Releasable coupling for tubes or pipes

Claim 1

A releasable coupling for connecting a tube or pipe to a coupling body, said coupling providing a through bore with an entry for said tube and comprising a body providing a housing in which is received a seal of generally Z-shape in section and a clamping ring having a plurality of teeth for engagement with a tube received within the body, a retainer located in said housing to retain said seal and clamping ring therein, a releaser having an inner portion extending within said housing and an outer portion projecting from said body, said releaser being mounted and located by said retainer for limited axial movement relative to said body, said seal having a first outer annular flange portion engaging said housing, a second inner annular flange portion for engagement with said tube and said first and second flange portions extending in opposed senses, said seal having a web connected to and extending between said first and second flange portions with said web converging away from said entry, said clamping ring being in located engagement with said first flange portion of said seal with said teeth projecting radially inwards and overlying said web on the face opposed to said releaser, the arrangement being such that, in use with a tube received within said coupling, on moving said releaser axially inwards of said entry, said releaser acts through said seal to displace said teeth away from said tube into a clearance in said housing thereby releasing said tube for axial withdrawal from said entry.