Abstract: A pipe end fitting (13) has a cup-shaped body (15) for fitting on the end of a pipe (14), and gripping (20, 22) and sealing (18) assemblies that fit radially inside the pipe and the cup-shaped body and are radially expandable to engage the pipe interior. The gripping assembly Includes a toothed expandable assembly (20) and an expansion mandrel (22) that is urgeable axially into the cup to expand the expandable assembly. This also axially compresses the sealing assembly (18), which is formed of at least two annular bodies (30, 34) and two sealing rings (42, 56). At least one body has a ramp surface (74, 76) that urges radial expansion of a sealing ring (42, 54) to seal to the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe end fitting (13) has a cup-shaped body (15) for fitting on the end of a pipe (14), and gripping (20, 22) and sealing (18) assemblies that fit radially inside the pipe and the cup-shaped body and are radially expandable to engage the pipe interior. The gripping assembly includes a toothed expandable assembly (20) and an expansion mandrel (22) that is urgeable axially into the cup to expand the expandable assembly. This also axially compresses the sealing assembly (18), which is formed of at least two annular bodies (30, 34) and two sealing rings (42, 56). At least one body has a ramp surface (74, 76) that urges radial expansion of a sealing ring (42, 54) to seal to the pipe.

Abstract: An end fitting, particularly a pipe towing head, has an expandable element (44; 144) that is surrounded by a skirt (18) of a tubular body (14), so that a pipe end portion can be gripped between them. The element may have pipe gripping ribs which get less aggressive rearwardly, since the element is expandable by a mandrel (45) that leads to the greatest expansion at the rear.