Patent ID: 11873932
Assignee: MMC FITTINGS LIMITED
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 20:
21. A method of joining together at least two conduit sections of a pipe, pipeline or other conduit, wherein the conduit sections comprise a first conduit section having at least one first connection end comprising a wall defining a receiving recess for receiving a second connection end of a second conduit section, there being formed in one of an internal surface of the wall of the receiving recess of the first conduit section or an external surface of the second connection end of the second conduit section at least one first groove or channel, and there being formed in the other of the internal surface of the wall of the receiving recess of the first conduit section or the external surface of the second connection end of the second conduit section a plurality of second grooves or channels, the plurality of second grooves or channels being axially spaced apart from one another, and the or each first groove or channel and the plurality of second grooves or channels being accessible from the outside of at least the first conduit section;
wherein the method comprises:
providing at least one elongate flexible anchoring element in the form of a strip comprising a plurality of elongate anchoring portions transversely spaced apart from one another across the strip and joined by an elongate bridging portion disposed between the elongate anchoring portions and extending along the lengths of the anchoring portions so as to interconnect the elongate anchoring portions along the lengths, and the anchoring and bridging portions being configured such that each anchoring portion is placeable in a respective one of the said second grooves or channels;
inserting the second connection end of the second conduit section into the receiving recess of the first conduit section such as to bring into register or alignment the at least one first groove or channel and the plurality of second grooves or channels; and
inserting the said elongate flexible anchoring element into the at least one first groove or channel and the plurality of second grooves or channels so as to be seated in and between both the said at least one first groove or channel and the plurality of second grooves or channels;
whereby following said insertion and seating of the anchoring element into and between the in-register or aligned at least one first groove or channel and the plurality of second grooves or channels, with the anchoring portions of the anchoring element seated in the said second grooves or channels, the first and second conduit sections are united so as to be axially substantially immovable relative to each other.