Patent ID: 6019396
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A pipe connecting apparatus for connecting a first pipe member having an inner peripheral face and an axis with a second pipe member inserted into the first pipe member, the apparatus comprising:an elastic seal to be disposed within a gap formed between an inner peripheral face of the first pipe member and an outer peripheral face of the second pipe member, the elastic seal being compressed in an axial direction along the axis of the first pipe member to seal the gap;a press ring fitted on the second pipe member, the press ring being movable on the outer peripheral face of the second pipe member in the axial direction and means for axially moving said press ring;a retainer member placed around the outer peripheral face of the second pipe member, the retainer member having a locked condition in which the retainer member is pressed against the outer peripheral face of the second pipe member and a released condition in which the retainer member is radially expanded to be released from the locked condition, the retainer member and press ring having cooperating surfaces therebetween for the retainer member to be switched over from the released condition to the locked condition in association with a movement thereof in the axial direction-relative to the press ring; anda sequentially operative mechanism interposed between the press ring and the elastic seal for transmitting said axial movement of the press ring to the elastic seal as the compressive force thereto, the sequentially operative mechanism comprising an intermediate pressing element having a face to come into contact with the elastic seal and a space-regulating element attached to the intermediate pressing element, the space-regulating element being operative to press the elastic seal alone in the axial direction while maintaining an axial opposing space between the press ring and intermediate pressing element within a range allowing the released condition of the retainer member in a first state where the compressive force is below a predetermined value, the space-regulating element being operative to release the space maintenance and allow the retainer member to be switched over to the locked condition in association with the axial movement thereof relative to the press ring in a second state where the compressive force is above the predetermined value.