US 12,031,647 B2
Wide range coupling
Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu, Oswego, IL (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/124,912.
Application 17/124,912 is a continuation of application No. 15/649,022, filed on Jul. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,941,887.
Prior Publication US 2021/0102647 A1, Apr. 8, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16L 21/02 (2006.01); F16L 21/03 (2006.01); F16L 21/08 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 21/022 (2013.01) [F16L 21/03 (2013.01); F16L 21/08 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling comprising:
a body defining a first body end, the body defining a body bore extending into the first body end, the body bore defining an axis;
a first end ring comprising a first ring shoulder positioned over the first body end;
a spreader mechanism comprising a jack bolt coupled to the first end ring and configured to mechanically engage the first end ring; and
a joint restraint assembly coupled to and extending from the first ring shoulder, the joint restraint assembly comprising:
a restraint base coupled to the body, the restraint base defining a restraint pocket and a restraint pivot disposed within the restraint pocket;
a gripper disposed within the restraint pocket, wherein the gripper is rotatable about the restraint pivot within the restraint pocket between a disengaged configuration defining an axially innermost configuration and an activated configuration defining an axially outermost configuration within the restraint pocket when a pipe end is inserted into the body bore; and
a spring engaging the gripper, the spring biasing the gripper inwards towards the axis.