Coupling for joining two pipes

Abstract

Coupling for joining two pipes, whose end sections, each of which is provided with a circumferential locking rib, can be inserted in the coupling, wherein the coupling has at least one elastic ring that joins at least two elongated webs, and wherein the coupling has stop projections, which lock in place behind the locking ribs when the end sections are inserted in the coupling and can be unlocked to release the connection of the pipes by expanding at least one of the rings. Each ring is produced separately from the webs.

1 . A coupling for joining two pipes having end sections, each of which is provided with a circumferential locking rib and can be inserted into the coupling, wherein the coupling has at least one elastic ring that joins at least two elongated webs, and wherein the coupling has stop projections, which lock in place behind the locking ribs when the end sections are inserted in the coupling and can be unlocked to release the connection of the pipes by expanding at least one of the rings, wherein each ring has been produced separately from the webs.  
     
     
         2 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the webs are flexurally stiff.  
     
     
         3 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the webs are provided with stiffening ribs.  
     
     
         4 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each ring contains spring steel.  
     
     
         5 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is of metal.  
     
     
         6 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each ring is a spring band clip.  
     
     
         7 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the webs and/or the sole ring or at least one of the rings contain or contains plastic.  
     
     
         8 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the plastic is reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the webs have a metal core that has been extrusion-coated with plastic.  
     
     
         10 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein when two rings are used, one of them is connected with one end of each web and the other is connected with the other end of each web.  
     
     
         11 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each web has one groove per ring for holding a ring.  
     
     
         12 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein each end of the webs has a groove for holding a ring.  
     
     
         13 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein each groove extends transversely to a longitudinal direction of the webs.  
     
     
         14 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the depth of the grooves extends in the longitudinal direction of the webs, and the width of the grooves corresponds to the thickness of the rings.  
     
     
         15 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the rings have been formed from strips secured in at least one of the grooves.  
     
     
         16 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the ends of the strips have been joined by positive locking.  
     
     
         17 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein and each ring is secured in at least one groove of the webs by an interference fit, snap fit, positive locking, or material bonding.  
     
     
         18 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each ring has been produced as a closed ring by injection molding.  
     
     
         19 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each ring is corrugated.  
     
     
         20 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rings are joined by elongated parts that are secured in longitudinal grooves of the webs by a snap fit.  
     
     
         21 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the webs are comprised of thermoplastic material, and each ring has been extrusion-coated by the material of the webs.  
     
     
         22 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein when two webs are used, the webs are joined by a joint.  
     
     
         23 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the joint is a film joint or hinge.  
     
     
         24 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein if the rings are designed as spring band clips secured on or near the ends of the webs, the spreading jaws of one of the spring band clips are displaced by 180° in the circumferential direction of the coupling relative to the spreading jaws of the other spring band clip.  
     
     
         25 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each web has been formed from a sheet-metal part by punching and bending.  
     
     
         26 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein each ring has a break and a joint on the diametrically opposite side from the break, wherein the webs are of plastic, and each ring is held in the plastic of the webs except for the break and the joint.  
     
     
         27 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the joint is an elastically flexible part of the ring.  
     
     
         28 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the joint forms a rim that projects outwardly from the ring.  
     
     
         29 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein each ring has been extrusion-coated with the plastic of the webs.  
     
     
         30 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the webs have radially outwardly projecting knobs on both sides of the break.  
     
     
         31 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein a ring is provided close to or at each end of the web, and the break in one ring is arranged with a displacement of 180° relative to the break in the other ring in the circumferential direction of the rings.  
     
     
         32 . The coupling in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the webs are held together by a connecting device, which releasably bridges the ring break or each ring break.  
     
     
         33 . The coupling for joining two pipes having end sections, each of which is provided with a circumferential locking rib, and which can be inserted into the coupling, wherein the coupling has at least two elastic ring segments that join at least two elongated webs, and wherein the coupling has stop projections locked in place behind the locking ribs when the end sections have been inserted in the coupling and can be unlocked to release the connection of the pipes by deforming at least one of the ring segments, wherein each ring segment has been produced separately from the webs.