Pipe connecting apparatus

摘要

The invention relates to a pipe connecting apparatus for connecting a first pipe having an inner peripheral face and an axis with a second pipe inserted into the first pipe member. More particularly, the apparatus includes: an elastic seal to be disposed within a gap formed between an inner peripheral face of the first pipe and an outer peripheral face of the second pipe, the elastic seal being compressed in an axial direction along the axis of the first pipe for sealing the gap; a press ring fitted on the second pipe, the press ring being movable on the outer peripheral face of the second pipe member in the axial direction; and a retainer member fitted on the second pipe, the retainer member having a locked condition in which the retainer member is pressed against the second pipe and a released condition in which the retainer member is radially expanded to be released from the locked condition, the retainer member being switched over from the released condition to the locked condition in association with a movement thereof relative to the press ring. A sequentially operative mechanism (9, 10, 19, 20) is operative to press the elastic seal alone in the axial direction while maintaining the retainer member (6, 16) at the released condition in a first state where the compressive force is below a predetermined value, the sequentially operative mechanism being operative to allow the retainer member (6, 16) to be switched over to the locked condition in association with the movement thereof relative to the press ring in a second state where the compressive force is above the predetermined value. <IMAGE>