Patent ID: 6659511
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
A flexible fluid-transport pipe joint apparatus including a receiving tubular member, an inserting tubular member insertable into and connectable with the receiving tubular member along a tube axial direction, the apparatus comprising:a stopper portion formed in an outer peripheral face of the inserting tubular member, the stopper portion projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral face; a retaining portion formed in an inner peripheral face of the receiving tubular member, the retaining portion coming into contact with the stopper portion of the inserting tubular member along the tube axial direction so as to prevent slidable displacement between the two tubular members at least on a withdrawal side in a predetermined relative slidable range of the tubular members along the tube axial direction; wherein the stopper portion includes a plurality of projections formed at a plurality of positions along a periphery of the inserting tubular member; wherein the retaining portion of the receiving tubular member includes a plurality of detaching recesses, each said recess allowing passage of each of the projections axially relative to the detaching recess only when the receiving tubular member and the inserting tubular member are located in a predetermined phase relationship with each other; and wherein temporary fixing means is provided for temporally fixing the receiving and inserting tubular members to be non-rotatable relative to each other when the tubular members are under a retained condition which is realized by rotating the inter-connected receiving and inserting tubular members relative to each other by a predetermined angle from said predetermined phase relationship, said temporary fixing means being detachably attached to a connecting flange of the inserting tubular member and also to a plurality of projecting connecting portions formed at a plurality of peripheral positions in the outer peripheral face of the receiving tubular member adjacent a receiver opening thereof; wherein engaging recesses are defined in said connecting portions peripherally engageable with connecting bolts fixed to said connecting flange; and covering means extending externally between the outer peripheral face of the receiving tubular member and the outer peripheral face of the inserting tubular member so as to cover the detaching recesses, wherein said covering means is comprised of a flexible shield for shielding the detaching recesses from light, water and gas.