coupling for joining tube elements, combination of a pair of tube elements and a coupling, and methods for maintaining first and second segments of a coupling in spaced relation in a pre-assembled state and for connecting first and second tube elements one to the other.

摘要

a coupling for joining tube elements has segments that surround a central space with vertices that engage lobes of a seal to maintain the segments in a spaced relationship in a pre-assembled state. while the coupling is in the pre-assembled state, the tube elements can be inserted into the central space without disassembling the coupling, and portions of the seal adjacent to the affixing members on the segments lie within a channel defined by the segments between the vertices. when the seal is compressed between the segments and the tube elements to form a joint, the seal deforms to remove a central pin from the seal from the flow path defined within the tube elements.