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Connector means providing fluid-tight but relatively rotatable joint

  • US 4,752,089 A
  • Filed: 01/29/1987
  • Issued: 06/21/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A connector means for providing a fluid-tight seal and relative rotation of a pair of adjacent first and second body members, comprising, in combination:

  • providing the first body member with an operatively cylindrical extension,providing the second body member with an operatively cylindrical extension,the cylindrical extension of the first body member being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension of the second body member,the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the cylindrical extension of the second body member being provided with annular groove means facing one another, and co-operating to provide an annular chamber for bearing members specified below,a series of bearing members carried in the co-operating two said annular groove means, and the series of bearing members providing a circumferential abutment means blocking axial movement of the first body member and second body member axially away from one another, and urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another,there being provided circumferential sealing means operatively between the cylindrical extension of the first body member and the second body member, they being operatively engageable through the said sealing means,the two said annular groove means being at least slightly out of alignment so that said bearing members are constantly urging the first body member and the second body member axially toward one another thus acting to compress and urge the sealing means to achieve a fluid-tight fit between the first body member and the second body member even though they are relatively rotatable,in a combination in which the wall of the annular groove means of the cylindrical extension of the second body member is of an operatively rigid nature blocking radially outward movement of the bearing members which could release their said axial movement-blocking operativity as to the first and second body members, regardless of any force tending to force the bearing members outwardly, which is imposed upon the cylindrical extension of the first body member by compressive force in the circumferential sealing means, and thereby preventing any disconnection of the first and second body members without removal of the bearing members from the two said groove means.

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