Flexible connector

Claim 2

A flexible connector for attaching first and second hollow lines and for allowing angular, axial and rotational movement therebetween, said connector including: a bell-housing member adapted at one end thereof to mate with the first hollow line, having a second end of sufficient diameter to clear the second hollow line which is inserted therein by a predetermined distance, and an outwardly bulging central portion which provides clearance for angular deflections of the second hollow line with respect to said bell-housing member; an annular retainer disposed around the second hollow line of sufficient diameter to clear the second hollow line and being juxtaposed said second end of said bell-housing member, said annular retainer and said second bell-housing member end including outwardly extending flanges inclined toward each other; a ring shaped gasket having a generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-section disposed between said flanges, said outwardly extending flanges of said annular retainer and said second bell-housing member end including cylindrical end portions which extend toward each other, substantially enclosing the outer surface of said gasket and indicating the condition of the gasket by the gap defined therebetween; and an adjustable clamping ring substantially surrounding said flanges and having inwardly sloping side portions engageable with said flanges and facing end portions including means for forcing said end portions toward each other, whereby forcing said end portions toward each other tightens said ring and urges said flanges against said gasket and said gasket against the second hollow line to form a flexible seal, the tightening of said ring also forcing portions of said gasket into the clearance between the second hollow line and the annular retainer and the clearance between the second hollow line and the second bell-housing member end to prevent contact therebetween, said end portions of said clamping ring defining a gap therebetween whereby said gasket condition indication gap can be observed therethrough.

Claim 3

The connector defined in claim 1 wherein: said gasket has cross-section edges with curvatures of radii larger than the inner diameter of said ring gasket and less than twice the inner diameter of said ring gasket.

Claim 4

The connector assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical portion of said tubular member includes: lubricant means thereon.

Claim 5

The flexible connector defined in claim 1 wherein said bell-housing member includes a stop portion having an inner diameter less than the diameter of said second end of said bell-housing member minus said predetermined distance said second end of said bell-housing member clears the second hollow line, said stop portion being positIoned between said one end and said central portion of said bell-housing member.

Claim 6

A flexible connector for attaching first and second hollow lines and for allowing angular, axial and rotational movement therebetween, said connector including: a bell-housing member having first and second opposite end portions of sufficient diameter to clear the first and second hollow lines which are inserted therein by predetermined distances respectively, and a pair of outwardly bulging central portions which provide clearance for angular deflections of the hollow lines with respect to said bell-housing member, said end portions having outwardly sloping flanges connected to cylindrical portions at the outermost extremities thereof, said end flanges having predetermined innermost diameters, first and second annular retainers disposed respectively around the first and second hollow lines of sufficient diameters to clear the hollow lines and each being juxtaposed said ends of said bell-housing member, said annular retainers including outwardly extending flanges inclined toward said respective ends of said bell-housing member and connected cylindrical portions at the extremities thereof; first and second ring shaped gaskets having generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-sections disposed between said flanges, said outwardly extending flanges of said annular retainers, said bell-housing member ends and said cylindrical end portions substantially enclosing the outer surfaces of said gaskets and indicating the condition of the gasket by the gap defined therebetween; and first and second adjustable clamping rings substantially surrounding said first and second gasket enclosing flanges and having inwardly sloping side portions engageable with said flanges and facing end portions including means for forcing said end portions toward each other, whereby forcing said end portions toward each other tightens said rings and urges said flanges against said gaskets and said gaskets against the first and second hollow lines to form flexible seals, the tightening of said rings also forcing portions of said gaskets into the clearances between the first and second hollow lines and the annular retainers and the clearances between the first and second hollow lines and the first and second bell-housing member ends to prevent contact therebetween, said end portions of said clamping rings defining gaps therebetween whereby said gasket condition indication gaps can be observed therethrough.

Claim 7

A flexible connector for attaching first and second hollow lines and for allowing angular, axial and rotational movement therebetween, said connector including: a bell-housing member having first and second opposite end portions of sufficient diameter to clear the first and second hollow lines which are inserted therein by predetermined distances respectively, and a pair of outwardly bulging central portions which provide clearance for angular deflections of the hollow lines with respect to said bell-housing member, said end portions having outwardly sloping flanges connected to cylindrical portions at the outermost extremities thereof, said end flanges having predetermined innermost diameters, first and second annular retainers disposed respectively around the first and second hollow lines of sufficient diameters to clear the hollow lines and each being juxtaposed said ends of said bell-housing member, said annular retainers including outwardly extending flanges inclined toward said respective ends of said bell-housing member and connected cylindrical portions at the extremities thereof; first and second ring shaped gaskets having generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-sections disposed between said flanges, said outwardly extending flanges of said annular retainers, said bell-housing member ends and said cylindrical end portions substantially enclosing the outer surfaces of said gaskets and indicating the condition of the gasket by the gap defined therebetween; and first and second adjustable clamping rings substantially surrounding said first and second gasket enclosing flanges and having inwardly sloping side portions engageable with said flanges and facing end portions including means for forcing said end portions toward each other, whereby forcing said end portions toward each other tightens said rings and urges said flanges against said gaskets and said gaskets against the first and second hollow lines to form flexible seals, the tightening of said rings also forcing portions of said gaskets into the clearances between the first and second hollow lines and the annular retainers and the clearances between the first and second hollow lines and the first and second bell-housing member ends to prevent contact therebetween, said end portions of said clamping rings defining gaps therebetween whereby said gasket condition indication gaps can be observed therethrough.

Claim 8

The connector assembly defined in claim 5 wherein: said first and second ring gaskets each have a generally isosceles trapezoidal cross-section, the edges of the cross-section having curvatures of radii larger than the inner diameter of said respective ring gasket and less than twice the inner diameter of said respective ring gasket.

Claim 9

The connector defined in claim 5 wherein: said bell-housing member includes a first inwardly sloping wall portion spaced from said first end and a second inwardly sloping wall portion spaced from said second end, said first and second inwardly sloping wall portion defining at least one area of cross-section having a diameter less than the diameter of the respective hollow lines, forming stops to abut the ends of the first and second hollow lines to restrict the distance said connector can creep along the hollow lines.