Patent ID: 9249911
Filing Date: 2016-02-02
CPC Classification: F16L

Claim Text:
1. A flexible expansion joint for connecting a first pipe and a second pipe such that the first pipe and the second pipe are movable and bendable relative to each other, said flexible expansion joint comprising: a first sleeve to be put on an end part of the first pipe; an outer sleeve to be put on an end part of a second pipe so as to overlap the first sleeve and capable of moving axially relative to the first sleeve; a first sealing member sealing a gap between the inside surface of the first sleeve and the outside surface of the first pipe in a liquid-tight sealed state such that the first sleeve and the first pipe are axially movable relative to each other; a second sealing member sealing a gap between the inside surface of the outer sleeve and the outside surface of the second pipe in a liquid-tight sealed state such that the outer sleeve and the second pipe are axially movable relative to each other; a third sealing member sealing a gap between the outside surface of the first sleeve and the inside surface of the outer sleeve in a liquid-tight sealed state such that the first sleeve and the outer sleeve are axially movable relative to each other; a first length limiter including a first reference member placed on the first pipe, a first reference holder formed on the first sleeve, and a first stopper for limiting the axial movement of the first pipe and the first sleeve relative to each other to a predetermined first limit length, the first sealing member being unable to maintain the gap between the inside surface of the first sleeve and the outside surface of the first pipe in a liquid-tight sealed state when a distance between the first reference member and the first reference holder exceeds the predetermined first limit length; and a second length limiter including a second reference member placed on the second pipe, a second reference holder formed on the outer sleeve, and a second stopper for limiting the axial movement of the second pipe and the outer sleeve relative to each other to a predetermined second limit length, the second sealing member being unable to maintain the gap between the inside surface of the outer sleeve and the outside surface of the second pipe in a liquid-tight sealed state when a distance between the second reference member and the second reference holder exceeds the predetermined second limit length, wherein the first stopper, when the first reference holder moves toward an end face of the end part of the first pipe with respect to the first reference member, limits the first reference holder from moving toward the end face of the end part of the first pipe such that the distance between the first reference member and the first reference holder does not exceed the predetermined first limit length, and the second stopper, when the second reference holder moves toward an end face of the end part of the second pipe with respect to the second reference member, limits the second reference holder from moving toward the end face of the end part of the second pipe such that the distance between the second reference member and the second reference holder does not exceed the predetermined second limit length.