Patent ID: 8424919

Claim:
A marine riser assembly comprising: a first tubular member having a first end face and an external surface, there being a first formation on said external surface adjacent said first end face; a second tubular member having a second end face and an external surface, there being a second formation on aid external surface adjacent said second end face, said first and second end faces being adjacent each other; a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure; a ring in surrounding relationship to said first and second tubular members and spanning said adjacent end faces, said ring having an inner surface, there being a third formation engageable with said first formation on said inner surface and a fourth formation engageable with said second formation on said inner surface, said first and third formations having engaged surfaces urging said first end face toward said second end face when said ring is under radially inwardly directed compressive force, said second and fourth formations having engaged surfaces urging said second end face toward said first end face when said ring is under radially inwardly directed compressive force, said ring having an external surface with at least a portion being tapered, said tapered portion extending in a single direction for the majority of the length of said ring; a sleeve having an inner surface with at least a portion having a taper complementary to said tapered portion of said external surface of said ring, said sleeve spanning said adjacent end faces and said sleeve exerting said compressive force when said tapered surface portions are engaged; and an annular guide disposed between said first and second tubular members for maintaining said first and second tubular members generally coaxial.