Patent ID: 8888144

Claim:
A misalignment coupling for connecting conduit sections comprising: a first coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the first coupling member includes a first rearward end which is configured to be connected to a first conduit section, a first forward end, and a first flange at the periphery of the first coupling member; a second coupling member having an aperture therethrough, wherein the second coupling member includes a second rearward end which is configured to be connected to a second conduit section, a second forward end which is complementary to the first forward end of the first coupling member, and a rearward-facing shoulder; a collar member wherein the collar member is configured to be positioned around the second coupling member, and wherein the collar member has a second flange at the periphery of the collar member, wherein the second flange is configured to be secured to the first flange; a plurality of bearings wherein the plurality of bearings are positioned in a generally annular space between the shoulder of the second coupling member and a forward-facing rear portion of the collar member, wherein the plurality of bearings comprise a first set of the bearings and a second set of the bearings, wherein each of the bearings in the plurality of bearings belongs to either the first set or the second set, wherein the bearings of the first and second sets are interleaved and spaced such that each bearing of one set is angularly positioned between and in contact with two adjacent bearings of the other set, wherein contact pressure applied by a securing component to the collar is transferred from the forward-facing rear portion of the collar member to the first set of bearings, from the first set of bearings to the second set of bearings, and from the second set of bearings to the shoulder of the second coupling member, and wherein the spacing between successive bearings of each set is variable, such that the shoulder of the second coupling member and the forward-facing rear portion of the collar member can be alternately parallel and non-parallel.