CA2179220A1

CA2179220A1 - Restrained sealed bolted joints of fluid piping systems, inclusive of an improved gland, an added compression control ring, and/or added skid pads placed on a grip ring

Info

Publication number: CA2179220A1
Application number: CA002179220A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert J. Richardson
Original assignee: Romac Industries Inc
Current assignee: Romac Industries Inc
Priority date: 1996-06-13
Filing date: 1996-06-17
Publication date: 1997-12-14
Also published as: US5803513A

Abstract

In restrained sealed bolted joints of fluid piping systems, including both plastic and metallic pipe, improvements have previously been made in providing adequate grip rings to keep the inserted ends of pipe in place. When larger diameter pipes, especially larger diameter plastic pipes, were inserted into these sealed bolted joints, some difficulties were encountered.
Therefore, a compression control ring is now provided to controllably transfer and to limit the tightening force component, which moves the gasket into sealing contacts with the respective pipe sections being joined. Also circumferentially spaced skid pads are positioned about each grip ring, assuring each respective grip ring will not prematurely commence gripping a pipe. In addition, the gland has been improved, so any possible large assembly forces, or any large fluid pressures in the piping system will not be effective in distorting the gland.

Description

2t 79220 2 As set forth in the background of U.S. Patent 5,335,946 3 entitled Cooperating Combination of a Gland and a Grip Ring 4 Installed in Restrained Sealed Bolted Joints of Fluid Piping Systems, Including Both Plastic Pipe and Metallic Pipe, and as 6 set forth in the Patent 5,335,946, improvements have been made to 7 ~ake the resulting restrained sealed bolted joints very effective 8 throughout their operating life.
9 In U.S. Patent No. 4,878,698 of 1989, R. Fowler Gilchrist illustrates and describes his metallic gland and metallic 11 gripping ring used in restraining sealed bolted pipe joints of 12 fluid piping systems, which include both plastic and metallic 13 pipes. The gripping ring utilizes all alike teeth.
14 Also in respect to the use of plastic pipe in piping systems, Gerald L. Anderson and Phillip E. Frair, in their U.S.
16 Patent No. 4,569,542 of 1986, illustrated and described how the 17 components of their bolted together, restrained pipe coupling are 18 designed to provide clearance functions, so when the bolt 19 fasteners are tightened, the gasket sealing pressures are achieved about the respective plastic pipe ends sequentially 21 before an effective grip on the respective plastic pipes is 22 attained by the respective lock ring, i.e. grip ring.
23 Then in U.S. Patent No. 5,335,946 of 1994, a cooperating 24 combination of a metallic gland and a metallic grip ring is illustrated and described when used with both plastic pipe and ROY E MATTERN JR
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8E~LEVUE W~S~INGTON 95305 (20~5! 6~'-9000 1 metallic pipe, which in turn are used in fluid piping systems, 2 where these pipes are part of assembled restrained sealed bolted 3 joints. The grip ring, in addition to two well spaced major 4 sized teeth, has several spaced minor sized pipe gripping circumferential teeth located between and beyond the major sized 6 teeth. The major sized teeth extend radially inwardly farther 7 than the minor sized teeth within the grip ring. When the 8 installed grip ring is restraining a metallic pipe, only the 9 major size teeth are, in part, penetrating the metallic pipe.
When this installed grip ring is restraining a plastic pipe both 11 the major size teeth and the minor size teeth are penetrating the 12 plastic pipe. The major size teeth take a lot of concentrated 13 force, which is created when the fasteners of the bolted joint 14 are .ightened. The minor size teeth, which are closer together, are needed to provide more tooth contact area to spread out the 16 restraining forces needed to hold the relatively weaker plastic 17 pipes of comparable outside diameters within their respective 18 restrained sealed bolted joints.
19 All these improvements have resulted in gainful advances in providing restrained sealed bolted joints of fluid piping 21 systems, including both plastic pipe and metallic pipe. Yet, 22 when larger diameter pipes were to be utilized in these fluid 23 piping systems, and especially when such systems were under 24 higher pressures, improvements were still needed to insure that restrained sealed bolted joints could be relied on, without the ROY E MATTERN JR

EE-LEVUE WASHlNGTO\i9&~55 (20~' 661-~J

.

1 addition of supplemental restraining structures.

4 In developing and utilizing restrained sealed bolted joints of fluid piping systems, which include both plastic and metallic 6 pipes, improvements have been made in respect to using the glands 7 and the grip rings, such as illustrated and described in U.S.
8 Patent 5,335,946. Especially in respect to fluid piping systems, 9 having pipes of larger diameters, additional effective improvements have now been made, which also are effective in 11 respect to their use in many types and sizes of restrained sealed 12 bolted joints. Each improvement is independently effective.
13 ~owever, when two improvements are used, a more effective result 14 is obtained. Then when all three improvements are used, a very effective result is obtained, in creating an excellent restrained 16 sealed bolted joint.
17 One improvement centers on the utilization of an integral 18 compression control ring, formed, in respect to its cross 19 section, to have, at preferably spaced circumferential locations, radially extending stop tabs. When a restrained sealed bolted 21 joint, following the starting assembly thereof, is being 22 tightened, as bolt and nut fasteners are being tightened, in 23 respect to a preferred embodiment, a longitudinal extending 24 portion of this compression control ring is receiving the closing 2~ component of force transmitted via the grip ring. Then via an ROY ~ MATT~RN JR

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21 7~220 1 oppositely directed longitudinal extending portion of this 2 compression control ring, this closing component of the force is 3 transmitted to the gasket to insure the gasket will sealably 4 contact both of the pipe sections. ~owever, to protect the gasket from receiving more force than necessary to sealably 6 contact both the pipe sections, the stop tabs timely contact the 7 flange of a pipe being sealably connected to the other pipe, 8 whose end has been inserted beyond this flange.
9 A second improvement centers on an improved gland having an integral longitudinal rim like extension, also referred to as a 11 backward extension, which substantially reduces any tendency of 12 this improved gland to noticeably deflect upon the tightening of 13 the nuts on the bolts of this bolted joint, or later when fluids 14 under high pressures are being controlled in the overall fluid piping system.
16 A third improvement centers on the utilization of skid pads.
17 Preferably, at least three of them, are circumferentially spaced 18 about a respective grip ring. These skid pads insure that the 19 grip ring will reach its proper location before completing its pipe gripping function. They provide a respective sliding 21 surface structure, keeping the pipe gripping circumferential 22 teeth of the grip ring from prematurely contacting the outer 23 surface structure of a pipe. Yet, when the grip ring is reaching 24 and has reached its proper position, then the pipe gripping circumferential teeth radially penetrate through the curved lower pov E ~ TTERN JR
13~15 5 E 30TH
BELLEVUE W~S~IINSTON 9830' (2061 6~'-9~

1 surface structure of each skid pad to complete the effective grip 2 on the inserted plain end of the one overall pipe section.

DRAWINGS
6 The additional utilizations of a compression control ring, 7 and/or a skid pad, and/or an improved gland, in a cooperating 8 combination of a gland and a grip ring, installed in restrained 9 sealed bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, of fluid piping systems, including both plastic and metallic pipe, 11 are illustrated in the drawings wherein:
12 Figure 1 is an isometric view, with some portions removed, 13 illustrating a fluid piping system locale, where these additional 14 utilizations of compression control rings, skid pads, and/or improved glands are installed with grip rings;
16 Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view, with some portions 17 removed, illustrating a plain end of a pipe to be sealed, an 18 improved gland, a grip ring having skid pads spaced about it, a 19 compression control ring, a gasket, and another other pipe to be sealed having its flange;
21 Figure 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the components 22 shown in figure 2 with the addition of a T bolt and nut, 23 illustrating their relative positioning before the bolted joint 24 is tightened;
Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the components ROY E MhTTERN, JC
13415 S E 30Ttl EELLElIUE. WASI'll''IGTON 93005 (205~ ~s41-9ooo 1 shown in figures 2 and 3, illustrating their positioning after 2 the bolted joint is tightened;
3 Figure S is an enlarged partial cross section of the grip 4 ring having uniform pipe gripping circumferential teeth covered by a skid pad, at a locale where the grip ring is able to slide 6 into position before these teeth make contact with the outer 7 surface structure of a plastic pipe;
8 Figure 6 is an enlarged partial cross section of the grip g ring having uniform pipe gripping circumferential teeth covered by a skid pad, at a locale where the grip ring is gripping the 11 outer surface structure of a plastic pipe;
12 Figure 7 is an enlarged partial cross section of the grip 13 ring having a combination of larger and smaller pipe gripping 14 circumferential teeth covered by a skid pad, at a locale where the grip ring is able to slide into position before these teeth 16 make contact with the outer surface structure of a plastic pipe;
17 Figure 8 is an enlarged partial cross section of the grip 18 ring having a combination of larger and smaller pipe gripping 19 circumferential teeth covered by a skid pad, at a locale where the grip ring is gripping the outer surface structure of a 21 plastic pipe;
22 Figure 9 is an enlarged partial cross section of the grip 23 ring having a combination of larger and smaller pipe gripping 24 circumferential teeth covered by a skid pad, at a locale where the grip ring is gripping the outer surface structure of a ROY E MAT~ERN JR
13415 5 E 30T~l BELLEVUE WAShlNG~ON98005 ~295) 641-9000 1 metallic pipe;
2 Figure 10 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the 3 compression control ring, and in this embodiment the view is 4 similar when viewed from either side, i.e. this ring is symmetrical about the center thereof;
6 Figure 11 is an edge view of the compression control ring 7 shown in figure 10;
8 Figure 12 is a cross section of the compression control 9 ring, shown in figures 10 an 11, taken at one of several circumferential locations where integral stop tabs are formed;
11 Figure 13 is a cross section of the compression control 12 ring, shown in figures 10, 11 and 12, taken at one of several 13 circumferential locations where no integral stop tabs are formed;
14 Figure 14 is an elevational view of an improved gland illustrating how some material is no longer used in between the 16 gland bolt hole loop structures, that will receive the bolts of a 17 bolted joint;
18 Figure lS is a cross sectional view of the improved gland, 19 shown in figure 14, illustrating how a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extends oppositely from the inside wedged 21 shaped surface structure, to create a structure, which 22 substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body of this 23 improved gland to noticeably deflect, upon tightening of bolts of 24 a completed bolted joint, or later when fluids under high pressures are being controlled in the overall fluid piping ROY E MATTERN JR
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EE-LEVUE. W~SHINGTON gaoos ~2051 6~1-9000 1 system;
2 Figure 16 is a cross section of the improved gland, shown in 3 figures 14 and 15, taken at one of several locations, where the 4 gland bolt hole loop structures are located;
Figure 17 is a cross section of the improved gland, shown in 6 figures 14, 15 and 16, taken at one of several locations where 7 there are no gland bolt hole loop structures;
8 Figure 18 is an elevational view of an embodiment of a grip 9 ring having uniform pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
Figure 19 is a side view of the grip ring, shown in figure 11 18, with lines indicating the gap of this ring;
12 Figure 20 is a section view of a portion of the grip ring 13 shown in figures 18 and 19;
14 Figure 21 is a section view of a portion of a grip ring having pipe gripping circumferential teeth of two different 16 sizes;
17 Figure 22 is an elevational view of another embodiment of 18 the compression control ring, which is not symmetrical about the 19 center thereof;
Figure 23 is an edge view of the compression control ring, 21 shown in figure 22, further illustrating the positioning of the 22 integral stop tabs shown in figure 22;
23 Figure 24 is a partial cross sectional view of the 24 components of a bolted joint, which has been tightened and completed, when the non symmetrical compression control ring, g ROY E MATTERN ~R
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EEL!EvLlE WAStllti5TON 9 1 shown in figures 22 and 23, has been installed.
2 Figure 25 is an elevational view of the gland, often 3 utilized, before the utilization of the improved gland shown in 4 figures 14, 15, 16 and 17;
Figure 26 is a cross sectional view of the gland shown in 6 figure 25;
7 Figure 27 is a partial and enlarged cross section of the 8 gland shown in figures 25 and 26, taken at one of several 9 locations, where the gland bolt hole structures are located;
Figure 28 is a partial and enlarged cross section of the 11 gland, shown in figures 25, 26 and 27, taken at one of several 12 locations, where there are no gland bolt hole structures;
13 Figure 29 is a partial view of a bolted joint, also referred 14 to as a mechanical joint, with some portions removed, and with some portions cross sectioned, to show the assembly of a bolted 16 joint having the gland, illustrated in figures 25, 26, 27 and 28, 17 and having the symmetrical compression control ring, shown in 18 figures 10, 11, 12 and 13; and 19 Figure 30 is an enlarged partial view, partially sectioned, of portions of the bolted joint, illustrated in figure 29, taken 21 within the dotted line circle of figure 29, illustrating the 22 gripping of the grip ring, and the stopping of the compression of 23 the gasket, as the tabs of the compression control ring contact 24 the flange of the pipe.
Figure 31 illustrates how the skid pad in respect to another ROY E MATTERN JR
13415 5 E 30T~
E;ELLEVUE WAS~NGTON 9&D05 (206) 64' ~~00 -1 embodiment has both the smaller and larger upstanding resilient 2 radial positioning structures formed initially tilted toward one 3 another to create a gripping capability of the skid pad to be 4 retained in position on the grip ring;
Figure 32 shows an exploded view of three portions of an 6 adhesive product, with a center laminate of a low density 7 compressible material having an adhesive applied to both the top 8 and bottom thereof, with cover laminates top and bottom for 9 temporary adherence to the center laminate;
Figure 33 depicts the assembly of the three laminates for 11 their convenient handling before the installation, first to a 12 skid pad, then later, with the skid pad to the grip ring, as the 13 respective bottom and top laminates are sequentially removed to 14 expose the adhesive surfaces on the bottom and top of the center laminate;
16 Figures 34 and 35 illustrate how the adhesive products, 17 shown in figures 32 and 33, have had the respective bottom 18 laminates removed to expose the adhesives, and then respective 19 adhesive products have been adhesively secured to respective embodiments of the skid pads;
21 Figures 36 and 37 illustrate how the top laminate has been 22 removed from the installed adhesive products, shown in figures 34 23 and 3S, preparing the skid pads for adhesive securement to 24 respective grip rings;
Figure 38 depicts how the skid pad with the adhesively ROY E MATTERN JR
13415 S E 30Til Y~J

_ 1 secured adhesive product is adhesively secured to the grip ring, 2 and the grip ring is ready to slide into place before commencing 3 to grip the outer surface structure of a pipe; and 4 Figure 39 illuctrates how the grip ring at the final position thereof is gripping the outer surface structure of a 6 pipe, without any interference of either the adhesive product or 7 the skid pad's initial curved lower surface structure, which becomes deformed by the teeth of the grip ring, as the teeth are 9 radially driven into the outer surface structure of a pipe.
11 DESCRIPT~ONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

13 Introduction 14 As noted in U.S. Patent 5,335,946 entitled Cooperating Combination of a Gland and a Grip Ring Installed in Restrained 16 Sealed Bolted Joints of Fluid Piping Systems Including Both 17 Plastic and Metallic Pipe, upon the utilization of plastic pipes 18 in fluid piping systems, many of the products used previously 19 with metallic pipe could not be successfully used with plastic pipes. Therefore changes were made and are being made.
21 As illustrated in the accompanying drawings: improvements 22 are made to a gland; a compression control ring is being used;
23 and skid pads are placed on grip rings, assuring the grip rings 24 will not prematurely commence gripping a pipe. Most of these changes were prompted, when better sealing of bolted joints, also ROY E U.ATTERt'l JR
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EiELLEVUE WASHlli!~iTO~

21 7q220 1 referred to as mechanical joints, was sought and accomplished, 2 when large diameter plastic pipes were being fitted in these 3 bolted joints. These changes are also recognized as being 4 beneficial when other diameter plastic and/or metallic pipes are being fitted in these bolted joints.

7 The Utilization of All the Changes in a Bolted Joint Also 8 Referred to as a Mechanical Joint 9 In many locations 41 of fluid piping systems 40, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, such as a location 41 11 illustrated in figure l, one or more of these changes may be 12 undertaken. All of these changes are particularly illustrated in 13 figures l through 4 in respect to how they relate to one another, 14 and to the overall components of a bolted joint 42, also referred to as a mechanical joint 42.
16 In the exploded view of figure 2, essentially all the 17 components of a bolted joint 42 are illustrated: the inserted 18 plain end 44 of the pipe 46; the improved gland 48; the grip ring 19 50; the skid pads 52; the compression control ring 54; the gasket 56; and flanged end 58 of the pipe 60, having the flange 62 with 21 holes 64 to receive the T bolts 66 and nuts 68, only shown in 22 figures 3 and 4.
23 The starting assembly of these components, before they are 24 tightly grouped together and tightened upon securement of the nuts 68 on the T bolts 66, is shown in figure 3. The ROY E MATTERN JR
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EELEEVLIE~ WASI ID~GTON 9800S
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1 longitudinal rim like extension structure 70 of the improved 2 gland 48 is illustrated in figures 3 and 4. This rim like 3 structure 70 extends in a direction opposite to the location of 4 the inside wedge shaped surface structure 72, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body 74 6 of this improved gland 48 to noticeably deflect, upon tightening 7 of the T bolts 66 and nuts 68 of the bolted joint 42, or later 8 when fluids under high pressures are being controlled in the 9 o~era~l fluid piping system.
The grip ring 50, at spaced locations, i6 fitted with a skid 11 pad 52, made of a material 78 which slidably engages the outer 12 surface structure 80 of the pipe 46, and will continue to do so, 13 as the various components are being moved together to become the 14 bolted joint 42, as shown in figure 4. Yet this material 78, when the final tightening is underway, clears away, as necessary, 16 so the pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82 create their 17 gripping contact in the outer surface structure 80 of the pipe ~8 46, as shown in figure 4.
19 The compression control ring 54, in the embodiment illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4 is symmetrical, and thèrefore 21 is placed over pipe 46, without concern as to its positioning in 22 this respect. It is located between the grip ring 50 and the 23 gasket 56, and serves to transfer the gasket positioning force 24 from the grip ring 50 to the gasket 56. The circular body 84 has the opposite alike area faces 86, which make contacts ROï E MATTERN.JR

~205~ 64 ,-9000 2 1 7~220 1 respectively with the grip ring 50 and the gasket 56. The height 2 of each face 86 is slightly less than the height of the gasket 3 56.
4 This circular body 84 of the compression control ring 54 has spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs 90, which 6 contact flange 62 on the flanged end 58 of the pipe 60, before 7 the final tightening of the bolted joint 42. The compressive 8 force, previously moving the gasket 56, often referred to as a 9 plain rubber gasket or seal, into sealing contact with the pipe 46 and the gasket receiving portion 92 of the flange 62, in 11 respect to the gasket receiving portion 92 thereof, completes 12 this sealing function. Thereafter, any continuing attempt to 13 compress the gasket 56 is prevented by tabs 90, which are in 14 contact with the flange 62.
In addition to providing this protection of the gasket 56, 16 the compression control ring 54, by being circumferentially 17 continuous, serves to essentially uniformly transfer the axially 18 directed forces to the gasket 56. Previously, when a compression 19 control ring 54 was not included in a bolted joint 42, the grip ring 50 with its slot 94 was directly transferring these axially 21 directed forces to the gasket 56, except at the locale of the 22 slot 94. Therefore, the sealing in this locale was not always 23 satisfactory, especially in respect to bolted joints 42 which 24 were holding and sealing together larger pipes.
The gasket 56, in respect to its initial configuration, ROY E MATTERI'I. JR
EELLEVUE WASI IINGTON 9~' 1 remains unchanged and meets the American Water Works Association, 2 i.e. AWWA, standards set forth in Clll-A21.11-90, section 11-8 3 pertaining to mechanical joints 42, i.e. bolted joints 42, as 4 also set forth in these industry standards.
The respective positions of all these components, after the 6 final tightening of the T bolts 66 and the nuts 68 of the bolted 7 joint 42, or mechanical joint 42, is illustrated in figure 4.

g The Preferred Embodiment of the Skid Pads and How They Function When grip rings, such as grip ring 50, are to be relied upon 11 to keep a plain end 44 of a pipe 46 in place in a bolted joint 12 42, the entire assembly of such a restrained and sealed bolted 13 joint 42 must be correctly undertaken. The grip ring 50 must 14 reach its proper location before completing its pipe gripping function. Therefore to insure the grip ring 50 will reach its 16 proper location, skid pads 52 are initially fitted, at spaced 17 locations, to each grip ring 50 as shown in figure 2. When so 18 positioned they provide the respective sliding surface structures 19 keeping the pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82 of the grip ring 50 from prematurely contacting the outer surface structure 21 80 of a pipe 46, as shown in figures 3 and 5.
22 Yet, when the grip ring 50 is reaching and has reached its 23 proper position, then the pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82 24 radially penetrate through the curved lower surface structure 96 of each of the skid pads 52, as illustrated in figures 4 and 6, ROY E MATTERN JR

.

1 to complete the effective grip on the plain end 44 of the pipe 2 46. Preferably a plastic material is used in making a skid pad 3 52.
4 To positively or snugly position a skid pad 52 on a grip ring 50, it is formed to have an integral smaller upstanding 6 radial positioning structure 98, at one end of its curved lower 7 surface structure 96, and an integral larger upstanding radial 8 positioning structure lO0 at the other end of its curved lower g surface structure 96.
These skid pads 52, in various sizes to match the various ll sizes of grip rings 50, are useful in conjunction with various 12 types and sizes of pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82, and in 13 reference to both plastic and metallic pipe 46, as respectively 14 illustrated in figures 7, 8 and 9.

16 The Preferred Embodiment of the Compression Control Rin~ Which is 17 Symmetrical About its Circumferential Centerline 18 The preferred embodiment of the compression control ring 54 l9 is illustrated in figures 2, 3, 4, lO, ll, 12, 13, 29 and 30. It is formed to be symmetrical about its circumferential centerline, 21 and therefor it is always installed correctly in a bolted joint 22 42, as shown in figures 3, 4, 29 and 30.
23 The compression control ring 54 is the integral arrangement 24 of: a circular body 84 having an insidfe diameter 104, which is larger than an outside diameter of a pipe 46 of a fluid piping ROY E MATTERN JR
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l system 42; an outside diameter 106 of an interrupted 2 circumferential surface structure 108 thereof, which is slightly 3 smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket 56; and 4 spaced, radially, and outwardly, extending stop tabs 90, spaced centrally along the interrupted circumferential surface structure 6 108, creating the interruptions thereof.
7 The stop tabs 90, also referred to as compression stop tabs 8 90, are arranged for contacting respective portions of the flange 9 62 on the flanged end 58 of pipe 60, serving as a portion of mechanical joint fittings, which together complete a mechanical 11 joint 42, also referred to as a bolted joint 42. When these stop 12 tabs 90 contact the flange 62, the compressive force, previously 13 moving a plain rubber gasket 56, or other gasket 56, into sealing 14 contact with a pipe 46 and with the flange 62, is stopped with good sealing being undertaken, while protecting the gasket 56 16 from further unnecessary compression forces.
17 The circular body 84, has a width which is wider than the 18 width of the stop tabs 90, thereby creating a longitudinal 19 extending portion 110 on either side, each having alike area faces 86. It is adapted to contact and to sufficiently compress 21 the gasket 56 to complete the sealing, in an advance time, before 22 the radially extendlng stop tabs 90 contact the flange 62, to 23 thereby stop the compression of the gasket S6, after the sealing 24 has been completed.
The spacing of the stop tabs 90 serves to conserve RO~' E. MATTERN JR
13415 5 E 3~TH
EELLEVUE. WASHINGTO~ 98005 ~206~

2 1 ~9220 1 materials. In reference to smaller diameter compression control 2 rings 54, the spacing might be eliminated and there would be a . .
3 continuous stop tab 90. The inside diameter 104 of a compression 4 control ring 54 is always larger than the outside diameter of a pipe 46 to provide adequate clearance. The thickness or depth of 6 a longitudinal extending portion 110 is slightly less than the 7 height of a gasket 56, so the contacting movement of this portion 8 110 will always be directly effective in compressing the gasket 9 56 to create adequate sealing, as ill~strated in figure 4, when the bolted joint 42 is completed.
11 The compression control ring 54 by being continuous insures 12 a uniform transfer of the compressive forces against the gasket 13 56, from the gland 48, and grip ring 50. If a compression 14 control ring 54 were not to be included in a bolted joint 42, especially when larger pipes were being connected together, the 16 gasket volume located adjacent the slot 94 of the grip ring 50 17 would not be receiving the necessary compressive force. Also if 18 a compression control ring 54 were not to be included, and the 19 grip ring 50 was directly contacting the gasket 56, the gasket has, at times, extruded, in part, under the grip ring 50, during 21 tightening of the bolted joint 42, causing these extended 22 portions to be cut by the first pipe gripping circumferential 23 tooth 82, also referred to as the front grip ring tooth 82.
24 Generally the gasket 56 will be compressed twenty to thirty percent when the stop tabs 90 on the compression control ring 54 ROY E hlA~ERN, JR
13419 5 E 3G~H
EELLEVUE WhSHl''iG~ON 98G0.
i206~ 641-900G

1 hit or meet the face 112 of the flange 62 of the bolted joint 42.
2 Once the compression control ring 54 has stopped, the remaining ~ 3 bolt torque is transferred directly into compressing the grip 4 ring 50 onto the pipe 46. The extruded gasket material, if any, does not come near the pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82 of 6 the grip ring 50.
7 The respective cross sectional shapes of the compression 8 control ring 54, are respectively illustrated in figure 12, where g the stop tab ~0 is formed, and in figure 13, where there is no stop tab 90.

12 The Preferred Embodiment gf the Improved Gland 13 The preferred embodiment of the improved gland 48 14 illustrated in figures 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16 and 17 is useful in any bolted joint 42, but this gland 48 is particularly useful, 16 when large diameter pipes are being joined and sealed. The 17 improved gland 48 has the integral arrangement of a circular body 18 74 having an inside diameter which is larger than the outside 19 diameter of a pipe 46 of a fluid piping system 42. The outside diameter of the circular body 74 is larger than an outside 21 diameter of a plain rubber gasket 56, or any other gasket 56 22 being utilized. This outside diameter is the diameter of an 23 interrupted circumferential surface structure 116.
24 At the interruptions of this interrupted circumferential surface structure 116 there are the spaced radially and outwardly 13~15 5 E 30TH

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1 extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures 118, which 2 create the interruptions and extend out to a larger diameter.
3 Between these bolt receiving enclrcle loop structures 118 in 4 their reference plane, there is a reduction of material in reference to the prior use of material in these in between 6 locations.
7 Additional material, however, is used in creating a 8 longitudinal rim like extension 70, also réferred to as a 9 backward extens-ion, which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body 74 of this improved gland 48, to noticeably 11 deflect upon the tightening of nuts 68 on the bolts 66 of the 12 bolted joint 42, or later when fluids under high pressures are 13 being controlled in an overall fluid piping system. The cross 14 sectional form of this improved gland 48 is illustrated in figure 16, at the locale of one of several bolt receiving encirclement 16 loop structures 118, and in figure 17, at one of the locales 17 where there is no bolt receiving encirclement loop structure 118.
18 Each improved gland 48 has the inside wedge shape surface 19 structure 72 which complementary fits the outside tapered wedge surface 122 of the grip ring S0. Also each improved gland 48 has 21 a gland face 120 which is always directed toward the grip ring 22 50, compression control ring 54, the gasket 56. and the flange 23 62, during and after assembly of a bolted joint 42, also referred 24 to as a mechanical joint 42.

ROY E MhT~ERN, J~
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1 The Grip Ring 2 Grip rings 50 are illustrated in figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 29 and 30. They all have the slot 94 .
4 to insure their adequate reduction in diameter, so their pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82 will very satisfactorily be 6 gripping a pipe 46 at its plain end 44, after the tightening of 7 the T bolts 66 and nuts 68 of the bolted joint 42. Each grip 8 ring 50 has the outside tapered wedge surface 122, also referred 9 to as a gripping mating wedge surface which is forcibly contacted by the improved gland 48, in respect to its inside wedged shape 11 surface structure 72. Also each grip ring 50 has a face 124 12 which is directed toward the compression control ring 54.
13 The arrangements of the respective sizes of pipe gripping 14 circumferential teeth 82 of srip rings 50 are illustrated in figures 20 and 21. In figure 20 the teeth 82 are of uniform 16 size, and in figure 21 at least two teeth 82 are larger than the 17 remaining teeth 82. When different teeth sizes are utilized, the 18 grip ring 50 is generally being used, when both plastic pipes and 19 metallic pipes are being installed in a fluid piping system 42.

21 Another Embodiment of the Compression Control Ring 22 A compression control ring 128 of a different embodiment is 23 illustrated in figures 22, 23 and 24. The circular body 130 24 thereof is of reduced width and it only extends in the direction of the gasket 56, creating only one longitudinal extending ROYE I~IIATTER!I JR

BELLEVLE WASHI~GTO1~9B005 i205! 64;-900B

1 portion 110 having a face 86, which contacts the gasket 56. The 2 compression of the gasket continues until the stop tabs 90 of 3 this circular body 130 contact the face 112 of the flange 62.
4 These stop tabs 90 extend above the face 132 which is contacted by the grip ring 50, as shown in figures 23 and 24.
6 Although the stop tabs 90 are positioned offset from the 7 center along the interrupted circumferential surface structure 8 134 of the circular body 130, they still perform the compressive 9 force limiting function to protect the gasket after the gasket has been adequately compressed to perform the sealing functions.
11 Because this compression control ring 128 is not symmetrical, it 12 must be installed only in one directional way, with the extending 13 portion 110 being directed toward the gasket 56 during the 14 arrangement of the bolted joint 42.
16 Other Possible Embodiments of Compression Control Rings 17 In addition to the illustrated compression control rings 54 18 and 128, other cross sectional shapes have been considered. In 19 all embodiments a complete ring is preferred. In respect to the near centerline directional spacing 146 between pipe flange 21 contacting surface structures 148 of the stop tabs 90 and the 22 gasket contacting surface structures or faces 86 of a circular 23 body of a compression control ring, this spacing 146, in regard 24 to a specific size bolted joint 42, is always essentially the same. This spacing 146 is directly related to the amount of the ROYE MATTERN JR

BELLEVUE WASHlNGToN9soos ~205~

1 allowable compression of the gasket 56. If the spacing 146 is 2 too much, the gasket S6 will be over stressed. If the spacing 3 146 is not sufficient, the gasket 56 will not seal properly.
4 In whatever cross sectional shape a compression control ring may have, the integral arrangement of a body, which is adapted to 6 encircle a pipe of a selected diameter, the body structure is 7 arranged to have a first radial face to receive an axially 8 directed closing force which is to be transmitted via a grip 9 ring. This first radial face is, for example, the face 86, as illustrated in figure i2. The body structure is also arranged to 11 have a second radial face to transmit a received axially directed 12 closing force to a gasket. This second radial face is, for 13 example, the other opposite face 86, as illustrated in figure 12.
14 The body structure is also arranged to have a third radial face to contact a flange of a pipe being joined in a bolted joint.
16 This third radial face is, for example, the face of the stop tab 17 90, as illustrated in figure 12. When this third radial face 18 contacts a flange of a pipe, the transmission is stopped of any 19 received axially directed closing force previously being applied 2~ to a gasket.

22 To Keep the Skid Pads Directly Associated ~7ith the Grip Rings 23 During Shipment. ~andling, and Final Installation Times, a 24 Gripping Embodiment sf a Skid Pad is Available and~sr an AdhesiYe Product is Available ROY E MATTERN, JR

(2~8! 6~1-9000 1 When skid pads 52 are to be shipped, handled, and installed, 2 when directly associated with respective grip rings 50. then a 3 self holding skid pad embodiment 150 is provided, as illustrated 4 in figure 31. Both the smaller and larger upstanding resilient radial posltioning structures 152, 154 of this self holding skid 6 pad embodiment 150 are initially tilted toward one another, to 7 create a gripping or holding capability of this skid pad 150, to 8 be retained in position on a respective grip ring 50.
9 The first embodiment 52 of the skid pad and this embodiment 150, may also be fitted with an adhesive product 158, which is 11 illustrated in figures 32 and 33. As noted in the exploded view 12 of figure 32, a center laminate 160 of a low density easily 13 compressible material is coated with an adhesive 162 on both the 14 top and bottom, not shown, but indicated as to position, by the numeral 162. At the time of manufacture of this adhesive product 16 158, after the coating of adhesive 162, the adhesive 162 is 17 respectively covered by the top and bottom easily removed 18 temporary protective covering laminates 164, 166, as shown in 19 figure 33. Preferably the center laminate 160, is made of a polyethylene foam material, which is one sixteenth of an inch 21 thick.
22 Whenever the adhesive product 158 is to be positioned in a 23 skid pad, the bottom temporary protective covering laminate 166 24 is easily removed, and the adhesive product 158 is respectively secured to either a skid pad 52 as illustrated in figure 34, or ROY E MATTERN, JR
13~1S S E 30TH
BELLEVUE WASHINGTON 9800$
12~S~ 9000 1 to a skid pad 150, as shown in figure 35, to further insure the 2 skid pad 150 will remain in place later on when secured to a grip 3 ring 50.
4 The top temporary protective covering laminate 164 is easily removed, as depicted in figures 36 and 37, as the respective skid 6 pads 52 and 150 are prepared for their spaced placement about 7 respective grip rings 50.
8 The placement of skid pad 150 about a portion of a 9 respective grip ring 50 at one selected spaced location, when the central laminate 160 is adhesively in place, is illustrated in 11 figure 38. Then after the grip ring 50 has reached the gripping 12 position and has been tightened, the resulting penetration of the 13 pipe gripping circumferential teeth 82, is shown in figure 39.
14 Both the central laminate 160, and the curved lower surface structure 96 of the skid pad 52 have been readily deformed and 16 cleared away by the respective pipe gripping circumferential 17 teeth 82.
18 Through the utilization of self holding skid pad 150 and/or 19 the adhesive product 158, the manufacture of the components of a bolted joint is able to assist all persons involved in the 21 handling, shipping, storing and installing of the grlp rings, 22 that the skid pads will be in place at the installation time.

24 The Use of the Compression Control Ring With Glands Previously 2~ Used and Still Being Used in Boltçd Joints ROY E MATTERN JR

BE~LEVUE WASHINGTON 9S005 (20~ 64'-90~0 ~ 1 79220 1 The compression control ring 54 is also effective when used 2 wlth previously used glands 136, which are still being used, as 3 illustrated in figures 25 through 30. The material used in the 4 body 138 of this gland is essentially distributed throughout the radial portions of this body, inclusive of the volumes 140, 6 located between the bolt receiving loop structures 142. There is 7 no longitudinal rim like extension structure. The respective 8 cross sections are illustrated in figures 27 and 28, where in 9 figure 27, the location is by a bolt receiving loop structure 142, and where in figure 28, the location does not include a bolt 11 receiving loop structure 142. The previously used glands 136, 12 each have the inside wedge shaped structure 142, which contacts 13 the outer tapered wedge surface of the grip ring 50.
14 A substantially complete and secured bolted joint 42 is shown in figure 29. Then in figure 30, enlarged portions of the 16 same bolted joint 42 are illustrated to show how the compression 17 control ring 54 is used with one of these previous types of 18 glands 136.

EELEEVUE WASHING~ON 98005 ~205) 641-9000

Claims

1. A compression control ring adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this compression control ring is adapted to be included in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange.

2. A compression control ring, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs are positioned centrally along the interrupted circumferential surface structure of the circular body.

3. A compression control ring, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs are positioned offset from the center along the interrupted circumferential surface structure of the circular body.

4. A compression control ring, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the circular body has a longitudinal extending portion, which is adapted to contact and to compress a plain rubber gasket, in an advance time, before the extending stop tabs contact a flange of a mechanical joint, to thereby stop the compression of a plain rubber gasket.

5. A compression control ring, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circular body has a longitudinal extending portion, which is adapted to contact and to compress a plain rubber gasket, in an advance time, before the extending stop tabs contact a flange of a mechanical joint, to thereby stop the compression of a plain rubber gasket.

6. A compression control ring adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this compression control ring is adapted to be included in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outer diameter of a circumferential surface structure slightly smaller than an outer diameter of a plain rubber gasket;
a continuous radially and outwardly extending tab like flange, extending from the circumferential surface structure, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange.

7. An improved gland adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this improved gland is adapted to be included in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring, for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedged surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system.

8. An improved gland adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this improved gland is adapted to be included in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring, and also a compression control ring, for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside maximum diameter of any integral portion of a compression control ring;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedge surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system.

9. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this skid pad is adapted to be included, with other skid pads, in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:

a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint.

10. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of a gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:

i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the gland having the integral arrangement of:
i. an internal surface structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a vertical shoulder thereof, which faces the grip ring, and which faces in the direction of the gasket of the bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof which initially faces and is nearer the smaller diameter end of the external inclined surface structure of the grip ring, when portions of this internal inclined surface structure are in forceful contact with portions of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, after installation, in a bolted joint, when the bolt and nut fasteners of the bolted joint are tightened; and ii. variable external surface structures including: a central body portion adjacent the internal inclined surface structure thereof; a flange extending out from the central body portion thereof; and spaced receiving hole structures extending out from the flange thereof to receive bolts of the bolted joint, which also will be received in spaced receiving hole structures of another piping structure, and thereafter, respective nuts are threaded on the installation bolts, and when these nuts are fully tightened a respective type of the bolted joint will be completed, insuring both the sealing contact of the gasket around the pipe as the grip ring presses the gasket into the sealing position, and providing adequate gripping contact of the grip ring about the pipe, whether it be a metal or plastic pipe; and c. the compression control ring having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange.

11. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of a gland, a grip ring, a compression control ring, and skid pads, for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the gland having the integral arrangement of:

i. an internal surface structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a vertical shoulder thereof, which faces the grip ring, and which faces in the direction of the gasket of the bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof which initially faces and is nearer the smaller diameter end of the external inclined surface structure of the grip ring, when portions of this internal inclined surface structure are in forceful contact with portions of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, after installation, in a bolted joint, when the bolt and nut fasteners of the bolted joint are tightened; and ii. variable external surface structures including: a central body portion adjacent the internal inclined surface structure thereof; a flange extending out from the central body portion thereof; and spaced receiving hole structures extending out from the flange thereof to receive bolts of the bolted joint, which also will be received in spaced receiving hole structures of another piping structure, and thereafter, respective nuts are threaded on the installation bolts, and when these nuts are fully tightened a respective type of the bolted joint will be completed, insuring both the sealing contact of the gasket around the pipe as the grip ring presses the gasket into the sealing position, and providing adequate gripping contact of the grip ring about the pipe, whether it be a metal or plastic pipe;

c. the compression control ring having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange;
and d. the skid pads, each comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

12. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland and a grip ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the improved gland comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedged surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system.

13. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the improved gland comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:

an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside maximum diameter of any integral portion of a compression control ring;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedge surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system; and c. the compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange.

14. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:
the spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs of the compression control ring are positioned centrally along the interrupted circumferential surface structure of the circular body.

15. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:
the spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs of the compression control ring are positioned offset from the center along the interrupted circumferential surface structure of the circular body.

16. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the circular body of the compression control ring has a longitudinal extending portion, which is adapted to contact and to compress a plain rubber gasket, in an advance time, before the extending stop tabs contact a flange of a mechanical joint, to thereby stop the compression of a plain rubber gasket.

17. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the circular body of the compression control ring has a longitudinal extending portion, which is adapted to contact and to compress a plain rubber gasket, in an advance time, before the extending stop tabs contact a flange of a mechanical joint, to thereby stop the compression of a plain rubber gasket.

18. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and skid pads, for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the improved gland comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside maximum diameter of any integral portion of a compression control ring;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedge surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system; and c. the skid pads, each comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint.

19. For fluid piping systems which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, a compression control ring, and skid pads for installations in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, which include a gasket, comprising:
a. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the subsequent reduction of the internal diameter thereof;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding a diameter of a pipe to be subsequently engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof is later reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face and later contact a compression control ring of a bolted joint, and terminating at a smaller diameter end at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof, which will initially face the gland of this cooperating combination;
b. the improved gland comprising the integral arrangement of:

a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter of an interrupted circumferential surface structure, larger than an outside maximum diameter of any integral portion of a compression control ring;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure adapted to complementary fit and mate with an outside wedge surface structure of a grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on bolts of a bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system; and c. the compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of a plain rubber gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and adapted for contacting a portion of a flange of a mechanical joint fitting, and thereby to be ready to stop a compressive force previously moving a plain rubber gasket into sealing contact with a pipe and with a flange;
and d. the skid pads, each comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

20. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring and skid pads, as claimed in claim 19, wherein the circular body of the compression control ring has a longitudinal extending portion, which is adapted to contact and to compress a plain rubber gasket, in an advance time, before the extending stop tabs contact a flange of a mechanical joint, to thereby stop the compression of a plain rubber gasket.

21. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of a gland, a grip ring and a compression control ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, which include the continuing cooperation of at least one member having a gasket receiving volume, and a pipe end receiving volume, and holes to receive bolts, a gasket, and bolt and nut fasteners to draw together and secure the gland to the member that receives the gasket and the pipe end, comprising:
a. the member having a gasket receiving volume and the pipe end receiving volume and holes receiving bolts;

b. the gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume;
c. bolt and nut fasteners, with the bolts passed through the holes both in the member and in the gland;
d. the pipe end fitted in the pipe end receiving volume;
e. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of the pipe engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof has been reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces the gland of the cooperating combination;
and f. the gland having the integral arrangement of:
i. an internal surface structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a vertical shoulder thereof, which faces the grip ring, and which faces in the direction of the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof which faces and is nearer the smaller diameter end of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, when portions of the internal inclined surface structure are in forceful contact with portions of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, upon installation, when the engaging forces have been created when the bolt and nut fasteners have been tightened; and ii. variable external surface structures including a central body portion adjacent the internal inclined surface structure thereof; a flange extending out from the central body portion thereof; and spaced receiving hole structures extending out from the flange thereof which receive installation bolts, which are also received in spaced receiving hole structures of the member, which receives the gasket and the pipe end, and respective nuts are threaded and tightened on the respective installation bolts, and the respective type of the bolted joint is completed, insuring both the sealing contact of the gasket around the pipe, and that the grip ring has pressed the gasket into sealing position providing adequate gripping contact of the grip ring about the pipe; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of this fluid piping system;

an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and in contact with the member having the gasket receiving volume, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe end and the member having the gasket receiving volume.

22. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland and a grip ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, which include the continuing cooperation of at least one member having a gasket receiving volume, and a pipe end receiving volume, and holes to receive bolts, a gasket, and bolt and nut fasteners to draw together and secure the gland to the member that receives the gasket and the pipe end, comprising:
a. the member having a gasket receiving volume and the pipe end receiving volume and holes receiving bolts;
b. the gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume;
c. bolt and nut fasteners, with the bolts passed through the holes both in the member and in the gland;
d. the pipe end fitted in the pipe end receiving volume;

e. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of the pipe engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof has been reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces the gland of the cooperating combination;
and f. the improved gland having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, larger than an outside diameter of the gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;

an inside wedge shaped surface structure complementary fitting and mating the external inclined structure of the grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on the bolts of the bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system.

23. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring for installations in respective types of bolted joints, which include the continuing cooperation of at least one member having a gasket receiving volume, and a pipe end receiving volume, and holes to receive bolts, a gasket, and bolt and nut fasteners to draw together and secure the gland to the member that receives the gasket and the pipe end, comprising:
a. the member having a gasket receiving volume and the pipe end receiving volume and holes receiving bolts;
b. the gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume;
c. bolt and nut fasteners, with the bolts passed through the holes both in the member and in the gland;
d. the pipe end fitted in the pipe end receiving volume;
e. the grip ring having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of the pipe engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter thereof has been reduced;
iii. an internal surface structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces the gland of the cooperating combination, tightening of the bolts of the bolted joint;
f. the improved gland having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, larger than an outside diameter of the gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure complementary fitting and mating the external inclined structure of the grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on the bolts of the bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and in contact with the member having the gasket receiving volume, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe end and the member having the gasket receiving volume.

24. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of a gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 21, comprising, in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

25. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland and a grip ring, as claimed in claim 22, comprising, in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

26. For fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, a cooperating combination of an improved gland, a grip ring, and a compression control ring, as claimed in claim 23, comprising in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

27. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, comprising:
a. at least one member having at least one gasket receiving volume portion which directs an incoming gasket into contact with a pipe, and at least one pipe end receiving volume portion, and spaced holes receiving installation bolts;
b. a gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume portion of the member and directed into contact with the pipe;
c. installation bolt and nut fasteners, with the installation bolts passed through the holes both of the member and a gland;
d. the pipe having an end thereof fitted into the pipe end receiving volume portion of the member;
e. a grip ring surrounding the pipe near the end thereof having he integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of a pipe, which is fully engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter of the grip ring has been reduced when this bolted joint has been tightened;
iii. an internal structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth; and iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces and contacts the gland of the bolted joint.
f. the gland having the integral arrangement of:
i. an internal surface structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the grip ring, and which faces in the direction of the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, when portions of this internal inclined surface structure are in forceful contact with portions of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, upon installation, when the engaging forces have been created when the installation bolt and nut fasteners have been tightened; and ii. variable external surface structures including a central body portion adjacent the internal inclined surface structure thereof; a flange extending out from the central body portion thereof; and the spaced receiving hole structures extending out from the flange thereof which received the installation bolts, which is also passed through the spaced receiving holes of the member, which receive the gasket and the pipe end, and respective nuts are threaded and tightened on the respective installation bolts, and this bolted joint is completed, insuring both the sealing contact of the gasket around the pipe, and that the grip ring has pressed the gasket into sealing position, providing adequate gripping contact of the grip ring about the pipe; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe of the fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and contacting the at least one member, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe and the at least one member having at least one gasket receiving volume portion.

28. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, comprising:
a. at least one member having at least one gasket receiving volume portion which directs an incoming gasket into contact with a pipe, and at least one pipe end receiving volume portion, and spaced holes receiving installation bolts;
b. a gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume portion of the member and directed into contact with the pipe;
c. installation bolt and nut fasteners, with the installation bolts passed through the holes both of the member and a gland;
d. the pipe having an end thereof fitted into the pipe end receiving volume portion of the member;
e. a grip ring surrounding the pipe near the end thereof having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of a pipe, which is fully engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter of the grip ring has been reduced when this bolted joint has been tightened;
iii. an internal structure having pipe gripping circumferential teeth; and iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces and contacts the gland of the bolted joint.
f. the improved gland having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, larger than an outside diameter of the gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure complementary fitting and mating the external inclined structure of the grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on the bolts of the bolted joint, and when there is high water pressure in a piping system; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:

an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of this fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, and in contact with the member having the gasket receiving volume, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe end and the member having the gasket receiving volume.

29. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, as claimed in claim 27, comprising, in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

30. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, as claimed in claim 28, comprising, in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

31. A bolted joint for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, comprising:
a. at least one member having at least one gasket receiving volume portion which directs an incoming gasket into contact with a pipe, and at least one pipe end receiving volume portion, and spaced holes receiving installation bolts;
b. a gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume portion of the member and directed into contact with the pipe;
c. installation bolt and nut fasteners, with the installation bolts passed through the holes both of the member and a gland;
d. the pipe having an end thereof fitted into the pipe end receiving volume portion of the member;
e. a grip ring surrounding the pipe near the end thereof having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of a pipe, which is fully engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter of the grip ring has been reduced when this bolted joint has been tightened;
iii. an internal structure having at least two spaced major size pipe gripping circumferential teeth, and several spaced minor size pipe gripping circumferential teeth located between and beyond the major sized teeth, and the major teeth extend radially inwardly farther than the minor teeth within the grip ring;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces and contacts the gland of the bolted joint.
f. the gland having the integral arrangement of:
i. an internal surface structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the grip ring, and which faces in the direction of the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof which faces and is nearer the smaller diameter end of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, when portions of this internal inclined surface structure are in forceful contact with portions of the external inclined structure of the grip ring, upon installation, when the engaging forces have been created when the installation bolt and nut fasteners have been tightened; and ii. variable external surface structures including a central body portion adjacent the internal inclined surface structure thereof; a flange extending out from the central body portion thereof; and the spaced receiving hole structures extending out from the flange thereof which received the installation bolts, which is also passed through the spaced receiving holes of the member, which receive the gasket and the pipe end, and respective nuts are threaded and tightened on the respective installation bolts, and this bolted joint is completed, insuring both the sealing contact of the gasket around the pipe, and that the grip ring has pressed the gasket into sealing position, providing adequate gripping contact of the grip ring about the pipe; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe of the fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, in contact with the member having the gasket receiving volume, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe end and the member having the gasket receiving volume.

32. A bolted joint for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, comprising:
a. at least one member having at least one gasket receiving volume portion which directs an incoming gasket into contact with a pipe, and at least one pipe end receiving volume portion, and spaced holes receiving installation bolts;
b. a gasket fitted into the gasket receiving volume portion of the member and directed into contact with the pipe;
c. installation bolt and nut fasteners, with the installation bolts passed through the holes both of the member and a gland;
d. the pipe having an end thereof fitted into the pipe end receiving volume portion of the member;
e. a grip ring surrounding the pipe near the end thereof having the integral arrangement of:
i. a radial open through slot to accommodate the reduction of the internal diameter thereof, while providing a limited size reduction of the grip ring;
ii. a commencing internal diameter exceeding the diameter of a pipe, which is fully engaged by the grip ring, when the diameter of the grip ring has been reduced when this bolted joint has been tightened;
iii. an internal structure having at least two spaced major size pipe gripping circumferential teeth and several spaced minor size pipe gripping circumferential teeth located between and beyond the major sized teeth, and the major teeth extend radially inwardly farther than the minor teeth within the grip ring;
iv. an external inclined structure, commencing at a larger diameter end thereof, at a larger vertical shoulder thereof, which faces and contacts the gasket, and terminating at a smaller diameter end thereof at a smaller vertical shoulder thereof which faces and contacts the gland of the bolted joint.
f. an improved gland having the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe end of a fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, larger than an outside diameter of the gasket;
spaced radially and outwardly extending bolt receiving encirclement loop structures spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof;
an inside wedge shaped surface structure complementary fitting and mating the external inclined structure of the grip ring; and a longitudinal rim like extension structure, extending oppositely from the inside wedge shaped surface structure, creating structure which substantially reduces any tendency of the circular body to noticeably deflect upon tightening of nuts on the bolts of the bolted joint, and when there is a high water pressure in a piping system; and g. a compression control ring comprising the integral arrangement of:
a circular body having:
an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the pipe of the fluid piping system;
an outside diameter, of an interrupted circumferential surface structure thereof, slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the gasket; and spaced radially and outwardly extending stop tabs spaced along the interrupted circumferential surface structure, creating the interruptions thereof, in contact with the member having the gasket receiving volume, thereby stopping the compressive force previously moving the gasket into sealing contact with the pipe end and the member having the gasket receiving volume.

33. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, as claimed in claim 31, comprising in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

34. A bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, for fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, as claimed in claim 32, comprising in addition:
skid pads for the grip ring, each one comprising the integral arrangement of:
a curved lower surface structure serving at the outset as a sliding surface structure, having an inside diameter substantially mating with an outside diameter of a pipe of a fluid piping system, and having an outside diameter substantially mating with an inside diameter of a grip ring;
a smaller upstanding radial positioning structure, at one end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a smaller circular radial side of a grip ring; and a larger upstanding radial positioning structure, at the other end of the curved lower surface structure, adapted to snugly fit a larger circular radial side of a grip ring;
whereby a selected number of these skid pads are arranged at spaced circumferential positions on a grip ring, to be subsequently effective, during an assembly of a bolted joint, also referred to as a mechanical joint, to keep the grip ring from making a too early gripping contact with a pipe, and then subsequently, when necessary, being penetrated by gripping teeth of a grip ring during a final tightening of bolts of a bolted joint.

35. A compression control ring adapted for use in fluid piping systems, which are primarily water and sewer piping systems, whereby this compression control ring is adapted to be included in a cooperating combination of a gland and a grip ring for installation in respective types of bolted joints, also referred to as mechanical joints, having flanges, which also include plain rubber gaskets, serving to create and to maintain a fluid seal, comprising the integral arrangement of:
a body adapted to encircle a pipe having:
a first radial face to receive an axially directed closing force, to be transmitted via a grip ring;
a second radial face to transmit a received axially directed closing force to a gasket to be moved axially into sealing contacts with a pipe and a flange of a pipe being joined together; and a third radial face to contact a flange of a pipe being joined in a bolted joint and thereby stop any transmissions of a received axially directed closing force to a gasket;
whereby, a near centerline directional spacing between the third radial face which contacts a flange of a pipe and the second radial face which transmits an axially directed closing force to a gasket, in regard to a specific size bolted joint, is always essentially the same near centerline directional spacing, and this spacing is directly related to an amount of an allowable compression of a gasket which insures adequate sealing of a bolted joint, without over-stressing a gasket.

36. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the smaller and the larger upstanding radial positioning structures are both tilted toward one another resulting in a better gripping action when the skid pad, in a selected location is positioned on a grip ring.

37. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, as claimed in claim 36, comprising in addition, an adhesive product having a low density, easily compressible, material coated with an adhesive on both the top and bottom thereof, and the bottom thereof being adhered to the curved lower surface structure, at the top thereof, to thereby position the top of the low density, easily compressible material, to be adhered to pipe gripping circumferential teeth of a grip ring, whereby the skid pad is ready to be subsequently adhesively secured to a grip ring, and to so remain during an assembly of a bolted joint.

38. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, as claimed in claim 9, comprising in addition, an adhesive product having a low density, easily compressible, material coated with an adhesive on both the top and bottom thereof, and the bottom thereof being adhered to the curved lower surface structure, at the top thereof, to thereby position the top of the low density, easily compressible material, to be adhered to pipe gripping circumferential teeth of a grip ring, whereby the skid pad is ready to be subsequently adhesively secured to a grip ring, and to so remain during an assembly of a bolted joint.

39. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, as claimed in claim 38, wherein initially, for convenient handling thereof, the adhesive product has top and bottom, easily removed, temporary protective covering laminates placed over the adhesive surfaces of the low density, easily compressible material.

40. A skid pad adapted for use in fluid piping systems, as claimed in claim 37, wherein initially, for convenient handling thereof, the adhesive product has top and bottom, easily removed, temporary protective covering laminates placed over the adhesive surfaces of the low density, easily compressible material.