GB2174155A - Seal - Google Patents

Abstract

A seal for a split collar which enables the collar to be used on a wide range of pipe sizes, comprises a deformable elongate body 10 which has hollow profiled part 16 of substantially semi-circular cross section and grooves 18 extending on either side of the profiled part. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seal This invention relates to a seal for a split collar.

Split collars have been used for many years for the repair of pipes such as gas and water pipes. Such collars normally comprise two half cylindrical bodies which can be clamped together around a pipe. Seals are provided around the ends of the collar to prevent leakage of fluid from the collar when it is in position on a pipe.

There are very many different sizes of pipes which has lead to the creation of a correspondingly large number of split collars. Stocks of all the different sizes of collar have to be available so that all the different sizes of pipe can be repaired.

It has recently been proposed that collars should be adaptable for use with a wide range of pipe sizes, so that the numbers of different collars that need to be stocked can be reduced. The present invention has been made with a view to solving that problem.

According to the invention there is provided a seal for a split collar which comprises a deformable elongate body adapted to be fitted to a split collar, a part of said body being hollow or profiled so that said body part is more deformable than the remainder of the body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the body is hollowed towards one side thereof which is preferably the side which is to form the sealing surface for sealing against the surface of a pipe around which the collar is fitted. Profiling of the body can comprise one or more grooves in the surface of the body. The grooves in the body are preferably provided adjacent the said sealing surface.

The seal can be adapted to fit any split collar including collars made of metal and plastics.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a seal in side elevation; Figure 2 is an end view of the seal of Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a plan view of two seals fitted in a pipe clamp; Figure 4 illustrates the deformation of the seal; and Figure 5 is an end elevation of a split collar.

Referring to the drawings the seal comprises an elongate body 10 of deformable material, for example, of rubber or plastics. In cross section (Fig. 2) the body is substantially semicircular. A bore 12 extends along the length of the seal. The bore is substantially oval in shape and is located adjacent the curved sealing surface 16 of the body so as to define a wall 14 which is of almost uniform thickness at least near the centre of the curved surface 16.

V-shaped grooves 18 are provided in the body adjacent the base 20 thereof. A tapered rib 22 extends along the back of the body, the rib being preferably integral with the body.

In use the seal is located in a split collar 23 by fitting the rib 22 into a channel 24 adjacent the end of the collar. As shown in Fig. 4 the seal can engage a small diameter pipe indicated by the dotted line 26 with very little deformation, or a large diameter pipe indicated by dotted line 28 with considerable deformation that the special structure of the seal permits. As can be seen in Fig. 4 the large deformation of the seal is obtained both by virtue of the bore 12 and of the grooves 18.

There is a further advantage arising from the special shape of the seal. When excessive pressure is applied to a seal which is partly located in a channel it can happen that the seal moves towards one side or other so that it may spring out of the channel. In the seal structure described the base surface 20 of the body rests on the surface of the collar on either side of channel 24 in which the rib 22 is received. This arrangement keeps the seal in place during deformation.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment and many modifications can be made. For example instead of one bore 12 a plurality of bores can be provided or the bore omitted completely. In addition the number and shape of the grooves 18 can be varied or the grooves can be omitted in order to produce the desired deformation characteristics.

1. A seal for a split collar comprising a deformable elongate body adapted to be fitted to a split collar, a part of the body being hollow and/or profiled so that said part is more deformable than the remainder of the body.

2. A seal as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body is hollowed towards one side thereof.

3. A seal as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body is hollowed towards the side that is intended to provide a sealing surface.

4. A seal for a split collar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the profiling comprises one or more grooves in the surface of the body.

5. A seal as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the or each groove is provided adjacent the sealing surface of the body.

6. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is of substantially semi-circular cross-section.

7. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a bore extends along the length of the body.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seal This invention relates to a seal for a split collar. Split collars have been used for many years for the repair of pipes such as gas and water pipes. Such collars normally comprise two half cylindrical bodies which can be clamped together around a pipe. Seals are provided around the ends of the collar to prevent leakage of fluid from the collar when it is in position on a pipe. There are very many different sizes of pipes which has lead to the creation of a correspondingly large number of split collars. Stocks of all the different sizes of collar have to be available so that all the different sizes of pipe can be repaired. It has recently been proposed that collars should be adaptable for use with a wide range of pipe sizes, so that the numbers of different collars that need to be stocked can be reduced. The present invention has been made with a view to solving that problem. According to the invention there is provided a seal for a split collar which comprises a deformable elongate body adapted to be fitted to a split collar, a part of said body being hollow or profiled so that said body part is more deformable than the remainder of the body. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the body is hollowed towards one side thereof which is preferably the side which is to form the sealing surface for sealing against the surface of a pipe around which the collar is fitted. Profiling of the body can comprise one or more grooves in the surface of the body. The grooves in the body are preferably provided adjacent the said sealing surface. The seal can be adapted to fit any split collar including collars made of metal and plastics. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a seal in side elevation; Figure 2 is an end view of the seal of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of two seals fitted in a pipe clamp; Figure 4 illustrates the deformation of the seal; and Figure 5 is an end elevation of a split collar. Referring to the drawings the seal comprises an elongate body 10 of deformable material, for example, of rubber or plastics. In cross section (Fig. 2) the body is substantially semicircular. A bore 12 extends along the length of the seal. The bore is substantially oval in shape and is located adjacent the curved sealing surface 16 of the body so as to define a wall 14 which is of almost uniform thickness at least near the centre of the curved surface 16. V-shaped grooves 18 are provided in the body adjacent the base 20 thereof. A tapered rib 22 extends along the back of the body, the rib being preferably integral with the body. In use the seal is located in a split collar 23 by fitting the rib 22 into a channel 24 adjacent the end of the collar. As shown in Fig. 4 the seal can engage a small diameter pipe indicated by the dotted line 26 with very little deformation, or a large diameter pipe indicated by dotted line 28 with considerable deformation that the special structure of the seal permits. As can be seen in Fig. 4 the large deformation of the seal is obtained both by virtue of the bore 12 and of the grooves 18. There is a further advantage arising from the special shape of the seal. When excessive pressure is applied to a seal which is partly located in a channel it can happen that the seal moves towards one side or other so that it may spring out of the channel. In the seal structure described the base surface 20 of the body rests on the surface of the collar on either side of channel 24 in which the rib 22 is received. This arrangement keeps the seal in place during deformation. The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment and many modifications can be made. For example instead of one bore 12 a plurality of bores can be provided or the bore omitted completely. In addition the number and shape of the grooves 18 can be varied or the grooves can be omitted in order to produce the desired deformation characteristics. CLAIMS

1. A seal for a split collar comprising a deformable elongate body adapted to be fitted to a split collar, a part of the body being hollow and/or profiled so that said part is more deformable than the remainder of the body.

2. A seal as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body is hollowed towards one side thereof.

3. A seal as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body is hollowed towards the side that is intended to provide a sealing surface.

4. A seal for a split collar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the profiling comprises one or more grooves in the surface of the body.

5. A seal as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the or each groove is provided adjacent the sealing surface of the body.

6. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is of substantially semi-circular cross-section.

7. A seal as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a bore extends along the length of the body.

8. A seal substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A split collar in combination with a seal as claimed in any preceding claim.