Patent ID: 7883094

Claim:
A flexible, variable-length coupling capable of fluidically connecting a first conduit to a second conduit, said coupling comprising: a tubular sleeve having first and second ends, wherein said sleeve has an interior area, and wherein said first end of said sleeve is capable of being operatively connected to said first conduit; a seal ring holder having first and second ends, wherein said seal ring holder has an interior area operatively connected to the interior area of the sleeve, wherein said first end of said seal ring holder is capable of being operatively connected to said second conduit, wherein said second end of said seal ring holder is located within said interior area of said sleeve, wherein an exterior surface of said seal ring holder features an endless groove, and wherein said endless groove is positioned within said sleeve; a plurality of springs located within said groove, and wherein each of said springs is in the form of an annulus; a plurality of expander rings located within said groove in a position outwardly of at least one of said springs, and wherein each expander ring is ring shaped and contacts at least one of said springs; and three seal rings located at least partially in said groove in a position outwardly of at least two of said expander rings, wherein each of said seal rings is ring shaped and contacts at least one of said expander rings and a surface of said sleeve, wherein said seal rings are oriented in a side-by-side relation, and wherein an area between adjacent expander rings is covered by one of said seal rings.