Patent ID: 8833802
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A misalignment ball joint fitting, comprising: a first body portion comprising a spherical inner surface; a second body portion comprising a spherical inner surface, the second body portion being coupled to the first body portion; a ball comprising a passage therein, wherein the passage has a funnel shaped portion in a first end portion of the ball, wherein at least a portion of the ball is secured inside the first and second body portions when the body portions are coupled, and wherein the ball is allowed to at least partially rotate when secured inside the first and second body portions; a guide sleeve attached to the first body portion, wherein the guide sleeve is not attached to the ball, wherein the guide sleeve is coaxial with the ball passage when the ball is in a neutral position with walls of the passage in the ball parallel to walls of the guide sleeve, and wherein a portion of the guide sleeve positioned inside the ball passage is substantially cylindrical; and a recess in an inner surface of the ball near a center of the ball, wherein an end of the guide sleeve extends into at least a portion of the recess when the ball is in the neutral position with the walls of the passage in the ball parallel to the walls of the guide sleeve.