Patent ID: 6916049
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A pipe coupling for joining two portions of a pipe, the pipe coupling comprising: an inlet portion; an outlet portion disposed opposite the inlet portion; a single intermediate portion disposed between the inlet and outlet portions for accommodating both axial and torsional relative movement between the inlet portion and the outlet portion; the intermediate portion having a plurality of corrugations disposed about a circumference of the pipe coupling, each corrugation having first and second ends; each corrugation disposed at an angle “a” as measured from a transverse axis of the pipe coupling, said angle substantially perpendicular to a maximum tensile stress (S the first and second ends of each corrugation terminating at a transition area where each said end blends with the inlet portion and outlet portion, respectively; and the transition area forming a smooth curve defined by a second order or third order function, the transition area extending from an axis of each corrugation to either a longitudinal axis of the pipe coupling or an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pipe coupling.