A pipe coupling device (2) for joining the ends of two pipes is disclosed. The pipe coupling device (2) includes a sleeve (4) configured to receive an end of a pipe and having an annular first abutment surface (6); a compression member (12) having an annular second abutment surface (10); a sealing and gripping assembly (8) for sealing against and gripping the pipe; and threaded fasteners for drawing the compression member (12) and the sleeve (4) axially together so as to compress the sealing and gripping assembly (8) against the pipe. The sealing and gripping assembly (8) includes a sealing member (14) and a gripping device. The gripping device may include an annular carrier (16) having an annular recess for retaining a gripping member (18). The gripping surface of the gripping member (18) and the annular carrier (16) are adapted for relative axial movement wherein the gripping member (18) may be moved into tighter contact with the pipe.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of PCT application PCT/GB01/02615 filed on 13 Jun. 2001, which claims priority from British application GB 0014343.8 filed on 13 Jun. 2000. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.
The invention provides an improved coupling having an innovative pipe grip preventing inadvertent separation of the two items being coupled. The improved releasable band-clamp coupling comprises a central housing of cross-section resembling a wide, low-wall channel, the housing being curved to be larger than the outer diameter of a pipe, two curved outer clamp members each configured to contact a wall of the housing and to support a ring seal member and to support a sloped mechanical grip ring, there being further provided proximate to the ends of the curved outer clamp members a pair of substantially parallel pair of clamping extensions, and a sloped internally-toothed grip ring comprising a plurality of spaced-apart wedge-shaped gripper units, each unit being connected to both adjacent gripper units by a flexible element to complete said grip ring; and screw clamping elements in contact with said clamping extensions to reduce the distance between said substantially parallel clamping extensions.
