Abstract: A restrained pipe joining system for plastic pipe is shown comprising male and female ends each having aligned circumferential grooves which form a canal for passage of a locking keystrap. The keystrap can be formed of PEEK or PEEK reinforced with glass fiber. During manufacture, the female belled end is sequentially formed over a Rieber style gasket and then over a ring-shaped casing member. The casing member is also formed from polymeric composite materials. In some cases, the casing is reinforced with an internal metal band.

Abstract: A restrained pipe joining system for plastic pipe is shown comprising male and female pipe ends, the male pipe end having an external circumferential groove and the female pipe end having an internal recess which contains a circumferential casing element, the casing element receives a non-circular click fit restraint ring which engages the external circumferential groove of the male pipe end during the make-up of the pipe ends to form a sealed and restrained pipe joint.

Abstract: A pipe belling process where a heated thermoplastic pipe end is forced over a sealing gasket on a forming mandrel, with the pipe being subsequently cooled to retain the gasket in an internal groove simultaneously formed in the pipe end. The sealing gasket is a two-component gasket with an elastic component and a plastic component. The elastic component is stretched over a portion of the plastic component during assembly with the plastic component acting as a belling ramp for the gasket during the subsequent pipe belling operation.

Abstract: A restrained pipe joining system for plastic pipe is shown comprising male and female pipe ends, the male pipe end having an external circumferential groove and the female pipe end having an internal recess which contains a circumferential casing element, the casing element receives a non-circular click fit restraint ring which engages the external circumferential groove of the male pipe end during the make-up of the pipe ends to form a sealed and restrained pipe joint.

Abstract: A reinforced gasket for sealing a manhole, the gasket comprising a reinforcement ring having an upper surface and a generally planar lower surface; and a sealing assembly comprising a first ring and a second ring with an intermediate member extending between the first ring and the second ring, the intermediate member defining a contact surface; wherein the reinforcement ring is disposed between the first ring and the second ring of the sealing assembly such that the upper surface of the reinforcement ring is in contact with the contact surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be used in making up a sealed pipe joint in a plastic pipeline conveying fluids, such as a water or sewer pipeline. The sealing gasket is a two-component gasket with an elastomeric component and a plastic component. The elastomeric component is stretched over a portion of the plastic component during assembly. Since the two components of the gasket are not permanently bonded to one another, the gasket can be disassembled, allowing various combination s of seal and retainer designs. The gasket can be removed and replace by another gasket after the initial installation. The hard plastic component can be provided with a gripping structure which acts as a restraint mechanism when the sealing gasket is in use.

Abstract: A reinforced gasket for sealing a manhole, the gasket comprising a reinforcement ring having an upper surface and a generally planar lower surface; and a sealing assembly comprising a first ring and a second ring with an intermediate member extending between the first ring and the second ring, the intermediate member defining a contact surface; wherein the reinforcement ring is disposed between the first ring and the second ring of the sealing assembly such that the upper surface of the reinforcement ring is in contact with the contact surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A mechanism 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 restraint mechanism. The restraint mechanism includes a circumferential casing and a companion grip ring, both of which are received within a mating groove provided in the belled end of a female pipe. The grip ring is made up of a series of arc-shaped gripping elements which are interconnected by discrete elastomeric segments. The gripping elements are separated by gaps so that a flexible hinge region is created by the elastomeric segments between adjacent gripping elements. The elastomeric segments provide both axial and radial spring action to the assembly.

Abstract: A restrained pipe joining system for plastic pipe is shown comprising male and female ends each having aligned circumferential grooves which form a canal for passage of a locking keystrap. The keystrap can be formed of PEEK or PEEK reinforced with glass fiber. During manufacture, the female belled end is sequentially formed over a Rieber style gasket and then over a ring-shaped casing member. The casing member is also formed from polymeric composite materials. In some cases, the casing is reinforced with an internal metal band.

Abstract: A sealing gasket is shown which is used to seal the belled end opening of a female ductile iron pipe to a mating male pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The sealing gasket has an annular gasket body made of a resilient elastomeric material which is bonded to a hard plastic reinforcing band. The annular gasket body is installed within a raceway provided in the mouth region of the female ductile iron pipe so that an outer circumferential region forms a seal with the female pipe mouth region and an inner circumferential region forms a sealing surface for the exterior surface of the mating male pipe. The reinforcing band has a circumferential body which is made of a synthetic polymer which has a greater hardness than the elastomeric material of the remainder of the gasket body.

Abstract: A mechanism 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 restraint mechanism. The restraint mechanism includes a circumferential casing and a companion grip ring, both of which are received within a mating groove provided in the belled end of a female pipe. The grip ring is made up of a series of arc-shaped gripping elements which are interconnected by discrete elastomeric segments. The gripping elements are separated by gaps so that a flexible hinge region is created by the elastomeric segments between adjacent gripping elements. The elastomeric segments provide both axial and radial spring action to the assembly.

Abstract: A pipe belling process where a heated thermoplastic pipe end is forced over a sealing gasket on a forming mandrel, with the pipe being subsequently cooled to retain the gasket in an internal groove simultaneously formed in the pipe end. The sealing gasket is a two-component gasket with an elastic component and a plastic component. The elastic component is stretched over a portion of the plastic component during assembly with the plastic component acting as a belling ramp for the gasket during the subsequent pipe belling operation.

Abstract: A pipe joining system and pipe joint are shown m which two sections of molecularly oriented pipe are joined using heat shrinking techniques. A first section of pipe is provided having a straight, pre-formed socket with an internal diameter and with an end opening having enough clearance to allow a mating spigot section having a given external diameter to be inserted into the socket end opening. After the spigot end is inserted to a given depth, the socket is heated sufficiently so that the internal diameter of the socket end comes into contact with the external diameter of the spigot end, the molecularly oriented pipe being in a rubbery state and exhibiting a low elastic modulus which allows the socket end to conform tightly to the spigot end external diameter without deforming the spigot end.

Abstract: A sealing gasket is shown which is used to seal the belled end opening of a female ductile iron pipe to a mating male pipe having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The sealing gasket has an annular gasket body made of a resilient elastomeric material which is bonded to a hard plastic reinforcing band. The annular gasket body is installed within a raceway provided in the mouth region of the female ductile iron pipe so that an outer circumferential region forms a seal with the female pipe mouth region and an inner circumferential region forms a sealing surface for the exterior surface of the mating male pipe. The reinforcing band has a circumferential body which is made of a synthetic polymer which has a greater hardness than the elastomeric material of the remainder of the gasket body.

Abstract: A pipe joining system and pipe joint are shown in which two sections of plastic pipe, particularly molecularly oriented pipe, are joined. A ring-shaped elastomeric body is installed within a mating groove provided in a mouth region of female pipe section. The ring-shaped body is formed of an injection molded elastomeric material which is joined to a series of arcuate gripping segments which have teeth on an inner surface thereof which are designed to engage an outer surface of a mating male pipe section to restrain movement of the male pipe after assembly of a pipe joint. The gripping segments are separated by a gap which is open prior to assembly, but which closes during assembly. Each of the segments also has a positive stop feature to prevent over travel of the male pipe section relative to the female pipe section.

Abstract: A seating and restraint system is shown for joining the spigot and socket ends of two sections of plastic pipe to form a pipe joint. The socket pipe ends are preformed at the factory with an internal raceway which receives both a sealing ring and a companion gripping ring. The sealing ring is an elastomeric member having a periphery with a protruding ear formed at one circumferential location. The companion gripping ring is a hardened member having one opening gap in the circumference thereof. The protruding ear on the sealing ring fits within the opening gap in the gripping ring, engagement of the protruding ear within the opening gap serving to prevent extrusion of the sealing ring within the gap in the gripping ring and also limiting closure of the gripping ring after engagement of the spigot end with the socket pipe end as the pipe joint is assembled.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a raceway provided within the female, belled end of a section of plastic pipe which is assembled with a mating male pipe end to form a plastic pipe joint. The gasket is made up of a hard plastic band having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, and two separated elastomer portions. A first of the separated elastomer portions forms an outer ring which circumscribes the outer circumferential surface of the hard plastic band. The second of the separated elastomer portions forms an inner lip which circumscribes the inner circumferential surface of the hard plastic band. The two separate elastomer portions are connected during the gasket molding operation by a series of spaced ribs which form a continuous body of elastomer connecting the first and second separated elastomer portions at spaced intervals.

Abstract: A reinforced gasket for sealing a manhole, the gasket comprising a reinforcement ring having an upper surface and a generally planar lower surface; and a sealing assembly comprising a first ring and a second ring with an intermediate member extending between the first ring and the second ring, the intermediate member defining a contact surface; wherein the reinforcement ring is disposed between the first ring and the second ring of the sealing assembly such that the upper surface of the reinforcement ring is in contact with the contact surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a raceway provided within the female, belled end of a section of plastic pipe which is assembled with a mating male pipe end to form a plastic pipe joint. The gasket is made up of a hard plastic band having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface, and two separated elastomer portions. A first of the separated elastomer portions forms an outer ring which circumscribes the outer circumferential surface of the hard plastic band. The second of the separated elastomer portions forms an inner lip which circumscribes the inner circumferential surface of the hard plastic band. The two separate elastomer portions are connected during the gasket molding operation by a series of spaced ribs which form a continuous body of elastomer connecting the first and second separated elastomer portions at spaced intervals.