Packing for telescopically locked pipe joints

Claim 1

A ring-like packing (2) symmetrical about an axis X--X for a sealed joint between a male end (1) of a first pipe (T1) an a socket end (3) of a second pipe (T2), said socket end defining a mouth collar (4) followed by a groove (5) coaxial to the socket end, said groove having at least a shoulder and an inner corner, said packing defining an anchoring heel (8) extended by a radially compressible sealing body (10), the anchoring heel being configured to seat in the groove, characterized by a plurality of locking elements (E) individually distributed around the periphery of the packing, each locking element comprising an elongate first branch (B1) parallel to the axis X--X and an elongate second branch (B2) disposed at an angle of 80° to 100° to the axis X--X and extending the first branch in a radially inward direction, the first branch being disposed in the anchoring heel at a radially outermost surface thereof and the second branch extending radially through the packing and having a bevelled inner edge projecting slightly beyond an inner peripheral surface of the packing, a juncture between the first and second branches defining a projection (20) disposed against a shoulder (6) at an inner corner of the groove such that, upon the insertion of the male end of the first pipe into the socket end of the second pipe, the locking element pivots about the projection with the inner edge of the second branch being exclusively forced inwardly of the socket end by the first pipe insertion and without the application of any internal or external fluid pressure.