Apparatus for joining cylindrical sections

Abstract

An apparatus for joining cylindrical sections, including a semi-cylindrical profile section or member adapted to be coupled to a cylindrical section on an outer circumferential portion of the profile section or member and including an outer circumferential groove and an inner circumferential ridge; a ring-shaped compression ring or member coupled to the profile section or member and including a circumferential groove on an outer portion thereof and attachment fixtures or members on opposite sides thereof; and a pair of semi-cylindrical tension bands or members forming a ring shape and each including a pair of inner circumferential ridges and attachment fixtures or members on end portions thereof. The circumferential ridge of the profile section or member couples to the circumferential groove of the compression ring or member. One of the circumferential ridges of one of the tension bands or members couples to respective of the circumferential groove of the profile section or member. The attachment fixtures or members of the tension bands or members couple to respective ones of the attachment fixtures or members of the compression ring or member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.