Patent ID: 8534388

Claim:
A pipe joint for use in drill strings in rotary boring applications, the pipe joint comprising: a tubular outer member having a first end and a second end and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming an annular shoulder; an inner member having a box end and a pin end corresponding to the box end so that the pin end of an adjacent inner member is disposed within the box end of a similarly formed inner member, the inner member being arranged generally coaxially within the outer member and independently rotatable relative to the outer member and forming an annular fluid now path between the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member; and a spacing assembly having a first end and a second end disposed on the inner member and positioned between the shoulder of the outer member and a stop of the inner member; wherein the inner member defines the stop sized to restrict axial movement of the inner member in a first direction; and wherein the spacing assembly defines a fluid flow passage in fluid communication with the fluid flow path.