초록 ▼

A pipe coupling (11) comprises a tubular casing (12) and a sealing gasket (13), which fit over the ends of the pipes to be coupled. The casing (12) is formed from a strip of rolled steel into a cylindrical shape, with a longitudinal gap (14). The free ends of the strip, which forms the casing, are b

A pipe coupling (11) comprises a tubular casing (12) and a sealing gasket (13), which fit over the ends of the pipes to be coupled. The casing (12) is formed from a strip of rolled steel into a cylindrical shape, with a longitudinal gap (14). The free ends of the strip, which forms the casing, are bent outwardly to form radially projecting flange (15) along opposite edges of the longitudinal gap (14). The outer ends of the flanges (15) are bent back at right angles to form stiffening flanges (16) along the longitudinal outer edges of the flanges (15). A bridging member (18) fits inside the casing so as to span the longitudinal gap. Tensioning screw bolts (25) pass through reinforcing plate's (20) and the flange (15). A hexagonal nut (34) is threaded onto the end of each screw bolt. The nuts fit into the channel but are prevented from turning. The heads (35) of the bolts have a hexagonal recess to take an Allen key so that they can be tightened to clamp the coupling around the pipe ends.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes, comprising: a tubular casing, having circumferentially extending end flanges projecting inwardly from axial ends of the casing; a tubular sealing sleeve inside the casing; tensioning means for tightening the

The invention claimed is: 1. A pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes, comprising: a tubular casing, having circumferentially extending end flanges projecting inwardly from axial ends of the casing; a tubular sealing sleeve inside the casing; tensioning means for tightening the casing around the sealing sleeve, said tensioning means comprising two sets of screw bolts and nuts, and frustoconical gripping rings located within the casing at opposite ends of the casing, the inner edges of the gripping rings being formed with teeth; the casing comprising a strip of metal formed into a tube with a gap extending longitudinally of the casing between the free ends of the strip, the tensioning means interconnecting the free ends of the strip, the arrangement being such that when the coupling is placed around the ends of two pipes to be connected and the tensioning means are tightened, the casing presses the sealing sleeve against the pipe ends to form seals and forces the teeth on the gripping ring to bite into the surface of the pipes to grip the pipes, wherein the free ends of the strip are bent outwardly to form radially projecting flanges extending longitudinally of the casing on opposite sides of the gap, the two radially projecting flanges being placed between two reinforcing members which extend substantially the length of the coupling, the tensioning means passing through two sets of aligned holes in the reinforcing members and the radially projecting flanges, the reinforcing members each having an angled cross-section, a web portion through which the holes for the tensioning means pass, and a reinforcing member flange extending along the longitudinal edge of the web portion that is nearer to the axis of the coupling, wherein each said web portion of each said reinforcing member is in surface-to-surface contact with a planar surface of a respective said radially projecting flange. 2. A pipe coupling according to claim 1 in which each said reinforcing member has a channel-shaped cross section with reinforcing member flanges extending along both longitudinal edges of the web portion, and the nuts are of a size that fits between the flanges of each said reinforcing member so as to prevent rotation of the nuts. 3. A pipe coupling according to claim 2 which is arranged so that as the bolts are tightened, the radially projecting flanges are drawn together thereby causing the casing to apply radially compressive forces to the sealing sleeve and the gripping rings. 4. A pipe coupling according to claim 1 which is arranged so that, as the bolts are tightened, the radially projecting flanges are drawn together, thereby causing the tubular casing to apply radially compressive forces to the sealing sleeve and the gripping rings. 5. A pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the aligned holes are elongated in the radial direction. 6. A pipe coupling according to claim 1 including backing rings provided inside the casing adjacent a respective said gripping ring between the gripping ring and the sealing sleeve to prevent the sealing sleeve from bulging between the teeth of the gripping ring. 7. A pipe coupling according to claim 1 including an inner sleeve provided inside the sealing sleeve to prevent the sealing sleeve from bulging inwardly between the pipe ends. 8. A pipe coupling according to claim 1, wherein the outer ends of the radially projecting flanges are bent back to form planar stiffening flanges along the longitudinal outer edges of the radially projecting flanges. 9. A pipe coupling according to claim 8, wherein the radially projecting flanges are bent back at right angles. 10. A pipe coupling for connecting together pipe ends, comprising: a tubular casing comprising a strip of metal formed into a tube with a gap extending longitudinally of the casing between free ends of the strip, the free ends of the strip being bent outwardly to form opposing spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges that extend longitudinally outwardly on opposite sides of the gap, the radially projecting flanges including through holes adjacent the free ends thereof extending therethrough, said tubular casing further comprising inwardly extending end flanges projecting inwardly at axial ends of the tube of said tubular casing; a hollow generally tubular sealing sleeve located inside the casing for receiving ends of pipes therein; frustoconical gripper rings located within and at opposite ends of the casing and having inner edges formed with teeth; a pair of reinforcing members separate from the tubular casing and having a length substantially the same as a longitudinal length of said projecting flanges of said tubular casing, each said reinforcing member including a web portion with through holes for placement substantially in alignment with the through holes of said respective outwardly projecting flanges when said reinforcing members contact with said projecting flanges on opposite sides of the gap, said reinforcing members each including a reinforcing member flange extending along a longitudinal edge of said web portion that is nearest to the axis of the coupling so that the longitudinal edge where said web portion and said reinforcing member flange directly adjoin bears against a region on an outer surface of said tube of said tubular casing; and a tensioning arrangement for placement through the aligned through holes of said web portions and said outwardly projecting flanges for interconnecting the free ends of the opposing spaced radially outwardly projecting flanges and for moving said flanges toward each other to tighten said tubular casing around said sealing sleeve, wherein, when the coupling is placed around the ends of two pipes to be connected and said tensioning arrangement is tightened, said tubular casing presses said sealing sleeve against pipe ends to form seals and forces the gripping rings to grip the respective pipe ends. 11. A pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein a planar surface of said web portion of each said reinforcing member is configured for surface-to-surface contact with a planar outer surface of a respective said radially outwardly projecting flange. 12. A pipe coupling according to claim 10, said coupling further comprising a bridging member for spanning the longitudinal gap. 13. A pipe coupling according to claim 10, wherein said sealing sleeve comprises a sealing gasket having sealing lips formed near each end thereof. 14. A pipe coupling according to claim 13, including a steel inner sleeve for placement within a smooth middle portion between said sealing lips within said sealing gasket. 15. A pipe coupling for connecting together ends of two pipes, comprising: a tubular casing formed into a tube with a gap extending longitudinally of the casing between free ends of the strip, the free ends of the strip being bent outwardly to form opposing radially outwardly projecting substantially planar flanges that extend longitudinally outwardly on opposite sides of the gap, the radially projecting flanges including through holes adjacent the free ends thereof and extending therethrough; a hollow generally tubular sealing sleeve located inside said tube of said tubular casing for receiving ends of pipes therein; frustoconical gripping rings located within and at opposite ends of said tube of said tubular casing; a pair of reinforcing members dimensioned for extending along a longitudinal length of said projecting flanges of said tubular casing, each said reinforcing member including a web portion having a planar surface with through holes, said reinforcing members configured for placement substantially in alignment with the through holes of said respective outwardly projecting flanges when said web portion of each said reinforcing member is placed into surface-to-surface contact with the planar surface of a respective said projecting flange, said reinforcing members each including a reinforcing member flange extending along a longitudinal edge of the web portion that is nearest to the axis of the coupling so that at least a part of at least one of the edge of said web portion and the adjacent edge of said reinforcing member flange contact a region on an outer surface of said tubular casing; and a tensioning arrangement for placement through the aligned through holes of said web portions and said outwardly projecting flanges for interconnecting the free ends of the opposing radially outwardly projecting flanges and for moving said outwardly projecting flanges toward each other for tightening said tubular casing around said tubular sealing sleeve.