US 11,982,386 B2
Process for producing gripping elements for sealing and restraint systems for fluid pipelines and pipe joints produced thereby
Mark A. Weih, San Jose (CR)
Assigned to S & B Technical Products, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by S & B Technical Products, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on May 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,158.
Prior Publication US 2022/0373117 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 37/091 (2006.01); B22F 3/16 (2006.01); B22F 3/20 (2006.01); B22F 3/22 (2006.01); B22F 3/24 (2006.01); B22F 5/08 (2006.01); B23P 15/00 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC F16L 37/091 (2013.01) [B22F 3/16 (2013.01); B22F 3/20 (2013.01); B22F 3/225 (2013.01); B22F 3/24 (2013.01); B22F 5/08 (2013.01); B23P 15/00 (2013.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); B22F 2003/247 (2013.01); B22F 2301/35 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49428 (2015.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a hardened gripping element for a sealing and restraint system used for forming a pipe joint in a water or sewer fluid pipeline of the type used in the waterworks industry, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a starting material comprised of an interfacially modified particulate and polymer composite material, the starting material comprising a metal particulate phase and a polymer phase;
forming a green metal composite article by either extruding the starting material or molding the starting material into a metal polymer composite article having at least one gripping surface having a plurality of gripping teeth;
thermally debinding and sintering the green metal composite article to produce a finished or near finished hardened gripping element; and
wherein the finished hardened gripping element is further characterized as having a linear shrinkage of less than 10%.