Apparatus for rigidly interconnecting misaligned pipe ends
First Claim
1. Apparatus for rigidly interconnecting the ends of two pipes comprising:
- a pair of coupling members, each of which is adapted for connection at one end thereof to the end of one of said pipes;
one of said coupling members having attached thereto an annular radially outwardly enlarged portion having forward and rearward sides, with said forward side being generally spherical shaped;
the other coupling member having attached thereto a housing having a seat portion adapted for receiving the forward side of said enlarged portion in generally mating engagement therewith, to thereby accommodate axial misalignment between said coupling members;
gripping means supported generally between said housing and said enlarged portion, said gripping means being adapted for radial and axial movement relative to said housing seat portion between a retracted position in which said enlarged portion is freely mateable with said housing seat portion and an extended set position engaging the rearward side of said enlarged portion and urging said enlarged portion into positive contact with said housing seat portion and holding said enlarged portion and said housing rigidly interconnected;
and setting means supported by said housing for urging said gripping means both radially and axially relative to said housing seat portion to said set position of engagement with said rearward side of said enlarged portion with sufficient force to hold said coupling members rigidly interconnected.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for rigidly interconnecting the ends of two pipes, such as two pipes whose axes are misaligned. It includes a pair of coupling members, each of which is adapted for connection at one end thereof to one of the pipes which are to be interconnected. One of the coupling members has attached thereto an annular radially outwardly enlarged portion having forward and rearward sides, with the forward sides being generally spherical shaped. The other coupling member has attached thereto a housing having a seat portion adapted for receiving the forward side of the enlarged portion in generally mating engagement therewith, to thereby accommodate axial misalignment between said coupling members. Gripping means, such as a plurality of slips or a split ring, are supported generally between the housing and the enlarged portion. The gripping means are adapted for radial and axial movement relative to the housing seat portion between a retracted position in which the enlarged portion is freely received into the housing and mateable with the housing seat portion and a set position engaging the rearward sides of the enlarged portion and holding the same in positive contact with the housing portion, to thereby provide a rigid interconnection of the two coupling members. Setting means are provided for effecting relative axial and radial movement between the gripping means and the housing seat portion to thereby place the gripping means in the set position and for holding the coupling members rigidly interconnected as stated above. Accordingly, there is provided a coupling member which is arranged for connecting two misaligned pipe ends and which coupling members, when actuated, can provide a rigid connection therebetween which prevents both axial separation and axial flexing movement.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for rigidly interconnecting the ends of two pipes comprising:
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a pair of coupling members, each of which is adapted for connection at one end thereof to the end of one of said pipes; one of said coupling members having attached thereto an annular radially outwardly enlarged portion having forward and rearward sides, with said forward side being generally spherical shaped; the other coupling member having attached thereto a housing having a seat portion adapted for receiving the forward side of said enlarged portion in generally mating engagement therewith, to thereby accommodate axial misalignment between said coupling members; gripping means supported generally between said housing and said enlarged portion, said gripping means being adapted for radial and axial movement relative to said housing seat portion between a retracted position in which said enlarged portion is freely mateable with said housing seat portion and an extended set position engaging the rearward side of said enlarged portion and urging said enlarged portion into positive contact with said housing seat portion and holding said enlarged portion and said housing rigidly interconnected; and setting means supported by said housing for urging said gripping means both radially and axially relative to said housing seat portion to said set position of engagement with said rearward side of said enlarged portion with sufficient force to hold said coupling members rigidly interconnected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18)
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10. Apparatus for rigidly interconnecting the ends of two pipes, the combination comprising:
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a pair of coupling members, each of which is adapted for connection at one end thereof to the end of one of said pipes; one of said coupling members having attached thereto an annular radially outwardly enlarged portion having forward and rear sides, with said forward side being generally spherical shaped; the other coupling member having attached thereto a housing having a seat portion adapted for receiving the forward side of said enlarged portion in generally mating engagement therewith, and another portion forming an axially and radially inwardly tapered cam surface generally radially spaced from said enlarged portion, with said tapered surface facing generally toward said seat portion; gripping apparatus supported in said housing generally radially adjacent said tapered surface of said housing, said gripping apparatus having a gripping surface on the radially inward side for gripping engagement with the rearward side of said enlarged portion, and a tapered surface on the radially outward side for camming engagement with said cam surface, said setting apparatus being initially supported in a retracted position in which said enlarged portion is freely mateable with said housing seat portion and adapted for movement to a set position engaging said rearward side of said enlarged portion, to thereby urge said enlarged portion into positive contact with said housing seat portion; and setting means for applying actuation force to said gripping apparatus to thereby move said gripping apparatus along said cam surface to engagement with said rearward surface of said enlarged portion and for holding said coupling members rigidly interconnected. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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Specification