Pipe coupling with a wedging contractible ring

Claim 1

A readily separable coupling for joining together a pair of pipes, each having a cross sectionally arcuate circumferential groove defined in the exterior surface thereof adjacent one end, comprising: a cylindrical body having a pair of open ends, each receiving one of said pair of pipes, a pair of circumferentially tapered channels, each located on the inner surface of one of said open ends and having a tapered side wall and a perpendicular back wall, said tapered side wall arranged so that the smallest diameter of each of said tapered channels is located at said open end of the cylindrical body, said back walls being integral with said cylindrical body and located at the other ends of said tapered channels, said side walls tapering from said back walls to said open ends, said tapered side walls being spaced apart from the pipe exterior surfaces to define first gaps adjacent said open ends and second gaps adjacent said back walls with said second gaps being larger than said first gaps; a pair of contractible resilient cross sectionally round split rings, each positioned within one of the circumferential grooves and having a relaxed inside diameter less than the outer diameter of said pipes whereby said split rings may be securely seated in the grooves when positioned therein, said split rings having a thickness greater in size than said first gaps but smaller in size than said second gaps, said second gaps having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the pipe and the split ring thereon, said split rings each being unconstrained within said tapered channels to be free to move inwardly thereof toward said back walls when the pipes are moved in that direction whereby said rings are freed from contact with said tapered walls; split ring unlocking means arranged for operation when said pipes are moved inwardly of said coupling acting to move said cross sectionally round split rings substantially out of the circumferential grooves, said means comprising a partial sleeve member for partially surrounding one of the pipes, a handle on said sleeve member for moving said sleeve member longitudinally of said pipes, said sleeve member sized to fit through said first gaps to move inwardly of said coupling for insertion between one of said split rings and the pipe exterior surface so as to disengage said one split ring from the pipe to free the pipe from the coupling; and sealing means in said coupling comprising annular grooves in the inner surface of the coupling located inwardly thereof with respect to the circumferentially tapred channels and resilient gaskets retained in said annular grooves for sealing engagement with said pipes.