Connector with quick release under load

A connector for joining together ends of flanged pipes, capable of quickly releasing the pipes even when they are in tension, comprising

• a circumferential flange clamp having opposed ends, and a device for drawing the ends of the clamp together, said device comprising
• a rod affixed to one of said clamp ends, said rod having an outside surface with serrations thereon
• an annular retaining ring assembly comprising plural separate arcuate segments, each having a serrated internal surface corresponding to the serrated surface of said rod, said ring assembly engaged over said serrated surface of said road and bearing against the other of said clamp ends in its installed position, and
• a sleeve adapted to fit over said ring and axially movable in relation to it between a first position in which the segments are held together so as to retain said rod and a second position in which the segments are released to free said rod;
• said connector further comprising actuating means on the other of said clamp ends for moving said sleeve from said first position to said second position.

A connector assembly for joining together ends of two flanged pipes, capable of quickly releasing the pipes even when they are in tension, comprising two flanged pipes having ends

• at least one connecting device for holding said ends in apposition, said device comprising
• an annular retaining ring having an inside surface provided with serrations, said ring being formed of at least two separate arcuate segments, each having a serrated internal surface thereon,
• two rods having at one end means having an outside surface with serrations thereon corresponding to those of the ring, and normally engaged thereby over at least a part of the height of the ring, and each having at its other end means for engaging one of said pipes, and
• a sleeve adapted to fit over said ring and axially movable in relation to it between a first position in which the segments are held together by the sleeve so as to retain said rods between them and a second position in which the segments are released to free said rods;
• said connector assembly further comprising an annular plate movably mounted around the other of said pipes, said plate having an aperture therein, said sleeve being retained within said aperture by abutment means mounted on said sleeve, and actuating means mounted between said plate into engagement with said abutment means to thereby move said plate and said other pipe for moving said sleeve axially with respect to said ring from said first position to said second position.