Hydraulically actuated pipe coupling

Claim 1

A hydraulically actuated pipe coupling including: an elongate, generally cylindrical, tubular body, the body adapted to receive in at least one end a piece of pipe to be coupled thereto, the inside diameter of the body being larger than the outside diameter of the pipe, an elongate recess within the body, the recess being tapered to the inside diameter of the body adjacent the end adapted to receive the pipe, first and second ports within the body communicating with the recess, first and second valves hydraulically communicating with the first and second ports respectively, an annular hollow inflatable bladder mounted within the recess, inflation tubes extending from the bladder into the first and second ports whereby hydraulic communication is established between the valves and the interior of the inflatable bladder, an annular wedge member within the recess slidingly engaging the tapered portion of the recess, the inside diameter of the bladder and the wedge being substantially the same as the inside diameter of the body, a plurality of independent serrated slips imbedded intermediate the ends of the wedge, the serrated surface of the slips arranged about the pipe when inserted into the body, and the wedge and bladder being formed of an elastic deformable material, whereby fluid injected into the bladder serves to inflate the bladder to seal about the pipe and to force the wedge into contact with the pipe so that the slips grip the pipe.