Patent ID: 6109662
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A flexible pipe joint comprising:two pipes having adjacent ends shaped in the form of a ball wherein each ball-shaped end includes a tubular round pipe and a convex-shaped ring with a spherical cross-section, the ring being fixed to the pipe outer surface proximate the end of the pipe, the ring further having a watertight seal between the ring and tubular round pipe;a dual coupling, the coupling further comprising an upper part and a lower part, the parts having inner surfaces of spherical cross-section which conform to the outer surface of the rings;the dual coupling further comprising a pair of hinged connections for joining and clamping the upper and lower coupling parts, the hinged connections being on a first lateral side of the pipes being joined and the hinged connections further having slideably engageable means for adjusting the alignment of the upper and lower parts of the dual coupling;the dual coupling further including means for securing together mating ends of upper and lower coupling parts to the first lateral side and at a second lateral side of the pipes being joined;the rings further including sealing means circumferentially around the proximate apex of the ring for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the dual coupling; andthe dual coupling lower part further including sealing means in the opposing edges of the lower part for sealing engagement with the mating edges of the upper part of the dual coupling.