Sealed swivel joint for fluid systems

Claim 1

A SEALED, FLUID COUPLING JOINT FOR USE IN A FLUID SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING ADJACENT ENDS OF A FLUID LINE SO AS TO ALLOW SWIVELING MOVEMENTS, SAID JOINT COMPRISING: A FIRST CONDUIT SECTION HAVING MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF FOR RIGID CONNECTION WITH ONE OF THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FLUID LINE AND HAVING A FIRST RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON THE OTHER END THEREOF, THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE BEING SPHERICALLY FORMED AND HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE FORMED THEREIN; A SECOND CONDUIT SECTION JUXTAPOSED SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION AND HAVING MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF FOR RIGID CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER OF THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FLUID LINE AND HAVING A SECOND RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID SECOND FLANGE BEING OF A LARGER DIAMETER THAN THAT OF SAID FIRST FLANGE; AN ANNULAR HOUSING HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING CONICAL PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN INNER SPHERICALLY FORMED SURFACE, SAID HOUSING BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID FIRST FLANGE OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION AND BEING SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF WITH SAID SECOND FLANGE TO DEFINE THEREWITH A CUP-SHAPED SOCKET FOR TELESCOPINGLY RECEIVING SAID OTHER END OF SAID FIRST CONDIUT SECTION THEREIN; A RING SEAL DISPOSED IN SAID GROOVE IN SAID FIRST FLANGE AND ENGAGING THE INNER, SPHERICAL SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING CONICAL PORTION TO FORM A FLUID SEAL BETWEEN SAID CONDUIT SECTIONS, SAID SEAL PROVIDING CIRCULAR, SUBSTANTIALLY LINE BEARING CONTACT BETWEEN THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FIRST FLANGE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE HOUSING, SAID SEAL FORMING THE SOLE CONTACT BETWEEN SAID FIRST FLANGE AND SAID HOUSING SURFACE; A FIRST HUB SUPPORTED BY RADIAL SPOKES COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID OTHER END OF SAID FIRST CONDUIT SECTION, SAID HUB HAVING A SPHERICAL BEARING SOCKET FORMED WITHIN ITS AXIALLY OUTER WALL AND COAXIALLY THEREOF; A SECOND HUB JUXTAPOSED SAID FIRST HUB AND SUPPORTED BY RADIAL SPOKES COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID OTHER END OF SAID SECOND CONDUIT SECTION, SAID SECOND HUB HAVING AN AXIAL BORE EXTENDING COAXIALLY THEREOF; AN ELONGATED PIN POSITIONED IN SAID BORE, AN ANNULAR GUIDE SHOULDER FORMED ON SAID PIN INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND ADAPTED FOR SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITHIN SAID BORE, ONE END OF SAID PIN BEING SPHERICALLY FORMED FOR PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY POINT BEARING ENGAGEMENT WITHIN SAID SPHERICAL HUB SOCKET; SPRING MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID AXIAL BORE SURROUNDING SAID PIN FOR CONTINUOUSLY BIASING THE SPHERICAL END OF SAID PIN INTO FORCED, SEATING ENGAGEMENT WITHIN SAID SPHERICAL SOCKET AND CONTINUOUSLY URGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND HUBS APART WHEREBY A PREDETERMINED FORCE IS EFFECTED ON SAID SEAL RING; ADJUSTING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE AXIAL FORCE ON SAID PIN THEREBY PLACING A PREDETERMINED FORCE ON SAID SEAL RING, SAID ADJUSTING MEANS INCLUDING AN ADJUSTING PLUG THREADEDLY RECEIVED IN THE OTHER END OF SAID AXIAL BORE, SAID PLUG BEING ADAPTED ON ROTATION THEREOF FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE APPLIED FORCE ON SAID PIN AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING, WHEREAS SAID SPRING IS COMPRESSED BETWEEN ONE FACE OF SAID GUIDE SHOULDER AND THE INNER END OF SAID PLUG; AND STOP MEANS WITHIN SAID BORE FOR ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT BY THE OTHER FACE OF SAID GUIDE SHOULDER FOR LIMITING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PIN IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID FIRST HUB.