| 摘要 |
<p>A housing (5) is provided for locating around a thermoplastic pipe end portion, an annular recess (7) in the inner surface of the housing (5) containing gripper elements (2) for contacting the outer surface of the pipe end portion. Means such as a grease nipple (6) and a seal member (4) are provided for moving the gripper elements (2) radially inwardly against the pipe end portion. The gripper elements (2) are designed without sharp edges or corners that could contact the pipe end portion, and have radially inwardly facing surfaces which are formed as rounded peaks and/or valleys; and a preformed tubular insert (3) is inserted into the pipe end portion and has an outer surface preformed into one or more cooperating rounded peaks and/or valleys so that on radially inward movement of the gripper elements (2) the pipe end portion is deformed into a shape following the cooperating one or more rounded peaks and/or valleys and is clamped between the gripper elements (2) and the insert (3).</p> |
