Abstract: A pipe joint consists of a sleeve (2) surrounding a socket chamber (3) for receiving a spigot (5). A gland (9) extends into the socket chamber (3) against a heel portion (12) of a sealing ring (7). Axial movement of the gland (9) forces the sealing ring (7) and causes a leading nose portion (14) of the sealing ring (7) to be deflected radially inwardly by the internal profile of the sleeve (2) against the external surface of the spigot or pipe end (5), thereby forming a seal. The heel portion (12) of the seal ring (7) maintains substantially the same radial position in the socket (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assembling and installing pipes comprising disposing at least one cable between a first station and a second station; attaching and clamping a first pipe to the cable at or adjacent one of said stations; moving the pipe away from said one station with the cable; connecting a second pipe to the first pipe and attaching and clamping the second pipe to the cable at or adjacent said one station; repeating the connecting, attaching and clamping operation to provide an elongate connected sequence of pipes attached to and clamped to the cable; and drawing the cable away from said one station towards the second station to move the sequence of pipes into its desired position between the first and second stations.