AN ENGAGEMENT DEVICE AND COUPLING MEMBER

摘要

PCT No. PCT/AU93/00308 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 23, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 23, 1994 PCT Filed Jun. 24, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/00699 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 6, 1994The present invention relates to engagemnent devices and coupling members for forming a structural frame work for hollow tubes. One form of engagement device comprises a hollow sleeve (1) through which a tube (31) may be passed. The hollow sleeve has a deformable flared portion (2). A further hollow sleeve member (12) is immovable on the outside of the first sleeve and has a surface (13) arranged to co-operate the flared portion to cause it to deform to grip the tube (31). A further engagement device comprises a hollow sleeve portion (100) which is distendable to grip a tube mounted on its surface. A trustoconical wedge (101) is movable within the hollow sleeve potion (100) to cause to distend. A number of engagement devices may be connected together to form coupling members for connecting tubes to form a structural frame work.