Pipe swivel joint for corrosive fluids

Claim 2

A pipe swivel joint comprising, in combination: an outer conduit including a tubular portion, a flange portion fastened to the tubular portion, and a sleeve circumscribed by said tubular portion and joined to the flange portion, said tubular portion and said sleeve defining an annulus; an inner conduit including a tubular portion projecting into the annulus, the inner conduit being swivelly coupled to the outer conduit, said outer and inner conduits presenting a coaxial bore therethrough; an annular packing chamber between the tubular portion of the inner conduit and the sleeve; an annular packing disposed in the packing chamber; an annular packing adjustment element in the annulus, said element having a first portion extending axially into the packing chamber and a second portion extending radially from the first portion; and a series of energizing screws, extending through corrosion-resistant sleeves which are threaDed into the flange portion of the outer conduit, for adjustment of the packing, said screws being threaded inwardly of the swivel joint against the adjustment element to force its first portion against the packing to compress the packing into a fluid-tight seal between said outer and inner conduits.

Claim 3

A pipe swivel joint for transport of highly corrosive materials comprising, in combination: a first conduit including a radial flange portion, a tubular portion removably secured to said flange portion, and a sleeve circumscribed by said tubular portion and having an end secured to said flange portion; a second conduit swivelly interconnected to the first conduit and having a tubular portion disposed between the sleeve and the first conduit''s tubular portion, said second conduit and said sleeve defining an annular packing chamber; an annular packing disposed in the packing chamber to provide a fluid-tight seal between the first and second conduits; an annular pressure plate for transmitting compressive force to the packing, said pressure plate including a tubular portion extending into the packing chamber and against said packing; a plurality of corrosion-resistant sleeves removably mounted in circumferentially-spaced ports through the first conduit''s flange portion; and a plurality of corrosion-resistant energizing screws extending through the sleeves into engagement with the pressure plate, whereby when said screws are turned inwardly of the flange portion said pressure plate is forced against the packing to energize it into a fluid-tight seal between the conduits.

Claim 4

A pipe swivel joint for transport of highly corrosive materials comprising, in combination: a first conduit including a radial flange portion, a tubular portion removably secured to said flange portion, and a sleeve circumscribed by said tubular portion and having an end secured to said flange portion; a second conduit swivelly interconnected to the first conduit and having a tubular portion disposed between the sleeve and the first conduit''s tubular portion, said second conduit and said sleeve defining an annular packing chamber; an annular packing disposed in the packing chamber to provide a fluid-tight seal between the first and second conduits; an annular pressure plate for transmitting compressive force to the packing, said pressure plate including a tubular portion extending into the packing chamber and against said packing; a plurality of corrosion-resistant sleeves removably mounted in circumferentially-spaced ports through the first conduit''s flange portion; and a plurality of corrosion-resistant energizing screws extending through the sleeves into engagement with the pressure plate, whereby when said screws are turned inwardly of the flange portion said pressure plate is forced against the packing to energize it into a fluid-tight seal between the conduits.

Claim 5

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 wherein the sleeves are threaded into the ports.

Claim 6

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 wherein the sleeves extend through the flange portion at an acute angle with respect to an axis through the swivel joint.

Claim 7

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 wherein the swivel connection between the first and second conduits comprises a rollable bearing system, and wherein said bearing system is positioned on a perpendicular from the swivel joint''s axis through the packing.

Claim 8

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 wherein the pressure plate includes means to cooperate with the energizing screws to prevent rotation of said pressure plate with respect to said screws about the axis of the swivel joint.

Claim 9

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 including a drain passage to facilitate escape to the outside of the swivel joint of fluid that has leaked past the packing.

Claim 10

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 2 including a wash port system for flushing out fluid that has leaked past the packing.

Claim 11

A pipe swivel joint comprising, in combination: a first annular member including a radial flange portion, an outer tubular portion, and an inner tubular portion; a second annular member including a tubular portion swivelly coupled to the outer tubular portion of the first annular member, said first and second annular members having a coaxial bore therethrough and defining an annular packing chamber disposed between the inner tubular portion of the first annular member and the tubular portion of the second annular member; an annular packing disposed in the packing chamber to provide a fluid seal between the first and second annular members; an annular force element disposed in contact with the packing; and a series of energizing screws threaded into corrosion-resistant sleeves which are in turn threaded into the flange portion of the first annular member, said screws being threaded inwardly of the swivel joint to urge the force element tightly against the packing.

Claim 12

A pipe swivel joint comprising, in combination: a first annular member including a radial flange portion, an outer tubular portion, and an inner tubular portion; a second annular member including a tubular portion swivelly coupled to the outer tubular portion of the first annular member, said first and second annular members having a coaxial bore therethrough and defining an annular packing chamber disposed between the inner tubular portion of the first annular member and the tubular portion of the second annular member; an annular packing disposed in the packing chamber to provide a fluid seal between the first and second annular members; an annular force element disposed in contact with the packing; and a series of energizing screws threaded into corrosion-resistant sleeves which are in turn threaded into the flange portion of the first annular member, said screws being threaded inwardly of the swivel joint to urge the force element tightly against the packing.

Claim 13

A pipe swivel joint for transport of highly corrosive fluids comprising, in combination: a first conduit having a cylindrical tubular portion and an annular flange portion with an attached cylindrical tubular sleeve projecting into the tubular portion, said tubular portion and said sleeve defining an annulus therebetween; a second conduit, having a cylindrical tubular portion and an annuLar portion, swivelly coupled to the first conduit, the tubular portion of the second conduit projecting into the annulus; an annular packing chamber defined by the tubular portion of the second conduit and the sleeve; an annular packing element disposed in the packing chamber; and means in the first conduit for externally applying force to compress the packing element into a fluid-tight seal between the first and second conduits, said force applying means comprising an annular pressure plate having one end that bears against the packing element, and externally adjustable threaded elements extending through the first conduit''s annular flange portion into contact with the other end of the pressure plate, said threaded elements received in corrosion-resistant sleeves that extend through and are threaded into said flange portion, whereby when said threaded elements are turned inwardly they apply a compressive force through the pressure plate to the packing element.

Claim 14

A pipe swivel joint for transport of highly corrosive fluids comprising, in combination: a first conduit having a cylindrical tubular portion and an annular flange portion with an attached cylindrical tubular sleeve projecting into the tubular portion, said tubular portion and said sleeve defining an annulus therebetween; a second conduit, having a cylindrical tubular portion and an annuLar portion, swivelly coupled to the first conduit, the tubular portion of the second conduit projecting into the annulus; an annular packing chamber defined by the tubular portion of the second conduit and the sleeve; an annular packing element disposed in the packing chamber; and means in the first conduit for externally applying force to compress the packing element into a fluid-tight seal between the first and second conduits, said force applying means comprising an annular pressure plate having one end that bears against the packing element, and externally adjustable threaded elements extending through the first conduit''s annular flange portion into contact with the other end of the pressure plate, said threaded elements received in corrosion-resistant sleeves that extend through and are threaded into said flange portion, whereby when said threaded elements are turned inwardly they apply a compressive force through the pressure plate to the packing element.

Claim 15

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 10 wherein the threaded elements are screws having wrench portions located outside the joint.

Claim 16

A pipe swivel joint according to claim 10 wherein the pressure plate is coated with a corrosion resistant material, wash ports are incorporated into the first conduit for cleaning corrosive materials from the joint, and the pressure plate includes recessed areas to receive the threaded elements to preclude rotation of said pressure plate with respect to the flange portion.