Joint for tubular elements

Claim 1

In a joint comprising a socket having an entrance end and integral with a first pipe section, a male end of a second pipe section coaxial with said socket, a sealing element interposed between said socket and said male end, a retaining ring for retaining said sealing element in axial position in said socket, and means for fixing said ring axially in position in said socket; the following features : said socket has a first inner portion adjacent said entrance end and defining a frustoconical face inwardly convergent to a small end remote from said entrance end, a second inner portion defining a first cylindrical face connected to said small end of said frustoconical face and defining with said male end an annular space, and a third inner portion adjoining said second portion and defining a second cylindrical face having a diameter less than the diameter of said first cylindrical face and slightly greater than the outside diameter of said male end for centering said male end in said socket, said sealing element is located in said annular space and is in engagement with said male end and said first cylindrical face and in a compressed condition radially of said socket and free to expand axially of said socket, and said retaining ring defines an end face which extends radially of said annular space in the region of said connection of said first cylindrical face to said small end of said frustoconical face and acts as an axial abutment for retaining said sealing element in said second portion of said socket.