Detachable pipe coupling including a detachable flange

Claim 1

IN A PIPE COUPLING, A FITTING HAVING A CYLINDRICAL END FORMED WITH A FLUSH FACE, A PIPE SECTION HAVING AN END SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID END OF THE FITTING AND HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED ANNULAR GROOVES IN THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, THE GROOVES BEING LIMITED IN ARC LENGTH TO LEAVE A LARGE PORTION OF THE PIPE SECTION OF FULL PIPE WALL THICKNESS, A BUSHING SLIDABLE ON THE PIPE SECTION AND HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS FACING SAID FITTING, MEANS FOR URGING SAID BUSHING TOWARD SAID FITTING, A PAIR OF ARCUATE KEYS HAVING INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES FITTING IN SAID GROOVES AND WITH THE CONFRONTING ENDS OF THE KEYS BEING SPACED APART, HELICAL TENSION SPRINGS CONNECTING THE CONFRONTING ENDS OF SAID KEYS FOR URGING THE INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES INTO THE GROOVES, A PACKING RING ENCIRCLING SAID PIPE SECTION AND HAVING A FLAT OUTER FACE BEARING AGAINST SAID KEYS AND A FLAT INNER FACE CONFRONTING SAID FITTING, SAID PACKING RING AND SAID KEYS WHEN ENGAGED IN SAID GROOVES AND SAID PACKING RING BEING PROPORTIONED TO FIT SNUGLY INTO SAID ANNULAR RECESS IN THE BUSHING, THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID PACKING RING AT SAID INNER FACE BEING FORMED WITH AN ANNULAR GASKET GROOVE, AND A RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE GASKET MOUNTED IN SAID GASKET GROOVE AND PROPORTIONED TO EXTEND AXIALLY BEYOND SAID PACKING RING WHEREBY URGING OF THE BUSHING TOWARD THE FITTING WILL COMPRESS THE GASKET INTO THE GASKET GROOVE AND EFFECT A SEAL BETWEEN SAID PACKING RING AND SAID PIPE SECTION AND BETWEEN SAID PACKING RING AND SAID FITTING.