Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pipe coupling. In particular, the present invention relates to a pipe coupling adapted to couple together pipes having dissimilar exterior profiles, external reinforcement of the exterior profile or an uneven, worn or distorted exterior profile.

Background to the Invention

A typical pipe coupling comprises an elastomeric sleeve adapted to receive internally a pair of abutting pipe ends. Around the outside of the sleeve are typically provided one or more circumferential clamping bands provided with adjustment means allowing the bands to be tightened or loosened as required. Tightening the bands draws them tightly against the outside of the elastomeric sleeve. As such the sleeve is urged into contact with the pipe ends and a secure seal is formed.

Whilst couplings of the above type provide effective coupling in many situations, there are a number of situations for which they are not suitable. One example is where pipe are used with a circular interior profile and a non-circular exterior profile, as is common in continental Europe or where pipes have otherwise dissimilar exterior profiles.. A second example is where a pipe is provided with spiral wound reinforcing ribs on its exterior profile. A further example is where one or both pipes have an uneven, worn, damaged or distorted exterior surface.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pipe coupling that at least partially overcomes or alleviates the above problems. Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a pipe coupling comprising: an elastomeric sleeve; and an adjustable clamping band wherein the elastomeric sleeve has a substantially tubular body and sealing flaps provided at each end of the body, the sealing flaps overlapping the outer surface of the body to define a partially enclosed channel; and wherein the adjustable clamping band is provided in the channel defined between the body and the sealing flaps, and is adjustable to press outwardly on said sealing flaps.

In this manner, the coupling of the present invention is adapted to be received internally by a pair of abutting pipe ends. Adjustment of the clamping band can then urge the sealing flaps into contact with the interior profile of the pipe ends, thereby forming a secure seal. As such, the pipe coupling of the present invention can be used to couple together pipes having dissimilar, reinforced, uneven, worn, damaged or distorted exterior profiles. The adjustable clamping band comprises an elongate planar strip, the ends of the strip being connected by an adjustment means. Alternatively, the band may comprise two or more elongate strips connected together end to end by adjustment means at each connection. In a further alternative, two or more strips may be provided in parallel to each other and connected at their ends by common or separate adjustment means. The adjustment means are operable to tighten the band by drawing the opposing ends of the band together or lengthen the band by pushing the opposing ends of the band apart. The adjustment means may have any suitable form. In particular, the adjustment means may comprise any of: screws, cams, lever devices, hydraulic devices, pneumatic devices, ratchets, threaded bolts, toggles, wedges or the like.

The opposing ends of the clamping band may be provided with substantially reciprocating features. In particular, the reciprocating features at each end may comprise one or more fingers. In such embodiments, the one or more fingers on each end are adapted to mutually interleave. In this manner, the outward pressure on the flaps can be maintained relatively evenly as the band is lengthened. Each finger may have a substantially equal shape. Alternatively, fingers at different points of the edge may have different forms. The reciprocating formations may be machined directly into the band.

Alternatively, the reciprocating formations may be formed on a separate substrate bonded to the band.

The clamping band is preferably adapted to have a width substantially matching the width of the channel defined by the flaps and outer surface of the body. Alternatively, one or more additional elongate planar strips may be provided alongside the clamping band within the channel. The one or more additional planar strips can provide additional support for the coupling, particularly if the width of the clamping band is less than the width of the channel. The one or more additional planar strips may be connected together end to end by suitable joining means or adjustment means. Alternatively, the one or more additional planar strips may simply overlap at their ends.

The clamping band may be formed of any suitable material including but not limited to: metal, composite, mesh, perforated plate, expanded sheet, carbon fibre, plastics, polymer materials or the like. In particular, suitable metals include but not limited to: steel, stainless steel, galvanised steel, powder bonded steel, painted steel, powder coated steel, hardened steel, tempered steel, aluminium or the like.

The flaps may be provided with gripping formations on the outer surface. The gripping formations may be substantially circumferential. Alternatively, the gripping formations may be substantially axial in orientation. In a further embodiment, the gripping formations may be orientated in other directions and/or a combination of directions, with or without intersections as desired or appropriate. The gripping formations may comprise one or more ridges. The ridges may have any suitable cross-sectional profile. In particular, the cross-sectional profile may be triangular, semicircular or multi-faceted.

The flaps preferably extend around the full circumference of the body. The opposing edges of each flap may have a substantially matching form. In a preferred embodiment, each flap has a substantially plain opposing edge. In alternative embodiments, each flap may have differing edge forms.

The flaps may be of substantially matching axial extent. The flaps may be of substantially matching thickness. The flaps may have substantially matching gripping formations. In this manner, the coupling may be used reversibly for coupling together pipes of matching interior profiles. In further embodiments, the flaps may have differing thicknesses or differing gripping formations. This can enable the coupling to be used to couple together pipes of different interior profiles. In further embodiments, one or both flaps may be provided with bushing means to enable the coupling to be used to couple together pipes of different interior profiles. Suitable bushing means may comprise a sleeve of elastomeric material adapted to fit around one of the sealing flaps. The bushing means may comprise one or more surface formations adapted to correspond to any gripping formations provided on the flaps. In particular, the bushing means may have matching gripping formations on an outer surface and/or reciprocal formations on an inner surface.

The tubular body may have a substantially contiguous inner profile. This can help minimise disruption to flow within the pipe junction provided by the coupling. The ends of the sleeve may be sloped. This further helps to minimise disruption to flow within the pipe junction provided by the coupling. The sleeve may be formed from any suitable material. In particular, the sleeve may be formed from materials including but not limited to: rubber, plastics, polyurethane, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), nitrile rubber, polyvinylchloride, SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), silicone or the like.

The elastomeric sleeve and adjustable clamping band may be manufactured separately and subsequently fitted together. Alternatively, the elastomeric sleeve may be formed in position around the adjustable clamping band.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an elastomeric sleeve suitable for use in a pipe coupling according to the present invention, the elastomeric sleeve comprising: a substantially tubular body and sealing flaps provided at each end of the body, the sealing flaps overlapping the outer surface of the body to define a partially enclosed channel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable clamping band suitable for use in a pipe coupling according to the present invention, the adjustable clamping band comprising: an elongate planar strip, the ends of the strip being connected by an adjustment means operable to: tighten the band by drawing the opposing ends of the band together; or lengthen the band by pushing the opposing ends of the band apart, wherein the opposing ends are provided with reciprocating features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising at least one elastomeric sleeve according to the second aspect of the invention and at least one adjustable clamping band according to the third aspect of the present invention. The sleeve of the second aspect of the present invention, adjustable clamping band of the third aspect of the present invention and kit of the fourth aspect of the present invention may incorporate any or all features of the first aspect of the present invention as desired or as required.

Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows a pipe coupling according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the elastomeric sleeve of the pipe coupling of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows the adjustable clamping band of the pipe coupling of figure 1; Figure 4a shows a first form of reciprocating fingers provided on the ends of the band of figure 3;

Figure 4b shows a second form of reciprocating fingers provided on the ends of the band of figure 3; and Figure 5 shows the coupling of figure 1 in use to couple together two pipes of dissimilar exterior profiles.

Turning now to figure 1, a pipe coupling 10 according to the present invention comprises an elastomeric sleeve 10 and a clamping band 20.

The elastomeric sleeve 10, as shown in figure 2, comprises a substantially tubular body 11 having a substantially contiguous interior surface 12. At each end of the body 11 are provided circumferential sealing flaps 13. The sealing flaps 13 overlap the outer surface 14 of the body 11 to define a partially enclosed channel 15 therebetween. The sealing flaps 13 are provided with a series of gripping ridges 16. The ends of the body 11 are sloped 17. The clamping band comprises an elongate planar strip 21. The opposing ends

22 of the strip 21 are connected by adjustment means 30. In some embodiments, the clamping band may comprise two or more strips 21, joined together end to end by adjustment means 30. The adjustment means 30 are operable to tighten the band 20 by drawing the opposing ends 22 together or lengthen the band 20 by pushing the opposing ends 22 band apart. The ends 22 each comprise a plurality of fingers 23. The fingers 23 on the opposing ends 22 are adapted to interleave with one another. As is illustrated in figures 4a & 4b, the fingers may each have substantially equal sizes (fig 4a - fingers separated) or may have differing sizes (fig 4b - fingers abutting). In the embodiment of figure 4b, the larger central finger 23b enables an adjustment means 30 to be fitted close to the end of the band 20, whilst still allowing the remaining fingers 23 to interleave.

The adjustment means 30 comprises a pair of mounting brackets 31 provided upon the opposing ends of the band 20. The brackets 31 are each adapted to retain a locking bolt 32, each locking bolt 32 being provided with a transverse bore adapted to receive a connecting bolt 33, the bore of one locking bolt 32 being blind and the bore of the other locking bolt 32 being threaded. By rotating the connecting bolt 33, the locking bolts 32 pull on the brackets 31 and hence the opposing ends 22 of band 20 can be drawn together or pushed apart. Accordingly, the band 20 can be lengthened or tightened as required.

In use, as is illustrated in figure 5, the coupling 1 is inserted into the opposing ends of a pair of pipes 2a, 2b with dissimilar exterior profiles. The skilled man will however appreciate that this does not preclude the coupling 1 from being used to couple pipes having similar exterior profiles.

After insertion into the ends of pipes 2a, 2b the clamping band 20 is lengthened. As a result, the sealing flaps 13 are urged into contact with the interior profile of the pipes 2a, 2b. This creates a secure seal between the sealing flaps 13 and the pipes 2a, 2b. The provision of fingers 23 helps spread the pressure applied by the band 20 to the flaps 13 over the full circumference of the flaps 13 thereby improving the quality and reliability of the seal.

The gripping ridges 16 help improve the traction between the sealing flaps 13 and the pipes 2a, 2b. In addition, the gripping ridges 16 can also act as a series of successive sealing rings, preventing the escape of the pipe pay load after coupling. By forming a secure seal on the interior profile of pipes 2a, 2b, the coupling 1 can be used to couple together pipes having dissimilar, reinforced, uneven, worn or distorted exterior profiles. The substantially contiguous inner surface 12 of the sleeve 10, in combination with the sloped end portions 17, helps to minimise disturbance to the flow after installation of the coupling 1. A further benefit of the present coupling is that it provides for external adjustment of the seal by use of the adjustment means. This simplifies the process of installing or subsequently checking the coupling 1. It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.