Pipe joint structure incorporating electrical conductivity means

Claim 1

A PIPE JOINT FOR CONNECTING METALLIC PIPE IN WHICH THE TWO PIPE ENDS TO BE JOINED ARE ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE TOGETHER, IN CLUDING A FIRST ANNULAR RECESS ABOUT THE INSIDE WALL OF THE OUTER PIPE END, SEALING MEANS RECEIVED IN SAID FIRST RECESS, SAID SEALING MEANS BEING AN ELECTRICAL INSULATOR AND SPACING THE INNER END FROM THE OUTTER; A SECOND ANNULAR RECESS ABOUT THE INSIDE WALL OF THE OUTER PIPE END AND SPACED AXIALLY FROM THE SAID FIRST RECESS, AN ANNULAR SHOULDER ADJACENT SAID SECOND RECESS, THE RADIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID INNER PIPE END TO SAID SHOULDER BEING LESS THAN THE RADIAL DISTANCE FROM SAID INNER PIPE END TO THE DEEPEST PART OF SAID SECOND RECESS, AND A ONE-PIECE CONDUCTOR IN THE FORM OF A CIRCLET OF TUBING OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVE AND DEFORMABLE METAL WHICH HAS BEEN FORCED PAST SAID SHOULDER AND DEFORMED TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID SECOND RECESS, SAID CONDUCTOR CONTACTING BOTH SAID INNER AND OUTER PIPE ENDS AS TO PROVIDE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE THEREBETWEEN, SAID SHOULDER SERVING TO RESTRAIN SAID CONDUCTOR AGAINST MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE PIPE ENDS WHEREBY TO RESTRAIN SAID CONDUCTOR IN SAID SECOND RECESS.