Patent ID: 7648176

Claim:
A pipe joint for joining a first and a second pipe having substantially the same internal diameters, said pipe joint comprising: a first pipe end and a second pipe end, said first pipe end having an annular socket for receiving the second pipe end, wherein an outer wall of said socket has an annular, axially tapering surface extending over at least a portion of an outer wall of said second pipe end and an inner wall of said socket has an internal diameter sized and shaped to fit over at least a portion of said second pipe; an axially movable sleeve surrounding said axially tapering outer wall of said socket and having a corresponding tapering inner surface facing said axially tapering outer wall of said socket, wherein at least a portion of the annular, axially tapering surface of the socket is in contact with at least a portion of the tapering, inner surface of the sleeve to define an engagement zone; a pressure chamber removed from the engagement zone and disposed for receipt of pressurized fluid to produce relative axial movement between said first pipe end and said sleeve so as to exert a radial compressive force to the respective tapering surfaces in the engagement zone; and a lock to secure the relative positions of the sleeve and the socket.