US3834741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expansion joint
Assignee: ELASTOFAB CO Inc
•
Filing: 1973-04-26
•
Granted: 1974-09-10
•
Expires: 1993-04-26
Abstract
Abstract An expansion joint for two pipes wherein one of said pipes can move relative to the other of said pipes. Said expansion joint includes a flexible sleeve having a first end, a second end and a corrugated portion there between. Clamping means secures said first end of said flexible sleeve to one pipe and additionally clamping means secures said second end of said flexible sleeve to the other pipe. Annular floating rings are provided with each ring surrounding a groove between two ridges in the corrugated portion of said flexible sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 F Drake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L51/00; F16L51/02; F16L51/025; F16L51/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
Flow apparatus comprising a first pipe having a first end, a second pipe having a first end, said first end of said second pipe being spaced from said first end of said first pipe, a flexible sleeve having a first end and a second end and an elongated central axis, means connecting said first end of said flexible sleeve to said first end of said first pipe, means connecting said second end of said flexible sleeve to said first end of said second pipe, said flexible sleeve including a corrugated portion intermediate said first and second ends thereof, said corrugated portion including alternating ridges and grooves, a plurality of annular movable means, each annular movable means in contact with a groove, each movable means being movable axially and independently from the other movable means and means for controlling the position of certain of said movable means whereby when said first pipe is moved towards said second pipe the distance between said grooves of said flexible sleeve decreases and each movable means is positioned closer to its adjacent movable means and when said first pipe is moved away from said second pipe the distance between each groove of said corrugated portion of said flexible sleeve increases and the distance between each movable means and its adjacent movable means increases.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
Flow apparatus comprising a first pipe having a first end, a second pipe having a first end, said first end of said second pipe being spaced from said first end of said first pipe, a flexible sleeve having a first end and a second end and an elongated central axis, means connecting said first end of said flexible sleeve to said first end of said first pipe, means connecting said second end of said flexible sleeve to said first end of said second pipe, said flexible sleeve including a corrugated portion intermediate said first and second ends thereof, said corrugated portion including alternating ridges and grooves, a plurality of annular movable means, each annular movable means in contact with a groove, each movable means being movable axially and independently from the other movable means and means for controlling the position of certain of said movable means whereby when said first pipe is moved towards said second pipe the distance between said grooves of said flexible sleeve decreases and each movable means is positioned closer to its adjacent movable means and when said first pipe is moved away from said second pipe the distance between each groove of said corrugated portion of said flexible sleeve increases and the distance between each movable means and its adjacent movable means increases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of movable means includes a plurality of annular spacer rings, and said controlling means including means for guiding the movement of at least some of said spacer rings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for guiding the movement of some of said spacer rings includes having at least one hole extend through certain of said spacer rings, a member passing through a hole of each spacer ring having a hole and means located at the opposite ends of said member for preventing said member from being pulled through any of said holes said member passes through.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein those spacer rings not having a hole extending therethrough have a smaller outer diameter than the distance between the elongated central axis of said flexible sleeve and said member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said spacer rings not having a hole alternate along the length of the corrugated portions of said flexible sleeve with said spacer rings having a hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for guiding the movement of some of said spacer rings includes a rigid guard tube, the outer periphery of each of said spacer rings being surrounded thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rigid guard tube includes a first end and a second end, a rigid ring surrounded by said rigid guard tube and secured to said first end of said rigid guard tube and prevented from moving relative to said first end of said flexible sleeve, a movable ring surrounded by said rigid guard tube and located adjacent the second end of said rigid guard tube and surrounding the portion of said flexible sleeve located between said means clamping said second end of said flexible sleeve and said corrugated portion of said flexible sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |