Flexible pipe coupling

Claim 2

A coupling for the establishment of a fluidtight connection between the neighboring end portions of two pipes, comprising a deformable elastic sleeve having two open ends, an external surface, an internal surface, a substantially centrally located annular partition extending from said internal surface and disposed between the end portions of the pipes which are inserted into the sleeve through the respective open ends, two inner circumferential grooves provided in said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition, and a third circumferential groove provided in said external surface; and a clamping unit including a split ring surrounding said external surface and having a first corrugation extending into said third groove, said ring further having two outwardly extending projections which are relatively movable between a first position in which said projections are separated by a first distance as considered circumferentially of said ring and a second position in which said projections are separated by a smaller second distance as considered circumferentially of said ring, and said clamping unit further having tightening means for drawing said projections from said first position to said second position to thereby tighten said ring around the external surface of and deform said sleeve, said clamping unit also including an arcuate insert which bridges at least the major part of the gap between said projections in said first position and is at least partially disposed between said ring and the external surface of said sleeve in said second position, and said insert having a second corrugation extending into said third groove and receiving the adjacent portion of the first corrugation in said second position.

Claim 3

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sleeve further comprises two annular ribs terminating at said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition, said inner grooves being disposed between said partition and the respective ribs.

Claim 4

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has additional internal surfaces flanking those portions of said inner grooves which are remote from said partition, each of said additional surfaces sloping inwardly in a direction toward said partition.

Claim 5

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said tightening means comprises a single bolt and nut assembly.

Claim 6

The coupling of claim 4, wherein each of said projections has a hole disposed substantially midway between the axial ends of said ring and the bolt of said assembly has a shank extending through the holes of said projections.

Claim 7

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said tightening means comprises a bolt having a shank, a portion of which extends into said second corrugation intermediate said projections.

Claim 8

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said ring comprises two frustoconical marginal portions overlying the open ends of said sleeve and tapering inwardly in directions away from said partition.

Claim 9

The coupling of claim 7, wherein said sleeve further comprises two annular ribs terminating at said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition, said inner grooves being disposed between said partition and the respective ribs, said sleeve having circumferentially extending bottom surfaces in said inner grooves and the minimum diameter of each of said frustoconical marginal portions in undeformed condition of said sleeve exceeding the smallest diameters of said ribs but being less than the diameters of said bottom surfaces.

Claim 10

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said insert is affixed to said ring in the region of one end portion of such ring.

Claim 11

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises two annular ribs terminating at said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition, said inner grooves being disposed between said partition and the respective ribs and each of said ribs having an annular outer side facing away from said partition and sloping inwardly in a direction toward said partition.

Claim 12

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has additional internal surfaces provided in said inner grooves adjacent said partition and sloping inwardly in directions toward the partition.

Claim 13

The coupling of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has additional internal surfaces provided in said inner grooves and being remote from said partition, each of said additional surfaces sloping inwardly toward said partition.

Claim 14

The coupling of claim 1, wherein the marginal portions of said ring are arranged to engage with and to be deformed by the respective pipes in response to tightening of said ring around said sleeve.

Claim 15

The coupling of claim 7, wherein said insert comprises two frustoconical marginal portions which overlie the open ends of said sleeve and taper inwardly in directions away from said partition.

Claim 16

A coupling for the establishment of a fluidtight connection between the neighboring end portions of two pipes, comprising a deformable elastic sleeve having two open ends, an external surface, an internal surface, a substantially centrally located annular partition extending from said internal surface and disposed between the end portions of the pipes which are inserted into the sleeve through the respective open ends, two annular ribs at the opposite sides of said partititon terminating at said internal surface and each having an outer side facing away from and sloping inwardly in a direction towards said partition, two inner circumferential grooves provided in said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition and each being disposed between said partition and a respective rib, and a third circumferential groove in said external surface; and a clamping unit including a split ring surrounding said external surface and having a first corrugation extending into said third groove, said ring being provided with two frustoconical marginal portions which overlie the open ends of said sleeve and taper inwardly in directions away from said partition, and said ring further having two outwardly extending projections which are relatively movable between a first position in which said projections are separated by a first distance as considered circumferentially and a second position in which said projections are separated by a smaller second distance as considered circumferentially of said ring, said clamping unit additionally including tightening means for drawing said projections from said first position to said second position to thereby tighten said ring around the external surface of and deform said sleeve, and said tightening means comprising a single bolt, said bolt extending through said projections and being disposed substantially midway said projections and being disposed substantially midway between the axial ends of said ring, and said clamping unit also including an arcuate insert which bridges at least the major part of the gap between said projections in said first position and is at least partially disposed between said ring and the external surface of said sleeve in said second position, said insert having a second corrugation extending into said third groove and receiving the adjacent portion of the first corrugation in said second position.

Claim 17

A coupling for the establishment of a fluidtight connection between the neighboring end portions of two pipes, comprising a deformable elastic sleeve having two open ends, an external surface, an internal surface, a substantially centrally located annular partition extending from said internal surface and disposed between the end portions of the pipes which are inserted into the sleeve through the respective open ends, two annular ribs at the opposite sides of said partititon terminating at said internal surface and each having an outer side facing away from and sloping inwardly in a direction towards said partition, two inner circumferential grooves provided in said internal surface at the opposite sides of said partition and each being disposed between said partition and a respective rib, and a third circumferential groove in said external surface; and a clamping unit including a split ring surrounding said external surface and having a first corrugation extending into said third groove, said ring being provided with two frustoconical marginal portions which overlie the open ends of said sleeve and taper inwardly in directions away from said partition, and said ring further having two outwardly extending projections which are relatively movable between a first position in which said projections are separated by a first distance as considered circumferentially and a second position in which said projections are separated by a smaller second distance as considered circumferentially of said ring, said clamping unit additionally including tightening means for drawing said projections from said first position to said second position to thereby tighten said ring around the external surface of and deform said sleeve, and said tightening means comprising a single bolt, said bolt extending through said projections and being disposed substantially midway said projections and being disposed substantially midway between the axial ends of said ring, and said clamping unit also including an arcuate insert which bridges at least the major part of the gap between said projections in said first position and is at least partially disposed between said ring and the external surface of said sleeve in said second position, said insert having a second corrugation extending into said third groove and receiving the adjacent portion of the first corrugation in said second position.

Claim 18

The coupling of claim 15, wherein said bolt projects into said second corrugation.

Claim 19

The coupling of claim 15, wherein said insert comprises two frustoconical marginal portions which overlie the open ends of said sleeve and taper inwardly in directions away from said partition.

Claim 20

The coupling of claim 17, wherein the frustoconical marginal portions of said insert essentially conform to the frustoconical marginal portions of said ring.

Claim 21

The coupling of claim 15, wherein said insert is of one piece with and constitutes an extension of said ring.

Claim 22

The coupling of claim 15, wherein said second corrugation constitutes an extension of said first corrugation.