COUPLING DEVICE

Abstract

Coupling device (1) for a pipe (2), including a sleeve (13) for receiving the pipe (2) and at least one sealing member (5) to provide a seal between the sleeve (13) and the pipe (2), a pressure member (6) for applying a pressure to the sleeve (13) and to the pipe (2), and a grip element (4) extending along at least a part of the perimeter of the pipe (2), wherein the grip element (4) is provided with dents (9) pressed out of the plane of the grip element (4) adjacent to slit like openings (8) punched out of the grip element (4), wherein edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) are subjected to a peening operation.

Claims

19. A coupling device (1) for a pipe (2), comprising a sleeve (13) for receiving the pipe (2) and at least one sealing member (5) to provide a seal between the sleeve (13) and the pipe (2), a pressure member (6) for applying a pressure to the sleeve (13) and to the pipe (2), and a grip element (4) extending along at least a part of the perimeter of the pipe (2), wherein the grip element (4) is provided slit like openings (8) punched out of the grip element (4), the grip element (4) also being provided with dents (9) pressed out of a plane of the grip element (4) adjacent to the slit like openings (8) wherein edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) having been subjected to a peening operation.

20. A coupling device according to claim 19, wherein the peening operation of the edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) is executed prior to pressing the dents (9) out of the plane of the grip element (4).

21. A coupling device according to claim 19, wherein a frontal surface (9) of a top of each dent (9) is at an angle of approximately 90 with reference to the plane of the grip element (4).

22. A coupling device according to claim 19, wherein the device comprises multiple grip elements (4), each grip element (4) being supported by at least one pressure member (6), which pressure member (6) is provided with protrusions (15) that mate with the back of the dents (9) that are pressed out of the plane of the grip element (4).

23. A coupling device according to claim 22, wherein the protrusions (15) of the pressure member (6) block openings (8) in the grip element (4) that are present next to the dents (9).

24. A method for fabricating a grip element (4) to be used in a coupling device (1) for a pipe (2), wherein slit like openings (8) are punched in a plate (7) and that in a forming process dents (9) are pressed out of the plane of the plate (7) adjacent to the openings (8), wherein prior to pressing the dents (9) out of the plane of the plate (7) edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) are subjected to a peening operation.

25. A grip element (4) provided with dents (9) pressed out of the plane of the grip element (4) adjacent to slit like openings (8) punched out of the grip element (4), wherein edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) are subjected to a peening operation.

26. A grip element (4) according to claim 25, wherein the peening operation of the edges (8) of the slit like openings (8) is executed prior to pressing the dents (9) out of the plane of the grip element (4).

27. A grip element (4) according to claim 26, wherein a frontal surface (9) of a top of the dent (9) is at an angle of approximately 90 with reference to the plane of the grip element (4).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of the coupling device according to the invention;

[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B show respectively and schematically two process steps according to the prior art for manufacturing a dent in a grip element, and FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional side view of a part of a grip element near the dent manufactured according to the prior art;

[0021] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show respectively and schematically three process steps according to the invention for manufacturing a dent in a grip element, and FIG. 3D shows a cross-sectional side view of a part of a grip element near the dent manufactured according to the invention;

[0022] FIGS. 4A and 4B show in cross-sectional side view and exploded view, respectively a grip element together with a pressure member of the coupling device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a coupling device 1 of the invention in a cross-sectional side view. The coupling device 1 comprises a sleeve 13 for receiving a pipe 2 and at least one sealing member 5 to provide a seal between the sleeve 13 and the pipe 2. The sealing member 5 may be attached to the sleeve 13 with a clip 14. Further the coupling device 1 comprises a pressure member 6 for applying a pressure to the sleeve 13 and to the pipe 2. Actuation means 3, 3 are provided to arrange that a pressure is applied to the pressure member 6, wherein a grip element 4 which extends along at least a part of the perimeter of the pipe 2 is supported by the pressure member 6. In this manner the grip element 4 is arranged to press on the pipe 2. As will be elucidated further hereinafter the grip element 4 is formed with dents pressed out of the plane of the grip element.

[0025] In FIGS. 2A and 2B a prior art method is elucidated for fabricating a grip element to be used in a coupling device as shown in FIG. 1. In this method a punching tool 10 is used to provide slit like openings 8 in a plate 7. This is shown in FIG. 2A from top to bottom in an isometric view, in a side view, and in a cross-sectional view. Similarly FIG. 2B shows that in a subsequent step a pressing tool 11 is used to press dents 9 out of the plane of the plate 7 adjacent to the openings 8.

[0026] FIG. 2C shows on larger scale one of the resulting dents 9 which is pressed out of the plane of the plate 7. In this prior art process a frontal surface 9 of the top of the dent 9 is at an angle of between 50 and 70 with reference to the plane of the plate 7 that eventually forms the grip element.

[0027] Correspondingly FIGS. 3A-3C show the method of the invention for fabricating a grip element 4 to be used in a coupling device as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] In the method of the invention first a punching tool 10 is used to provide slit like openings 8 in a plate 7 as shown in FIG. 3A from top to bottom in an isometric view, in a side view, and in a cross-sectional view. Similarly FIG. 2B shows that in a subsequent step edges 8 of the slit like openings 8 are subjected to an operation with a peening tool 12. FIG. 2C shows that thereafter in a further process when the peening of the edges 8 of the slit like openings 8 is complete, a pressing tool 11 is used to press dents 9 out of the plane of the plate 7 adjacent to the openings 8 to form the eventual grip element 4.

[0029] FIG. 2D provides a detailed view on one of the resulting dents 9 which is pressed out of the plane of the plate 7. A frontal surface 9 of the top of the dent 9 is at an angle of approximately 90 with reference to the plane of the plate 7 of the grip element 4.

[0030] Turning now to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B another aspect of the invention is elucidated. FIG. 4B shows separately in an isometric view a grip element 4 manufactured from a plate 7 as elucidated with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D, and a single pressure member 6. A multitude of such pressure members 6 together form a ring around the perimeter of the pipe 2 in the coupling device 1 which is referred to in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4A a single pressure member 6 is shown in a cross-sectional view, wherein a single grip element 4 is mounted on the pressure member 6. It is however also possible that the pressure member 6 supports a number of grip elements, or that a number of pressure members support a single grip element.

[0031] In the complete coupling device as shown in FIG. 1 preferably each single pressure member 6 supports a single grip element 4. Accordingly the pressure members 6 together support all grip elements 4 that collectively surround the pipe 2 shown in FIG. 1. In the mounted condition the grip elements 4 thus extend along the entire perimeter of the pipe 2 which is connected to the coupling device 1.

[0032] It is clearly shown in both FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B that the shown pressure member 6 is provided with multiple protrusions 15 at the side facing the grip element 4. These protrusions 15 are designed to mate with the back of the dents 9 that are pressed out of the plane of the grip element 4, preferably in a manner that when the grip element 4 is mounted on the pressure member 6 as shown in FIG. 4A, the protrusions 15 of the pressure member 6 block openings 8 in the grip element 4 that are present next to the dents 9. This construction also provides that forces acting on the grip element 4 due to strains exerted by the pipe 2 on the coupling device 1, will effectively be transferred to the pressure member 6 and absorbed by the construction of the coupling device.

[0033] Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.