Patent ID: 8225885

Claim:
A joint connecting a pair of members rotatable about a common axis end to end, comprising: a first member having a threaded end portion, a non circular exterior surface rearwardly of the threaded end portion, and a first longitudinal fluid supply passage; a second member having a threaded socket wherein the threaded end portion of the first member can be engaged, a second longitudinal fluid supply passage that communicates with the first longitudinal fluid supply passage, and a non circular exterior surface; a sleeve having a non circular profile on an inner surface thereof whereby the sleeve can be slidably mounted on the non circular exterior surfaces of the first and second members when such surfaces are brought into alignment by rotation of one member relative to the other, which sleeve is effective to pass torque from one member to the other by means of the non circular surfaces; and a fluid release passage including a radial port that extends from the first longitudinal fluid supply passage to a clearance between the sleeve and the first member, which clearance communicates with a second clearance between the sleeve and the second member, which second clearance has a discharge opening.