Patent ID: 9599260
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: F16L

Claim:
1. A pipe coupling, comprising: a) an outer cylindrical shell having first and second ends; b) an elastomeric sleeve located inside of the outer shell and having respective first and second end portions, and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion located between the respective first and second end portions; c) an inner ring located inside of the sleeve intermediate portion, the inner ring pressed out to the shell to retain the sleeve intermediate portion to the shell; d) the sleeve end portions being sealed to the outer shell; e) first and second cavities between the shell and the sleeve, the first cavity being between the sleeve intermediate portion and one of the sleeve end portions and the second cavity being between the sleeve intermediate portion and the other of the sleeve end portions; f) the shell having at least one opening that communicates with the first and second cavities; g) the sleeve having expandable portions that form the first and second cavities, the expandable portions being movable relative to the shell, the shell, the sleeve and the inner ring forming an interior for receiving a pipe joint, wherein the expandable sleeve portions expand around the pipe joint, the inner ring preventing the retained sleeve intermediate portion from expanding into the pipe joint.