Composite reinforced pipe union

A reinforced composite pipe union of substantially conventional shape comprising in permanent combination :

• a body defined by a body wall of substantially constant thickness and comprising voile means of glass fibre embedded in a thermosetting plastics material in the thermoset condition, said body comprising three tubular end pipe portions for respectively receiving ends of three pipes to be united by the union, the end pipe portions meeting in an intermediate part of the union and each having a continuous generally substantially cylindrical outer and inner shape, two assembled metal half-shells of substantially constant thickness constituting a case containing said body with which case said body is co-extensive throughout the outer surface of said body, a film of an adhesive material interposed between said body and said case for adhering said body to said case, and means at ends of said end pipe portions for the fixing of said ends of said pipes to the union, said body being in one inseparable piece and defining an inner surface which is continuous and impervious to the fluid to be conveyed by said union and said pipes so as to be capable of conveying said fluid, the internal cross-sectional shape of said pipe portions being substantially constant from adjacent their ends to where they meet and adapted to correspond substantially to the internal cross-sectional shape and size of said pipes.