GB2103322A - Pipe coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

A pipe coupling has two halves 3 which engage around two shouldered or grooved pipe ends 1, 2 to join them. The halves have complementary radially outwardly projecting formations 6, 7 with apertures 8 extending therethrough, which are engaged by locking wedges 10 to join the halves. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pipe coupling This invention relates to pipe couplings and more particularly to couplings which are widely known as "Victaulic Couplings".

Pipe couplings of this kind comprise two halves forming between them a clamp which is used to secure abutting ends of pipe lengths together. Sealing rings are retained in recesses in the halves of the coupling to form a fluid-tight joint between the pipe ends. The halves of the clamps are held together to couple the pipe ends together by nut and bolt assemblies. Where pipe lines are assembled under adverse working conditions such as in underground mining installations for example, nut and bolt assemblies tend to often be unsatisfactory. This is because the assemblies corrode and also because it is, under such working conditions, frequently difficult to manipulate a spanner.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling of the general type referred to wherein the coupling halves can be secured together and released by means of a hammer or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a pipe coupling of the type having two coupling halves retaining sealing rings therebetween, each half being engageable with the other and with two abutting pipe ends for coupling thereof, characterised in that there are provided complementary spigot and slot formations on the coupling halves having apertures therethrough for locking members to engage in to couple halves, the locking members including automatic biasing means for holding them in the engaged position.

Further features of the invention provide for there to be a spigot formation and a slot formation at diametrically opposed locations at the ends of each half, and for the locking members to have a head provided at each end thereof separated by a shank, one head being shaped as an arrowhead and slotted to split this head as well as part of the shank beyond the shoulders of the arrowhead.

Preferably the axes of the apertures are parallel with the axis of pipes to be coupled, and are rectangular in cross-section, with the locking members made from flat material.

There is also provided for the halves to be engagable with pipes ends having annular shoulders or alternatively with pipe ends having annular recesses of grooves therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the coupling l in elevation; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the assembled coupling and Figure 3 illustrates the locking member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENT As illustrated the coupling is used to retain two pipe ends (1) and (2) together with a fluid tight joint between them.

The coupling consists of two identical halves (3) each one adapted to extend half way round the pipe ends (1) and (2). Each half is recessed to accommodate one half of a sealing ring (4) and, if present, a flange or lip projecting radially outwardly from the ends of the pipes.

The halves have flat end surfaces (5) adapted to butt against each other when the coupling is assembled.

Each coupling has a pair of outwardly extending projections (6) spaced apart axially with respect to the coupling half, above one end thereof, and a similar projection (7) on the opposite side located, in the axial direction, between projections (6). Part of these projections extend beyond the flat end surfaces.

Thus two identical half coupling members can have their faces butted against each other with the projections (6) of the one half embracing the projection (7) on the other and vice versa.

The projections (6) and (7) have apertures (8) formed therethrough parallel to the axis of the coupling and, in this example these apertures are made rectangular in shape with the centre line of the perforations on the same plane as the flat surface.

To secure the coupling together a locking member (9) is used. This member is made from plate having a thickness which will be slightly smaller than the width of the perforations (8). The member (9) has a large head (10) at the one end and a smaller arrow-head shaped head (11) at the other. The heads (10) and (11) are separated by shank (12) which is of a length such that the outside surfaces of the two projections (6) can engage against head (10) and the shoulders (13) of the arrow-head shape.

The member (9) is slotted longitudinally at (14) to split the arrow-head between the shoulders and partway along the length of the shank (.1 2). This split will be adequate to enable the arrow-head shaped part to be compressed to enable it to pass, in its compressed condition, through the perforations (8) in the projections (6) and (7). Also the length and angular configuration of the arrow-head will be such that a narrow pipe may be driven over the free end to compress the head.

In use the coupling is fitted over two abutting pipe ends in the usual way but with the projections (6) and (7) on the coupling halves inter-engaged as described above. All that is required to lock the coupling in position is for locking members (9) to be driven to pass through the perforations (8) until the shoulders (13) pass the outer surface of the furthest projection (6) and, under the natural resilience of the material from which the member is made, the shoulders spring outwardly into their normal position.

The coupling halves are thus securely held in position to retain the pipe ends. It will be appreciated that the halves can be made to engage over either shouldred pipe ends (14), or recessed pipe ends (15) indicated in dotted lines in the alternative.

In order to release the coupling all that is required is for a small pipe to be engaged over the free end of the arrow-head (11) and driven by a hammer or the like at its free end.

This causes the head to be compressed until the shoulders (13) can again pass through the perforations (8). At this stage the locking member will move outwardly from the coupling halves to release them.

It should be noted that compression of the member (9) not only enables the shoulders (13) to pass through the perforations as described but will also tend to break and release any corrosion or other binding that may have occured between the parts during use.

Claims (8)

1. A pipe coupling of the type having two coupling halves retaining sealing rings therebetween, each half being engagable with the other and with two abutting pipe ends for coupling thereof, characterized in that: there are provided complementary spigot and slot formations on the coupling halves having apertures therethrough for locking members including automatic biasing means for holding them in the engaged position.

2. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim one in which a spigot formation and a slot formation is provided at diametrically opposed locations at the end of each half.

3. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 in which the locking members have a head at each end thereof separated by a shank, one head being shaped as an arrowhead and slotted to split this head as well as part of the shank beyond the shoulders of the arrow-head.

4. A piped coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including claim 8 in which the axis of the apertures are parallel with the axis of pipes to be coupled with the coupling, and are rectangular in cross-section.

5. A pipe coupling as claimed in claim 4 in which the locking members are made of, flat plate material.

6. A pipe coupling as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there is provided for the halves to be engagable with pipe ends having annular shoulders.

7. A pipe coupling as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which there is provided for the halves to be engagable with pipe ends having annular recesses or grooves therein.

8. A pipe coupling substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.