Grooved pipe couplings and fittings are used to join pipes in both wet and dry systems. They provided some flexibility in terms of movement and deflection to the piping system. The concept of grooved pipe joining technology, as it's known today, was born into existence in 1919 when Ernest Tribe, a British Royal Engineers Lieutenant and Dr. Henry Selby Hele-Shaw, a renowned engineer, finalised a patent application of the invention of the grooved pipe coupling. Originally known as The Victory Pipe Joint Company, Victaulic began to market this revolutionary new concept in the pipe joining industry. Nearly 100 years later this grooved pipe joining technology continues to evolve and change the way the construction industry looks at piping systems. Victaulic grooved couplings, fittings & accessories provide a faster, easier and safer way to join pipe.
So what is Grooved Technology?
Grooved technology is the combination of four key elements:
- Grooved Pipe
- Gasket
- Housings
- Nuts and Bolts
These 4 components make up a Grooved Coupling:
The pipe groove is made by forming or machining an actual groove into the ends of two pipes. A gasket wraps around and on top of the pipe ends, the housings wrap around the gasket and sit in the pipe grooves, and the bolts and nuts are tightened with a wrench to hold it all together.
There are 2 basic Grooved Coupling styles
1. Flexible Grooved Couplings
These allow a limited amount of angular movement.
2. Rigid Grooved Couplings
These don't allow movement and can be used wherever immobility in the pipe joint is needed, similar to a flanged or welded joint.
Today Grooved Couplings along with grooved fittings, grooved valves and grooved accessories (such as strainers and suction diffusers) are found in a seemingly endless number of piping applications worldwide. While the grooved pipe joining concept has become synonymous with faster and easier installations, not all manufacturers of grooved products are the same. National Pipeline Supplies only stocks and supplies quality couplings that are tried and tested in the industry.