Pipe fitting

Claim 1

A pipe fitting assembly comprising: a first pipe fitting having a body formed with a flow cross section between two openings formed in said body so that a flow path between said openings forms an arcuate bend extending over an arc length at least 45°, said openings being bounded by radially outwardly extending peripheral flanges lying in respective planes and formed unitarily on said body with respective axially outwardly facing grooves, said flanges being inclined with respect to one another at at least 45° and having a thickness at an outermost region of each flange only slightly exceeding the wall thickness of said body; a second fitting having a flange extending peripherally around an opening thereof; and a clamping collar forming a channel engaging around one of said flanges of said first fitting and said flange of said second fitting which is positioned to abut said one of said flanges of said first fitting to bear upon respective flanks of the flanges around which said collar engages, said flanks tapering outwardly away from interiors of said fitting toward one another and said channel having sides engaging said flanks which converge outwardly, said flanges of said first fitting being spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate said collar between them, all of said flanges and openings having the same diameters, respectively, said abutting flanges being relatively rotatable through 360° prior to tightening of said collar, each of said flanges interconnected by said collar being formed with a circular groove opening toward the groove in the other flange and registering therewith whereby said grooves receive a common sealing ring, and between said groove and the respective opening in each of the flanges connected by said collar, a respective annular recess is provided opening at a surface of the flange and serving to define a bending zone of reduced thickness between the outer portion of the respective flange and said body.