Bell joint repair clamp

For sealing a leak in a pipe bell joint formed of a spigot end of a first pipe and a bell end of a second pipe, the combination comprising:

• a generally cylindrical housing including first and second semi-cylindrical sleeve members and first and second retaining members disposed on respective ends of said first and second sleeve members;
• first and second gaskets extending between said first and second retaining members and disposed about the spigot end of the first pipe and the bell end of the second pipe, wherein said first and second gaskets are comprised of a deformable, compressible material for conforming to an outer surface of the pipe bell joint and wherein each of said first and second gaskets has a generally trapezoidal cross section and includes facing tapered side portions, and wherein the tapered side portions of said first gasket are positioned in contact with the tapered side portions of said second gasket;
• first and second coupling means for securely coupling said first and second sleeve members about the pipe bell joint, whereby said cylindrical housing encloses and urges said first and second gaskets in a tight-fitting manner against the bell joint so as to seal a leak therein;
• and third and fourth coupling means for connecting said first and second retaining members in a sealed manner to said first and second pipes, respectively.