Single bolt coupling

Abstract

A single bolt coupling for the attachment to the end portion of a pipe having a circumferential groove or shoulder in such end portion includes a coupling which receives the end portion of the pipe therein and a circumferential open ended resilient ring associated with the coupling body which expands to allow passage of the groove into or out of the coupling and contracts to hold the groove in the coupling. The coupling is provided with a screw vise mechanism to expand the ring so that a pipe end can easily be inserted into the coupling. After insertion, the ring is allowed to contract to hold the pipe in the coupling. The coupling with its ring can also couple plain ended pipes, the ring contracting tightly around the pipe to hold it in place by friction between the pipe and ring. The coupling may have a ring at both ends to similarly receive and hold two pipes in end-to-end relationship, or may have a different type of connector, such as threads, a flange, or a set of partially rotatable cammed jaw members at the other end, or a plain opening to make a bell type joint. The coupling may join pipes, act as an expansion joint, join various fittings to pipes, or may itself form various fittings such as valves.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.