A method is shown for manufacturing a hardened gripping element for a sealing and restraint system used for forming a pipe joint in a fluid pipeline. Instead of machining the gripping elements used in the system from a metal stock, a special series of metal injection molding steps are utilized. A metal polymer composite mix is first formed having a metal particulate phase and a polymer phase. A green metal composite article is formed by either extruding the composite mix or molding the composite mix into a metal polymer composite article having at least one gripping surface having a plurality of gripping teeth. The composite article is subjected to thermal debinding and sintering to produce a finished or near finished hardened gripping element.

A connection to releasably connect and disconnect to a pipe to a fitting provides a pipe fitting body for receiving a pipe and a retaining ring assembly located within the fitting body for retaining and releasing the pipe. The retaining ring assembly has axially extending inwardly angled resilient retaining tabs, each of which has a pipe retaining portion. When the pipe is inserted into the fitting body to an inserted position, the pipe retaining portions engage an indentation on the pipe to retain the pipe in the inserted position. Relative movement of the axially extending inwardly angled resilient retaining tabs with respect to the fitting body from the first locked position to a second unlocked position causes each axially extending inwardly angled resilient retaining tabs to disengage from the indentation on the pipe permitting removal of the pipe from the inserted position in the fitting body.

A reversibly detachable fluid-line coupling (1), at least having a coupling sleeve (2, 3), a locking element (7) and a coupling plug (8). The invention was based on the object of providing a fluid-line coupling (1) of the type described in the introduction that can be constructed from plastic while avoiding the stated difficulties. Said object is achieved in that the locking component (7) is in the form of a flat, open spring-steel ring (70) which has latching claws (72) projecting radially into the interior of the spring-steel ring (70) and distributed over the circumference of the spring-steel ring (70) and which has axially oriented support tongues (73), wherein, in the region of the coupling head (2), the locking component (7) resiliently surrounds the coupling head (2) in such a way that the latching claws (72) project into the interior of the coupling sleeve (2, 3) through the slots (20) in the coupling head (2) and the support tongues (73) of the spring-steel ring (70) correspond to the support webs (21) of the coupling head (2) in such a way that in each case one support tongue (73) is assigned to one support web (21).

A reversibly detachable fluid-line coupling (1), at least having a coupling sleeve (2, 3), a locking element (7) and a coupling plug (8). The invention was based on the object of providing a fluid-line coupling (1) of the type described in the introduction that can be constructed from plastic while avoiding the stated difficulties. Said object is achieved in that the locking component (7) is in the form of a flat, open spring-steel ring (70) which has latching claws (72) projecting radially into the interior of the spring-steel ring (70) and distributed over the circumference of the spring-steel ring (70) and which has axially oriented support tongues (73), wherein, in the region of the coupling head (2), the locking component (7) resiliently surrounds the coupling head (2) in such a way that the latching claws (72) project into the interior of the coupling sleeve (2, 3) through the slots (20) in the coupling head (2) and the support tongues (73) of the spring-steel ring (70) correspond to the support webs (21) of the coupling head (2) in such a way that in each case one support tongue (73) is assigned to one support web (21).

A pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes. The pipe coupling including: a tubular casing for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system for tightening the casing around the outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member, coupled to and extending away from a first axial end of the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing. Further including an assembly having a pipe coupling and a pipe, the pipe coupling being pre-installed on one end of the pipe, and configured to receive a second pipe.

A pipe coupling for connecting together the ends of two pipes. The pipe coupling including: a tubular casing for fitting around the pipes; a tensioning system for tightening the casing around the outer surface of the pipes; and a guide member, coupled to and extending away from a first axial end of the tubular casing, for radially aligning and guiding one of the pipes into the tubular casing. Further including an assembly having a pipe coupling and a pipe, the pipe coupling being pre-installed on one end of the pipe, and configured to receive a second pipe.

A tube fitting for connection to a tube includes a main body structure and a tube liner. The main body structure is configured to receive an end of the tube and fluidly connect the tube to another component. The tube liner is positioned at least partially within the main body structure and is configured to extend into the tube. The main body structure and the tube liner are configured such that, when the tube is fully inserted into the tube fitting, the end of the tube is positioned at a predetermined depth within the tube fitting, and the main body structure and the tube liner cooperate together to provide an audible indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting.

A pipe connector includes a housing body defining an axial bore arranged to receive a pipe section having an end and extending between a housing top and a housing bottom. A sealing member is seated in the axial bore with a conical inner surface configured to interface with the end of the pipe section. A cap member with an opening is threadedly attachable to the housing top. A locking member is carried in the cap member and configured such that the pipe section is only movable through the locking member in a direction toward the sealing member. The locking member drives the pipe section downward along the conical inner surface and creates a fluid tight seal between the sealing member and the pipe section when the cap member is threaded down on the housing top with the end of pipe section engaging the conical inner surface of the sealing member.

A pipe connector includes a housing body defining an axial bore arranged to receive a pipe section having an end and extending between a housing top and a housing bottom. A sealing member is seated in the axial bore with a conical inner surface configured to interface with the end of the pipe section. A cap member with an opening is threadedly attachable to the housing top. A locking member is carried in the cap member and configured such that the pipe section is only movable through the locking member in a direction toward the sealing member. The locking member drives the pipe section downward along the conical inner surface and creates a fluid tight seal between the sealing member and the pipe section when the cap member is threaded down on the housing top with the end of pipe section engaging the conical inner surface of the sealing member.

A sprinkler assembly includes a fire protection sprinkler and a push-to-connect-rotate-to-release (PCRR) fitting. The sprinkler has a body with a passageway extending along a first longitudinal axis and an outer encasing surface surrounding the first longitudinal axis and outer encasing surface including a seal member, and a deflector spaced from the outlet. The fitting includes a tubular member including an exterior surface and inner surface, the inner surface defining an internal conduit extending along a second longitudinal axis, the body received in the internal conduit such that the first longitudinal axis is aligned with the second longitudinal axis, the inner surface including a sealing surface portion circumscribed about the second longitudinal axis. The fitting includes a gripper ring disposed along the inner surface and a helical internal periphery about the second longitudinal axis in helical contact with a portion of the outer encasing surface between the deflector and seal member.