Pipe coupling with built-in grip

An improved releasable band-clamp coupling for mechanical and hydraulic interconnection of the end of at least one first cylinder and a second cylinder or connecting means, said coupling comprising:

• a) a central housing of cross-section resembling a wide, low-wall channel, the walls thereof facing away from the center of said cylinders and the housing being curved to be larger than the said cylinder outer diameter;
• b) at least one curved outer clamp member configured to contact a wall of said central housing and to support a ring seal member and to support a sloped mechanical grip ring, said central housing wall inner face fitting into said outer clamp member to prevent separation therebetween, there being further provided proximate to the end of said curved outer clamp member at least one clamping extension;
• c) a sloped internally-toothed grip ring comprising a plurality of spaced-apart wedge-shaped gripper units, substantially each unit being connected to both adjacent gripper units by a flexible element to complete said grip ring;
• d) at least one circumferential elastomeric seal member;
• and
• e) screw clamping element in contact with said clamping extension to reduce the distance between said extension, forcing both said sloped internally-toothed grip ring and said elastomeric seal members into circumferential contact with at least one cylinder.