Joint restraint assembly

Abstract

A method of restraining a pipe is provided. The method providing a body, said body having at least one pocket facing a pipe opening and at least one bore disposed through the body into said pocket; positioning at least one segment into the pocket, the segment having a connector attached thereto; extending the pipe through the pipe opening such that the pipe is adjacent the pocket; providing at least one bolt having an end; and extending the bolt through the bore to cause the end to engage the connector of the segment while the segment is in the pocket to cause the segment to abut the pipe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of restraining a pipe, the method comprising: 
 providing a body, said body having at least one pocket facing a pipe opening and at least one bore disposed through the body into said pocket;    positioning at least one segment into the pocket, the segment having a connector attached thereto;    extending the pipe through the pipe opening such that the pipe is adjacent the pocket;    providing at least one bolt having an end; and    extending the bolt through the bore to cause the end to engage the connector of the segment while the segment is in the pocket to cause the segment to abut the pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is an opening.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an integral stop ring on the bolt to abut the body.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of limiting the amount of torque that can be applied to the bolt by the location of the stop ring on the bolt.  
     
     
         5 . A method of assembling a joint restraint for use with a pipe, the method comprising: 
 providing a body, said body having at least one pocket facing a pipe opening and at least one bore disposed through the body into said pocket;    positioning at least one segment into the pocket;    extending a mandrel through the pipe opening such that the mandrel is adjacent the pocket;    providing at least one bolt having an end; and    extending the bolt through the bore to cause the end to engage the segment such that the segment is movable in concert with the bolt inward and outward relative to the bore as the bolt moves within the bore and the segment locates adjacent the mandrel when the segment is moved inward.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of removing the mandrel from the pipe joint opening.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of providing an integral stop ring to the at least one bolt.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of extending a pipe through the pipe opening and moving the bolt inward through the bore to cause the end to engage the segment to cause the segment to abut the pipe and the integral stop ring to abut the body.  
     
     
         9 . A method of assembling a joint restraint for use with a pipe, the method comprising: 
 providing a body, said body having at least one pocket facing a pipe joint opening and at least one bore disposed through the body into said pocket;    positioning at least one segment into the pocket, the segment having a receptacle positioned adjacent the bore;    providing at least one bolt having an end; and    extending the bolt through the bore to cause the end to engage the receptacle of the segment.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step providing the end of the bolt being movably attached to the receptacle.