Coupling for a pipe or tube

Claim 2

A coupling for a pipe or tube comprising a first member having an axial passage therethrough, a second member slidably disposed over the first member and having an axial passage therethrough, circumferentially spaced flexible clamping jaws disposed around the wall of the passage of the second member and secured at one end to said first member and terminating in opposite free ends, said clamping jaws being so disposed that said slidable member presses the free ends thereof radially inwardly when moved to its extreme position over the first member and Releases the clamping jaws to permit radial expansion thereof when disposed away from the said extreme position.

Claim 3

A coupling according to claim 1, in which said second member is in the form of a sleeve and includes means defining a cavity for receiving the free ends of the jaws which are resilient and in their expanded state have a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the sleeve, and a shoulder, said shoulder being provided in the cavity of the sleeve and being adapted to cooperate with the jaws.

Claim 4

A coupling according to claim 2, in which said shoulder is conical and is adapted to cooperate with the free ends of the jaws to close the jaws radially against the outer surface of a tube or pipe under the effect of an axial force exerted on the sleeve in the direction tending to remove the latter.

Claim 5

A coupling according to claim 3, in which the free ends of said jaws and said conical shoulder have the same cone angle so that the jaws and the shoulder cooperate to produce a self-locking effect.

Claim 6

A coupling according to claim 2, in which the jaws can be closed together to allow the sleeve to be mounted thereon.

Claim 7

A coupling according to claim 2, which includes a sealing ring, said sealing ring being located in the cavity to seal the coupling to the pipe or tube.

Claim 8

A coupling according to claim 1, in which the first member includes a socket over which the second member can be mounted in a sealed manner.

Claim 9

A coupling according to claim 1, which includes four clamping jaws having radially extending prongs at their free ends.

Claim 10

A coupling for a pipe comprising a first member having an axial bore extending inwardly from a first end thereof and a counterbore of larger cross-section extending inwardly from the opposite end thereof, a second member slidably disposed about said first member with the first member inserted in a first bore in the second member which is coaxial with the counterbore in the first member, a second bore in the second member extending from the internal end of the first bore to a point spaced from the opposite end of the second member, said second bore being of uniform cross-section larger in cross-section than the counterbore in the first member and smaller than the cross-section of said first bore in the second member, a counterbore beginning at said opposite end of the second member and stopping at a point spaced longitudinally from the said point where the said second bore stops, and a third bore between the second bore and counterbore in the second member of larger cross-section than that of the second bore and providing an annular seat for a toroid ring next to the said counterbore and having a wall which slopes radially outwardly from the point where the second bore stops to said seat forming a frusto-conically shaped portion, a toroidal shaped ring disposed in said seat, and circumferentially spaced flexible clamping jaws disposed about the wall of said second bore secured at one end to the first member and terminating in end members free to move radially and disposed in the said frusto-conically shaped portion, said end member having a surface adjacent to the sloping surface of the said frusto-conically shaped portion which is substantially parallel thereto and an opposite side having a means adapted to engage a pipe disposed between the jaws, said counterbore in the first member, said toroid ring and said counterbore in second member providing supporting surfaces for a pipe disposed through the counterbore and second bore in the second member and in the counterbore of the first member, whereby said second member presses said jaws radially inwardly when moved longitudinally against said end members and releases said end members for radial expansion of the jaws when moved longitudinally away from the end members.

Claim 11

A coupling for a pipe comprising a first member having an axial bore extending inwardly from a first end thereof and a counterbore of larger cross-section extending inwardly from the opposite end thereof, a second member slidably disposed about said first member with the first member inserted in a first bore in the second member which is coaxial with the counterbore in the first member, a second bore in the second member extending from the internal end of the first bore to a point spaced from the opposite end of the second member, said second bore being of uniform cross-section larger in cross-section than the counterbore in the first member and smaller than the cross-section of said first bore in the second member, a counterbore beginning at said opposite end of the second member and stopping at a point spaced longitudinally from the said point where the said second bore stops, and a third bore between the second bore and counterbore in the second member of larger cross-section than that of the second bore and providing an annular seat for a toroid ring next to the said counterbore and having a wall which slopes radially outwardly from the point where the second bore stops to said seat forming a frusto-conically shaped portion, a toroidal shaped ring disposed in said seat, and circumferentially spaced flexible clamping jaws disposed about the wall of said second bore secured at one end to the first member and terminating in end members free to move radially and disposed in the said frusto-conically shaped portion, said end member having a surface adjacent to the sloping surface of the said frusto-conically shaped portion which is substantially parallel thereto and an opposite side having a means adapted to engage a pipe disposed between the jaws, said counterbore in the first member, said toroid ring and said counterbore in second member providing supporting surfaces for a pipe disposed through the counterbore and second bore in the second member and in the counterbore of the first member, whereby said second member presses said jaws radially inwardly when moved longitudinally against said end members and releases said end members for radial expansion of the jaws when moved longitudinally away from the end members.

Claim 12

The coupling of claim 9 wherein said first member has a socket member over which said second member slides and an external annular flange integral with the socket and positioned to stop movemEnt of the second member thereover.