Patent ID: 7461868

Claim:
An apparatus for separating a pipe joint of the type comprising a first pipe received inside an enlarged socket of the second pipe and restrained therein by a resilient gasket carrying an annular array of toothed rigid segments which engage an outer surface of the first pipe to prevent withdrawal thereof, the apparatus comprising: a first and a second gasket release tool that each have a body, wherein each body is formed into an arcuate shape and is adapted to be received between the first and second pipes such that the first and second gasket release tools are not overlapping; and a driving apparatus, comprising: a first driving ring adapted to be mounted around one of the pipes and sized to bear against the gasket release tool; a second driving ring adapted to be mounted around the other one of the pipes and sized to bear against the socket; and driving means for drawing the first and second driving rings together so as to drive the gasket release tools into the joint; and wherein each of the driving rings comprises one or more arcuate ring segments adapted to be joined together.