. A drive roller, engageable with an inner surface of a pipe, is mounted on the bearing plate and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Support rollers, mounted on the support plate, engage and support the pipe against the drive roller. Springs are positioned in contact with the support plate and the bearing plate and bias the drive roller into engagement with the pipe. Variations in pipe wall thickness are compensated for by sliding motion of the bearing plate relatively to the support plate as the drive roller rotates and the pipe and the device move relatively to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventor: Douglas R. Dole
  • Pivoting Pipe Coupling Having a Movable Gripping Body
    Publication number: 20120256415
    Abstract: A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined at one end by a pivot attachment and at an opposite end by an adjustable connection member. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. A gripping body is captured between the segments. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces. The gripping body has angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping body radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping body engage and retain the pipe elements. A method of inserting pipe elements into the coupling while the segments and the gripping body are supported on a seal is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventor: Douglas R. Dole
  • Pipe Coupling Having Movable Gripping Bodies
    Publication number: 20120235405
    Abstract: A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation is disclosed. The coupling has segments joined end-to-end by adjustable connection members. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. One or more gripping bodies are captured between the segments. The gripping bodies are arranged opposite to each other. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping bodies radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping bodies engage and retain the pipe elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Michael V. Porter, Torrey G. Sipos
  • Coupling having angularly oriented key surfaces
    Patent number: 8267432
    Abstract: A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Each key is formed of a pair of side surfaces and a mid surface between them. The mid surface is angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. When used to couple pipe elements having grooves the angular orientation of the mid surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements end to end is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Madara, John W. Pierce, Charles E. Wilk, Douglas R. Dole, Michael V. Porter
  • Pipe Element Having Shoulder, Groove and Bead and Methods and Apparatus for Manufacture Thereof
    Publication number: 20120139236
    Abstract: A pipe element has a circumferential shoulder at one end. The shoulder has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe element. A groove is positioned adjacent to the shoulder. The groove has a floor surface with an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the pipe element. A bead is positioned contiguous with the groove. The bead has an apex with an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the pipe element. A combination of roller tools is used to cold work pipe elements and impart a desired shape to the sidewall in one method of manufacture. In another method, a spin forming tool is revolved in an orbit of increasing diameter within the pipe element captured within a die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Novitsky, Earl Haas, Charles E. Wilk, JR., Scott D. Madara, Anthony J. Cuvo, Douglas R. Dole
  • Pipe coupling having movable gripping bodies
    Patent number: 8177263
    Abstract: A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined end-to-end by adjustable connection members. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. One or more gripping bodies are captured between the segments. The gripping bodies are arranged opposite to each other. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces on the connection members. The gripping bodies have angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping bodies radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping bodies engage and retain the pipe elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Michael V. Porter, Torrey G. Sipos
  • Coupling having angularly oriented shoulder surfaces
    Patent number: 8136847
    Abstract: A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has a circumferentially extending cavity facing the central space flanked by arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Two arcuate shoulder surfaces are positioned on each segment. The arcuate shoulder surfaces face the central space and are positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the cavity between the cavity and the arcuate keys. The arcuate shoulder surfaces are angularly oriented with respect to an axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. The coupling is used to couple pipe elements having a circumferential ring located at the ends of the pipe elements. The angular orientation of the arcuate shoulder surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements having circumferential rings is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Madara, John W. Pierce, Vance W. Henry, Charles E. Wilk, Douglas R. Dole
  • Installation-ready pipe coupling method of manufacture
    Patent number: 8079129
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an installation-ready pipe coupling is disclosed. The method includes providing pipe coupling segments each having an initial radius of curvature and an initial subtended angle. The segments are each deformed so as to take a permanent set and have a final radius of curvature greater than the initial radius of curvature and a final subtended angle smaller than the initial subtended angle. The deformed segments are assembled in end-to-end relation using adjustably tightenable fasteners to form a coupling. The deformed segments are maintained in spaced relation so that pipe elements can be inserted between them without disassembly of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: John Gibb, Douglas R. Dole
  • Installation-ready pipe coupling method of manufacture
    Patent number: 8069547
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an installation-ready pipe coupling is disclosed. The method includes providing pipe coupling segments each having an initial radius of curvature and an initial subtended angle. The segments are each deformed so as to take a permanent set and have a final radius of curvature greater than the initial radius of curvature and a final subtended angle smaller than the initial subtended angle. The deformed segments are assembled in end-to-end relation using adjustably tightenable fasteners to form a coupling. The deformed segments are maintained in spaced relation so that pipe elements can be inserted between them without disassembly of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: John Gibb, Douglas R. Dole
  • PIPE COUPLING HAVING MOVABLE GRIPPING BODIES
    Publication number: 20110221189
    Abstract: A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined end-to-end by adjustable connection members. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. One or more gripping bodies are captured between the segments. The gripping bodies are arranged opposite to each other. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces on the connection members. The gripping bodies have angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping bodies radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping bodies engage and retain the pipe elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Michael V. Porter, Torrey G. Sipos
  • Method of joining pipes in end to end relation
    Patent number: 7996981
    Abstract: A method for connecting pipe elements together end to end. The method includes providing a coupling having a plurality of segments with at least one camming surface, the segments being joined end to end by a plurality of adjustably tightenable fasteners, positioning a first and a second of the pipe elements in end to end relation, positioning the segments surrounding the ends of the pipe elements, engaging the camming surfaces on the segments with grooves on the pipe elements and tightening the fasteners so as to draw the segments toward one another. The camming surfaces slide into the grooves and move the first and second pipe elements away from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo
  • Tee fitting
    Patent number: D656225
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Francis J. Giacalone, Scott D. Madara
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665056
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665059
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665060
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665061
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr.
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Wilk, Jr., Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara
  • Pipe coupling segment
    Patent number: D665889
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Dole, Anthony J. Cuvo, Scott D. Madara, Charles E. Wilk, Jr.