GB383055A - Improvements in or relating to connectors for flexible metallic pipes - Google Patents

Abstract

383,055. Pipe couplings. KEITH & BLACKMAN CO., Ltd., J. and KEITH, G., 27, Farringdon Avenue, London. Nov. 5, 1931, No. 30648. [Class 99 (i).] In a connector for flexible metal pipes, a muff of resilient material is fitted over a pipe and into a sheath and a shell, surrounding the muff and sheath, is connected to a tubular coupling piece in such a manner as to exercise end pressure on the sheathed muff and maintain it in gastight relationship with the coupling piece and the pipe. A flexible metallic pipe 1, Fig. 1, is passed through a closely fitting rubber &c. muff 2 surrounded by a metal sheath 3 stepped inwardly at its inner end 3<1>, and enters a socket 4 in a coupling member 5. Surrounding the sheath 3 and adapted to embrace the coupling member 5 is a metal shell 6 connectible to the coupling member by a bayonet catch 7, 8 and maintained in the engaged position by a spring 9 disposed between the stepped ends of the shell 6 and sheath 3, the end 6 of the coupling member then exerting end pressure to expand the muff 2 radially against the pipe 1. The stepped end of the sheath 3 may have an inwardly extending tongue to engage, or be formed to screw on, the pipe to prevent displacement when connection or disconnection is made and the muff may be constituted by a packing wound on the pipe. A screw connection may replace the bayonet joint, the spring 9 being dispensed with. The shell 6 may serve as a handle for operating a safety cock having a gas passage formed axially in the cock plug. An inturned tongue 17, Fig. 5, on a fixed outer casing 15 surrounding a cock body 16 is disposed in the path of a pin 18 projecting outwards from the rotatable plug 16 in which a gas passage 13 is formed axially. The outer end of the connecting shell is flanged outwardly at 19, a gap in the flange 19 allowing it to pass the tongue 17 and pin 18 when the cock is " off," the pin then engaging in a longitudinal slot in the shell. Rotation of the shell to the " on " position removes the gap from the tongue 17 which engages the underside of the flange to lock the connector to the cock. In the absence of any connector, a spring-pressed plunger 22 in the path of the pin 18 prevents rotation of the cock plug, the flange 19 of the shell 6 raising the plunger out of that path when the connector is applied to the cock. In a modification, the body of the cock is castellated and the gaps thereof allow the shell to engage the pin on the plug when the latter is in the "off" position.