BALL JOINT PIPE COUPLING

• US 3,860,271 A
• Filed: 08/10/1973
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fletcher Rodgers
• Original Assignee: Fletcher Rodgers
• Inventors: Rodgers, Fletcher
• Primary Examiner(s): Callaghan, Thomas F.
• Application Number:
  US05/387,441
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 285/97,261,270 277/34.3,34
• US Class Current: 285/97
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/053 held in place by bolts passing through flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/06 with special sealing means between the engaging surfaces

Abstract

A ball and socket joint or coupling for securing tubular members in end-to-end relation, said coupling comprising a first element having a substantially spherical portion for disposition within a complementary recess in an outer element to secure the tubular members together. Inflatable sealing means is interposed between the elements for efficiently precluding leakage of fluid therebetween.

Claims

1. A ball joint coupling comprising an inner element having a sleeve portion with an enlarged spherical portion at one end thereof, said inner element having a central bore extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving the end of one pipe section therein;

an outer element having a flanged sleeve member with a central bore extending therethrough for receiving the end of a second pipe section therein, said outer element also including a cylindrical member having an inner end removably secured to the flanged sleeve member;

said flanged sleeve member and said cylindrical member providing a spherical recess for receiving the spherical portion in said outer element, said flanged sleeve member and said cylindrical member being provided with cooperating annular recesses to provide an annular recess surrounding the spherical portion in the engaged position of the coupling, the outer end of said cylindrical member having an inwardly directed circumferential flange terminating in an inwardly directed and tapered sleeve portion, the inner end of said tapered sleeve portion being spherically shaped complementary to the outer periphery of the spherical portion and engaging said outer periphery in the engaged position of the coupling;

a yieldable sealing member disposed in said annular recess and surrounding the spherical portion in the engaged position of the coupling, said yieldable sealing member being provided with an inner contoured surface engaging said spherical portion, said yieldable sealing member being provided with an internal chamber for receiving a pressure fluid therein, valve means provided on said yieldable sealing member for admitting fluid into the internal chamber, means provided in said cylindrical member in communication with said valve means for selectively injecting said fluid into the internal chamber whereby said yieldable sealing member exerts pressure on said spherical portion for retaining the engaged position for the coupling and providing an efficient sealing of the joint between the pipe sections.

2. A ball joint pipe coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein the central bore of the inner element is provided with an outwardly flared portion for receiving the end of said second pipe section therein in the engaged position of the coupling.