Hydrotech International, Inc.

Gerald A Marsh

James A Burton

Raymond E Latham

Eugene O Lee

Apparatus for connecting the ends of two pipes comprising; a pair of coupling members, each of which is connected at one end thereof to the end of one of the pipes; one of the coupling members having attached to the other end thereof an annular spherically-shaped enlarged portion having axially forward and rearward sides; the other coupling member having attached to the other end thereof a housing having an internal surface for receiving the spherically-shaped forward side of said enlarged portion in mating engagement therewith, thereby enabling the central axes of the coupling members to be inclined at an angle relative to each other for connecting similarly inclined pipe ends; seal means disposed between the enlarged portion and the housing for providing a fluid seal therebetween; a plurality of cam members supported in circumferentially disposed relation about the housing and movable axially and radially inward towards the internal surface between a retracted position in which the housing freely receives the spherically-shaped forward side of the enlarged portion in mating engagement therewith, and an extended and locked position in which the cam members engage the spherically-shaped rearward side at a plurality of points circumferentially thereabout to urge the enlarged portion into positive contact with the housing to restrain the coupling members against relative axial separation; and means for moving the cam members towards the extended and locked position.

Ring set ball coupling

A ball and socket type coupling for connecting the ends of two pipes which may be axially misaligned by as much as several degrees. It includes a pair of coupling members, each of which is arranged for connection to one of the pipes to be connected. One of the members has attached at the other end thereof a ball portion, and the other coupling member has attached thereto a housing arranged for receiving in mating relationship therewith the forward surface of the ball portion. Seal means are disposable between the ball and the housing member for providing a fluid seal therebetween. A plurality of cam members are supported in circumferentially spaced about positions in the housing and pivotally movable between a retracted position to permit the receiving portion of the housing to freely receive the ball in mating engagement with the internal surface thereof, and an extended and locked position of engagement with the rearward side of the ball at a plurality of circumferentially spaced about points and so arranged to urge the ball into continual positive contact with the housing, whereby the coupling members are restrained against relative axial separation. Means are also provided for pivoting the cam members to the extended and locked position and subsequently to the retracted and unlocked position, should the latter become desirable.

Ball and socket pipe coupling

A hydraulically actuated coupling for effecting a connection to a pipe member or the like which has axially spaced apart pluralities of oppositely biased gripping slips which are continuously urged into gripping engagement between the housing and the pipe. This arrangement permits the pipe coupling to withstand both tension and compression forces thereon and to continuously maintain slips in positive engagement with the pipe. The coupling also has separate seal means which are separately operated by a thrust member which applies axial force to thereby radially deform elastomeric seal members into sealing engagement between the pipe and the housing. The separate actuation means for the slips and for the seal means provides a more fail-safe coupling and one which can be adapted to various pipe sizes and pressure requirements.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Gerald A Marsh