Device for a tensile locking of pipe elements

Claim 1

In a device for the tensile locking of a coupling between a first pipe element having a male end portion and a second pipe element having a socket portion, the male end portion being in an inserted position in the socket portion with interposition of an elastic sealing element, the device comprising an outer abutment projection integral with the male end portion, an inner flange integral with the socket portion and defining an inner shoulder facing axially inwardly of the socket portion and axially spaced from the abutment projection, the socket portion and flange defining with the male end portion a clearance exceeding a clearance for ease of axial assembly so that the pipe elements are able to be assembled at a given angular offset from axial alignment of the pipe elements, a ring located axially between the abutment projection and the flange and axially bearing against the abutment projection and a mass of hardenable material which is in the hardened state and disposed in the whole of a space which is empty between the male end portion and the socket portion and around the abutment projection and the ring, the elastic sealing element being located axially inwardly of the mass of hardenable material and the hardenable material being capable in its hardened state of rigidly resisting extraction of the male end portion from the socket portion; the improvement comprising in combination with the hardenable material and the flange an intermediate tensile locking means axially interposed between the hardenable material and the inner shoulder of the flange and radially overlapping the shoulder and radially extending to the male end portion, the intermediate means radially defining with the socket portion and with the flange sufficient annular clearance to allow said angular offset upon assembly of the two pipe elements.