Pipe coupling
A pipe coupling includes a sleeve and a clamping ring. The sleeve includes a flange at least one end. The clamping ring is mounted to the flange. The clamping ring carries a seal and includes two spaced apart bolt engagement portions. The clamping ring further includes two separate clamping ring portions that are removably connected together at a coupling portion of each respective separate clamping ring portion so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other one. The two separate clamping ring portions function as a unitary ring when the coupling portions are brought into abutting contact such that the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other.
1. A pipe coupling, comprising:
a sleeve including a flange at an end of the sleeve;
a clamping ring mounted to the flange, the clamping ring carrying a seal, the clamping ring including two spaced apart bolt engagement portions, the clamping ring including two separate clamping ring portions that are removably connected together at a coupling portion of each respective separate clamping ring portion so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other one, the two separate clamping ring portions functioning as a unitary ring when a first bearing face of a first one of the two separate clamping ring portions is brought into abutting contact with a second bearing face of a second one of the two separate clamping ring portions such that the coupling portions are rotatably fixed relative to each other; and
an exterior handle connected to a central portion of the sleeve, for carrying and adjusting a position of the pipe coupling when the pipe coupling is put into use.
2. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a nested seal having an inner circumferential seal separately nested within an outer circumferential seal, the nested seal including an inwardly directed face that presses against an outwardly directed face of the flange.
3. The pipe coupling sleeve of claim 2 , wherein the nested seal includes a sloping outer surface received within the clamp ring in a manner so that the seal is urged toward the flange as the clamping ring portions move toward each other.
4. The pipe coupling of claim 2 , wherein the outer circumferential seal includes an annular groove that faces the flange, a diameter of the annular groove being greater than an inner diameter of the flange when the seal is in a non-compressed condition, and the diameter of the annular groove being less than the inner diameter of the flange when the seal is in a compressed condition.
5. The pipe coupling of claim 2 , wherein the inner circumferential seal includes a plurality of outer peripheral ridges that mate with a corresponding plurality of inner peripheral grooves on an inner surface of the outer circumferential seal.
6. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the bolt engagement portions are an ear located on each clamping ring portion, the ears are adapted to connect to a tightening bolt.
7. The pipe coupling of claim 6 , including a backing armor part positioned on an outwardly facing surface of the outer circumferential seal, the backing armor piece underlying and spanning an open space between the clamping ears of the clamping ring.
8. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the two separate clamping ring portions function as a unitary ring when the coupling portions are rotated into abutting contact such that the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other.
9. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the clamping ring includes an outwardly convergent sloped surface to retain a sealing element within the pipe coupling and to urge the sealing element against the flange as the bolt engagement portions are pulled toward each other.
10. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the clamping ring includes no more than two separate clamping ring portions.
11. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein when the first bearing face is brought into abutting contact with the second bearing face, the first and second bearing faces are substantially aligned along a plane extending through a center of the clamping ring.
12. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein when the first bearing face is brought into abutting contact with the second bearing face, the first bearing face engages the second bearing face only in compression.
13. The pipe coupling of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portions of each respective separate clamping ring portion extend radially outward from the clamping ring beyond the flange.
14. A pipe coupling, comprising:
a sleeve including a flange at an end of the sleeve, the sleeve converging toward the flange;
a clamping ring mounted to the flange, the clamping ring carrying a seal, the clamping ring including two spaced apart bolt engagement portions, the clamping ring including two separate clamping ring portions that are removably connected together at a coupling portion of each respective separate clamping ring portion so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other one, each clamping ring portion being rotatable about the coupling portion with respect to the other clamping ring portion in response to the bolt engagement portions being brought together until the coupling portions are brought into abutting contact, at which point the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other and moving the bolt engagement portions closer together causes the clamping ring to bend; and
an exterior handle connected to a central portion of the sleeve, for carrying and adjusting a position of the pipe coupling when the pipe coupling is put into use.
15. The pipe coupling of claim 14 , wherein a first one of the two clamping ring portions has a first bearing face and a second one of the two separate clamping ring portions has a second bearing face.
16. The pipe coupling of claim 15 , wherein when the first bearing face is in abutting contact with the second bearing face, the first and second bearing faces are substantially aligned along a plane extending through a center of the clamping ring.
17. The pipe coupling of claim 14 , wherein the two separate clamping ring portions function as a unitary ring when the coupling portions are rotated into abutting contact such that the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other.
18. A pipe coupling, comprising:
a sleeve including a flange at an end of the sleeve;
a clamping ring mounted to the flange, the clamping ring carrying a seal, the clamping ring including two spaced apart bolt engagement portions, the clamping ring including an outwardly convergent sloped surface to retain a sealing element within the pipe coupling and to urge the sealing element against the flange as the bolt engagement portions are pulled toward each other, the clamping ring including two separate clamping ring portions that are removably connected together at a coupling portion of each respective separate clamping ring portion so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other one, the two separate clamping ring portions functioning as a unitary ring when the coupling portions are brought into abutting contact such that the coupling portions become fixed relative to each other; and
an exterior handle connected to a central portion of the sleeve, for carrying and adjusting a position of the pipe coupling when the pipe coupling is put into use.
19. The pipe coupling of claim 18 , wherein the sleeve converges toward the flange.
20. The pipe coupling of claim 18 , wherein the two separate clamping ring portions functioning as a unitary ring comprises the two separate clamping ring portions functioning as a unitary ring when a first bearing face of a first one of the two separate clamping ring portions is brought into abutting contact with a second bearing face of a second one of the two separate clamping ring portions such that the coupling portions are rotatably fixed relative to each other.
21. A pipe coupling, comprising:
a sleeve having a flange at an end thereof;
a clamping ring mounted to the flange, the clamping ring carrying a seal, the clamping ring including two separate clamping ring portions removably connected together at a coupling portion of each of the separate clamping ring portions so that each clamping ring portion is separable from the other, each clamping ring portion including a bolt engagement portion opposite the coupling portion, each clamping ring portion being movable about the coupling portion with respect to the other clamping ring portion in response to the bolt engagement portions being moved towards each other until a substantially planar abutting surface proximate the coupling portion of each clamping ring portion is brought into abutting contact with each other, at which point the coupling portions are fixed relative to each other and moving the bolt engagement portions closer together does not result in further movement of the coupling portions relative to each other, but instead results in only bending of the clamping ring; and
an exterior handle connected to a central portion of the sleeve, for carrying and adjusting a position of the pipe coupling when the pipe coupling is put into use.