Conduit restraining and sealing connector

Claim 2

A restraining and sealing connector for conduits disposed in confronting relation to each other, the connector comprising: a. A sealing connector including a band bridging between the conduits, and sealing means disposed between the band and each conduit and sealingly engaging the band and conduits; b. an annular housing means overlying and clearing the sealing connector and including a pair of complementary semicircular housing members divided longitudinally and having circumferential channels at their axial extremities; c. a pair of semicircular reinforcing band elements received in the channels; d. a pair of hinge means joing the housing members and band elements, at least one of the hinge means being common to the housing members and band elements and being separable to permit removal of the housing from the conduits to expose the sealing connector; e. and a pair of universal joints each including a band secured to a corresponding conduit and having a spherical surface, and a journal portion at each end of the housing means mating with said sperical surface.

Claim 3

A connector for conduits as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. stops fixed on said housing, spaced a greater axial distance than the axial length of the sealing connector, and extending radially inward from the housing means to limit axial displacement of the sealing connector.

Claim 4

The combination with a pair of conduits disposed in confronting relation and a sealing connector bridging between and sealingly joining the conduits, of a restraining means for limiting relative movement between the conduits, the restraining means comprising: a. a pair of complementary semicircular housing members of essentially uniform wall thickness, the housing members having a central cylindrical portion clearing the sealing connector and merging at each axial extremity into a spherical segment curving toward a corresponding conduit; b. a band mounted on each conduit having a spherical portion mating with a corresponding spherical segment of the housing members; c. a set of axially aligned hinge means joining the housing members to permit movement of the housing members between their complementary position enclosing the sealing connector and an open position for removal from the conduits and sealing connector; d. separable means for securing the housing members in their closed position; e. and a pair of stops fixed in said housing spaced a greater distance axially than the axial extent of the sealing connector and extending radially inwardly from the housing members to limit axial movement of the sealing connector relative to the conduits.

Claim 5

The combination with a pair of conduits disposed in confronting relation and a sealing connector bridging between and sealingly joining the conduits, of a restraining means for limiting relative movement between the conduits, the restraining means comprising: a. a pair of complementary semicircular housing members of essentially uniform wall thickness, the housing members having a central cylindrical portion clearing the sealing connector and merging at each axial extremity into a spherical segment curving toward a corresponding conduit; b. a band mounted on each conduit having a spherical portion mating with a corresponding spherical segment of the housing members; c. a set of axially aligned hinge means joining the housing members to permit movement of the housing members between their complementary position enclosing the sealing connector and an open position for removal from the conduits and sealing connector; d. separable means for securing the housing members in their closed position; e. and a pair of stops fixed in said housing spaced a greater distance axially than the axial extent of the sealing connector and extending radially inwardly from the housing members to limit axial movement of the sealing connector relative to the conduits.

Claim 6

The combination with a pair of conduits disposed in confronting relation, each conduit having a journal ring forming an outwardly directed spherical segment; and a sealing connector bridging between and sealingly joining the conduits, of a restraining means for limiting relative movement between the conduits, the restraining means comprising: a. a pair of complementary semicurcular housing members of essentially uniform wall thickness, the housing members having a central cylindrical portion clearing the sealing connector and merging at each axial extremity into a spherical segment portions mating with a corresponding journal rings to permit limited universal movement, each spherical segment portion terminating in a pair of axially spaced radially outwardly directed reinforcing flanges forming an annular channel; b. a set of axially aligned hinge means joining the housing members and including a separable hinge means to permit movement of the housing members between their complementary position enclosing the sealing connector and an open position for removal from the conduits and sealing means; c. and a pair of complementary relatively rigid reinforcing bands fitting each annular reinforcing channel and separably hinged along axes corresponding to the housing member hinge means.

Claim 7

The combination with a pair of conduits disposed in confronting relation, each conduit having a journal ring forming an outwardly directed spherical segment; and a sealing connector bridging between and sealingly joining the conduits, of a restraining means for limiting relative movement between the conduits, the restraining means comprising: a. a pair of complementary semicurcular housing members of essentially uniform wall thickness, the housing members having a central cylindrical portion clearing the sealing connector and merging at each axial extremity into a spherical segment portions mating with a corresponding journal rings to permit limited universal movement, each spherical segment portion terminating in a pair of axially spaced radially outwardly directed reinforcing flanges forming an annular channel; b. a set of axially aligned hinge means joining the housing members and including a separable hinge means to permit movement of the housing members between their complementary position enclosing the sealing connector and an open position for removal from the conduits and sealing means; c. and a pair of complementary relatively rigid reinforcing bands fitting each annular reinforcing channel and separably hinged along axes corresponding to the housing member hinge means.