초록 ▼

An expansion ring assembly for sealing a gasket with respect to an annular wall of a rigid structure. The expansion ring assembly includes a drive mechanism for engaging and driving apart the opposing ends of an expansion ring to thereby radially expand the ring. The drive mechanism generally includ

An expansion ring assembly for sealing a gasket with respect to an annular wall of a rigid structure. The expansion ring assembly includes a drive mechanism for engaging and driving apart the opposing ends of an expansion ring to thereby radially expand the ring. The drive mechanism generally includes a pair of block members having threaded bores therethrough, and a bolt having oppositely-threaded ends which are threaded within respective threaded bores of the block members. The bolt additionally includes tool-receiving structure, such as a nut portion, which may be engaged by a suitable tool to rotate the bolt. The block members are respectively engaged with opposite ends of the expansion ring. Rotation of the bolt in a first direction simultaneously drives the block members apart from one another along the bolt to radially expand the expansion ring, and rotation of the bolt in a an opposite, second direction simultaneously drives the block members toward one another along the bolt to allow the expansion ring to radially contract.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A expansion ring assembly for sealing gasket to an annular wall, said assembly comprising:a ring defining a pair of end portions; anda drive mechanism disposed substantially within said ring, comprising;a pair of block members each having a threaded bore therethrough, said block members removably

1. A expansion ring assembly for sealing gasket to an annular wall, said assembly comprising:a ring defining a pair of end portions; anda drive mechanism disposed substantially within said ring, comprising;a pair of block members each having a threaded bore therethrough, said block members removably engaged with respective end portions of said ring; anda bolt including oppositely-threaded ends respectively threaded within said bores of said block members, wherein rotation of said bolt in a first direction causes said block members to be simultaneously driven apart from one another to thereby expand said ring. 2. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring includes a longitudinal axis, said bolt disposed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 3. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring includes an outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of said outer surface is planar. 4. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said end portions of said ring define an opening in said ring therebetween, said opening spanned by said drive mechanism. 5. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said end portions of said ring overlap one another. 6. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said bolt includes tool-receiving structure disposed intermediate said oppositely-threaded ends, said tool-receiving structure engagable by a tool to rotate said bolt. 7. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said end portions of said ring are crimped, and said block members each include shoulder portions engaging said crimped end portions of said ring. 8. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said block members each include hooks defining slots, said end portions of said ring engaged within said slots. 9. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising an oversleeve having a substantially U-shaped cross section, said oversleeve overlapping said end portions of said ring to prevent lateral movement of said end portions with respect to one another. 10. The expansion ring assembly of claim 9, wherein said oversleeve includes a pair of retention members having apertures through which said bolt is disposed, said retention members respectively located closely adjacent opposite sides of said tool-receiving structure. 11. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring includes a planar web portion having an outer surface and pair of side walls depending interiorly therefrom, said web portion and said side walls defining a U-shaped cross section. 12. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring is formed of a flat segment having end portions with tabs, said tabs fitting within recesses in said block members to removably attach said block members to said end portions. 13. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring is formed of more than one segment, each connection between adjacent segments provided by a said drive mechanism. 14. In combination:a structure having an annular wall;a flexible, substantially annular gasket received within said annular wall; andan expansion ring assembly received within said gasket, said expansion ring assembly comprising:a ring defining a pair of end portions; anda drive mechanism disposed substantially within said ring, said drive mechanism including a pair of block members each having a threaded bore therethrough, said block members respectively removably engaging said end portions of said ring, and a bolt including oppositely-threaded ends respectively threaded within said bores of said block members, wherein rotation of said bolt in a first direction causes said block members to be simultaneously driven away from one another to thereby expand said ring and compress said gasket into sealing engagement with said annular wall. 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said gasket includes a first portion into which said expansion ring assembly is received, and a second portion, said combination further comprising: a pipe received through said second portion of said gasket; andat least one clamp secured about an exterior of said second portion of said gasket, said second portion compressed between said at least one clamp and said pipe. 16. The combination of claim 14, wherein said ring includes a planar web portion having a pair of side walls depending interiorly therefrom, said web portion and said side walls defining a U-shaped cross section. 17. The combination of claim 14, wherein said end portions of said ring overlap one another. 18. The combination of claim 14, wherein said end portions of said ring define an opening therebetween said opening spanned by said driven mechanism. 19. The combination of claim 14, wherein said block members are removably attached to said end portions of said ring. 20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said ring is formed of a flat segment having end portions with tabs, said tabs fitting within recesses in said block members to removably attach said block members to said end portions. 21. The combination of claim 14, wherein said ring includes a longitudinal axis, and said bolt is disposed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 22. The combination of claim 14, wherein said bolt includes tool-receiving structure disposed intermediate said oppositely-threaded ends, said tool-receiving structure engagable by a tool to rotate said bolt. 23. The combination of claim 14, further comprising an oversleeve overlapping said end portions of said ring to prevent relative lateral movement of said end portions. 24. The combination of claim 23, wherein said oversleeve includes a pair of tabs respectively located closely adjacent opposite sides of said tool-receiving structure. 25. The combination of claim 14, wherein said block members each include notches into which said end portions of said ring are received. 26. The combination of claim 14, wherein said ring is formed of more than one segment, each connection between adjacent segments provided by a said drive mechanism. 27. An expansion ring assembly in combination with a gasket for outwardly radially compressing said gasket into sealing engagement with an annular wall, comprising:a ring defined by at least two segments, each segment having pair of opposite end portions; andat least two drive mechanisms, each said drive mechanism disposed substantially within said ring and including a pair of block members each having a threaded bore therethrough, said block members respectively adjacent end portions of said ring segments; and a bolt including oppositely-threaded ends respectively removably engaging threaded within said bores of said block members, wherein rotation of said bolt in a first direction causes said block members to be driven away from one another to thereby expand said ring. 28. The expansion ring assembly of claim 27, wherein said block members are removably attached to said end portions of said ring segments. 29. The expansion ring assembly of claim 27, wherein adjacent said end portions of said ring segments define a gap therebetween, each said gap spanned by a said drive mechanism. 30. The expansion ring assembly of claim 27, further comprising an oversleeve overlapping each pair of adjacent end portions of said ring segments to prevent relative lateral movement therebetween. 31. A method of sealingly engaging a gasket with an annular wall, comprising the steps of:placing a gasket within the annular wall;fitting an expansion ring against an interior surface of the gasket;engaging a tool with a bolt of a drive mechanism disposed substantially within the ring, the bolt including oppositely-threaded ends threadably engaged with lock members removably connected to opposing ends of the expansion ring; androtating the bolt with the tool to simultaneously drive the block members apart from one another to expand the expansion ring and sealingly compress the gasket between the expansion ring and the annular wall. 32. The method of claim 31, comprising th e additional steps of:inserting a pipe through a portion of the gasket which extends from the compressed portion;installing at least one clamp around an outer surface of the extending portion of the gasket; andtightening each clamp to sealingly compress the extending portion of the gasket between each clamp and an outer surface of the pipe. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein said engaging step comprises engaging a wrench with the bolt, the wrench selected from a plurality of wrenches having socket ends with varying angular orientations.