US3712645A — Ball and socket pipe joint

Claim 1

Independent Claim 232 words

A ball and socket pipe joint connection comprising: a ball pin member having a central bore therein and having an external annular projection adjacent the outlet of said bore, said ball pin member also having an external ball surface spaced from the outlet of said bore; a socket member having a spherical surface cooperating with said annular projection, the radius of said spherical surface being greater than the radius of said ball surface; a connecting member secured on said socket member and having a spherical surface cooperating with said ball surface; first fluid sealing means on said annular projection and movable with said annular projection for sealing between said projection and said spherical surface of said socket member, said first fluid sealing means including an annular packing ring, said packing ring engaging said socket member surface at radially spaced locations and having a central annular recess between said loations, said packing ring being mounted on a support ring of greater hardness than the packing ring, the support ring and said packing ring cooperating to form said annular projection; second fluid sealing means between said connecting member and said ball member, said ball member and said socket member and said connecting member cooperating to form a fluid receiving chamber externally of said ball member and between said first and second sealing means; and means for conducting fluid into and out of said chamber.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 232 words

A ball and socket pipe joint connection comprising: a ball pin member having a central bore therein and having an external annular projection adjacent the outlet of said bore, said ball pin member also having an external ball surface spaced from the outlet of said bore; a socket member having a spherical surface cooperating with said annular projection, the radius of said spherical surface being greater than the radius of said ball surface; a connecting member secured on said socket member and having a spherical surface cooperating with said ball surface; first fluid sealing means on said annular projection and movable with said annular projection for sealing between said projection and said spherical surface of said socket member, said first fluid sealing means including an annular packing ring, said packing ring engaging said socket member surface at radially spaced locations and having a central annular recess between said loations, said packing ring being mounted on a support ring of greater hardness than the packing ring, the support ring and said packing ring cooperating to form said annular projection; second fluid sealing means between said connecting member and said ball member, said ball member and said socket member and said connecting member cooperating to form a fluid receiving chamber externally of said ball member and between said first and second sealing means; and means for conducting fluid into and out of said chamber.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The ball and socket pipe joint connection according to claim 1 including a ring of resilient absorbent material interposed between said ball pin member and said connecting member, whereby fluid leaking between said connecting member and said ball pin member is absorbed within said material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 182 words

A pipe joint connection comprising: a pair of rings joined together to form a common continuous internal spherical surface; a pair of ball pin elements received within said rings, said ball pin elements each having a central bore therein and said bores having an outlet opening in substantially opposing relation to each other and within said spherical surface, said pin elements each having an external spherical surface, substantially concentric with said internal spherical surface of said rings; said rings each having an internal projection engaging said external spherical surface of the corresponding pin element, said pin elements each having an external projection engaging said internal spherical surface; seal means between all of said projections and the adjacent spherical surface, thereby defining a separate annular chamber on the exterior of each ball pin element; passage means communicating between said bore in said respective pin elements and said chambers; and retainer means positioned in said outlet openings of said bores to maintain said ball pin elements spaced apart within said rings, said retainer means being movable independently of said rings and said seal means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 182 words

A pipe joint connection comprising: a pair of rings joined together to form a common continuous internal spherical surface; a pair of ball pin elements received within said rings, said ball pin elements each having a central bore therein and said bores having an outlet opening in substantially opposing relation to each other and within said spherical surface, said pin elements each having an external spherical surface, substantially concentric with said internal spherical surface of said rings; said rings each having an internal projection engaging said external spherical surface of the corresponding pin element, said pin elements each having an external projection engaging said internal spherical surface; seal means between all of said projections and the adjacent spherical surface, thereby defining a separate annular chamber on the exterior of each ball pin element; passage means communicating between said bore in said respective pin elements and said chambers; and retainer means positioned in said outlet openings of said bores to maintain said ball pin elements spaced apart within said rings, said retainer means being movable independently of said rings and said seal means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

The pipe joint connection according to claim 3 wherein said retainer means includes a ring having a radial flange extending between said pin elements, said bore of each pin element having a conical section, said ring having a spherical surface in engagement with the conical sections of the respective bores.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The pipe joint connection according to claim 4 including sealing rings on said pin elements, said sealing rings forming at least a portion of said conical portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 82 words

The pipe joint connection according to claim 3 including extensible conduit means joined with one of said pin elements, said extensible means including a pair of sleeves movable longitudinally relative to each other, said sleeves forming a fluid conduit communicating with the bore of said one pin element, and means for counteracting fluid pressure in said bore tending to urge said sleeves to move longitudinally relative to each other, whereby said extensible means operates substantially independently of fluid pressure in said bore.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 70 words

The pipe joint connection according to claim 6 wherein said sleeves include a first pair of opposed fluid responsive surfaces arranged for urging said sleeves to move longitudinally in one direction, and include a second pair of opposed fluid responsive surfaces arranged for urging said sleeves to move longitudinally in the opposite direction, whereby said sleeves provide longitudinal compensation for swivelling movement of said pin elements independently of fluid pressure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-01-23	1976-07-24	1977-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-01-23	1980-07-24	1981-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-01-23	1984-07-24	1985-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ball and socket pipe joint

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