Pressure compensated expansion joint

Claim 2

A compensated expansion joint for high pressure piping comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged in communication with each other to provide a fluid passage, means providing a seal permitting sliding of said conductors relative to each other in the direction of flow, but preventing the escape of fluid at the connection between them, means providing a plurality of expansible chambers each having first and second relatively movable parts, means providing a direct pressure relationship between said fluid passage and the interior of the chambers, means fastening the first conductor to said first part of each of said plurality of expansible chambers and means fastening the second conductor to said second part of each of said plurality of expansible chambers so that said conductors are pulled toward each other as the expansible chambers expand.

Claim 3

A compensated expansion joint according to claim 1 in which said expansible chambers are annular in shape and surround the fluid passage.

Claim 4

A compensated expansion joint for high pressure piping comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged in communication with each other to provide a fluid passage, the second conductor having a cylindrical outer surface, means providing a seal permitting sliding of said conductors relative to each other in the direction of flow, but preventing the escape of fluid at the connection between them, an annular sleeve fixed with respect to the first fluid conductor, the annular sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface with a cross-sectional area greater than that of the outer surface of the second conductor, at least two integral inwardly extending annular ridges on said annular sleeve, means providing a seal between said ridges and the outer surface of the second conductor while allowing relative sliding therebetween, at least two outwardly extending ridges on said second fluid conductor, each arranged on the side of one of said inwardly extending ridges so as to form a number of annular chambers which expand when the fluid conductors move toward each other, the number of said annular chambers being equal to the number of said outwardly extending ridges, means providing a seal between said outwardly extending ridges and the cylindrical inner surface of the annular sleeve while allowing relative sliding therebetween, and means providing a direct pressure relationship between the fluid passage and the said annular chambers.

Claim 5

A compensated expansion joint for high pressure piping comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged in communication with each other to provide a fluid passage, the second conductor having a cylindrical outer surface, means providing a seal permitting sliding of said conductors relative to each other in the direction of flow, but preventing the escape of fluid at the connection between them, an annular sleeve fixed with respect to the first fluid conductor, the annular sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface with a cross-sectional area greater than that of the outer surface of the second conductor, at least two integral inwardly extending annular ridges on said annular sleeve, means providing a seal between said ridges and the outer surface of the second conductor while allowing relative sliding therebetween, at least two outwardly extending ridges on said second fluid conductor, each arranged on the side of one of said inwardly extending ridges so as to form a number of annular chambers which expand when the fluid conductors move toward each other, the number of said annular chambers being equal to the number of said outwardly extending ridges, means providing a seal between said outwardly extending ridges and the cylindrical inner surface of the annular sleeve while allowing relative sliding therebetween, and means providing a direct pressure relationship between the fluid passage and the said annular chambers.

Claim 6

A compensated expansion joint according to claim 1, in which the total effective area of the said chambers is substantially equal to the effective area of the fluid passage, and in which said means providing a direct pressure relationship is a plurality of passageways connecting the said chambers to the fluid passage.

Claim 7

A compensated expansion joint according to claim 3 in which cylindrical inner surface of the annular sleeve and the cylindrical outer surface of the second conductor are both circular, in which the means providing a seal permitting sliding of said conductors is located substantially at the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface and in which the diameter of the said inner surface is Square Root 1 + N1 times the diameter of said cylindrical outer surface, N being the number of the said annular chambers.

Claim 8

A pressure compensated articulated joint for piping, comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged with their ends connected articulably to each other to provide a fluid passage, the first fluid conductor having means defining an inwardly opening annular cavity with a base and two side walls, the second fluid conductor having an outwardly projecting flange received in said cavity and defining therewith a first and a second annular chamber, one on either side of said flange, concentric spherical bearing and sealing means between the flange and said base and between the second fluid conductor and the portion defining said two side walls, said first annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors together, said second annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors apart, means providing a direct pressure relationship between said first annular chamber and said fluid passage, and a vent connecting said second annular chamber with the ambience, the first fluid conductor having further means comprising a base and a third side wall, the base, the third side wall, and one of said two side walls defining a further inwardly opening annular cavity, the second fluid conductor having a further outwardly projecting flange received in said further cavity and defining therewith a third and fourth annular chamber, one on either side of said further flange, concentric spherical bearing and sealing means between said further flange and the base of said further cavity, and between the second fluid conductor and the portion defining the third side wall of said further cavity, said third annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors together, said fourth annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors apart, further means providing a direct pressure relationship between said third annular chamber and said fluid passage, and a further vent connecting said fourth annular chamber with the ambience.

Claim 9

A pressure compensated articulated joint for piping, comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged with their ends connected articulably to each other to provide a fluid passage, the first fluid conductor having means defining an inwardly opening annular cavity with a base and two side walls, the second fluid conductor having an outwardly projecting flange received in said cavity and defining therewith a first and a second annular chamber, one on either side of said flange, concentric spherical bearing and sealing means between the flange and said base and between the second fluid conductor and the portion defining said two side walls, said first annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors together, said second annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors apart, means providing a direct pressure relationship between said first annular chamber and said fluid passage, and a vent connecting said second annular chamber with the ambience, the first fluid conductor having further means comprising a base and a third side wall, the base, the third side wall, and one of said two side walls defining a further inwardly opening annular cavity, the second fluid conductor having a further outwardly projecting flange received in said further cavity and defining therewith a third and fourth annular chamber, one on either side of said further flange, concentric spherical bearing and sealing means between said further flange and the base of said further cavity, and between the second fluid conductor and the portion defining the third side wall of said further cavity, said third annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors together, said fourth annular chamber being so disposed that pressure therein would urge said fluid conductors apart, further means providing a direct pressure relationship between said third annular chamber and said fluid passage, and a further vent connecting said fourth annular chamber with the ambience.

Claim 10

An articulated joint for high-pressure piping comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged with their ends connected with each other to provide a fluid passage, said first fluid conductor having a first, external, convex spherical surface and a flange located nearer than said first spherical surface to the end of the first conductor which is connected with the second conductor, said flange extending outwardly beyond the first spherical surface and having at its periphery a second convex spherical surface concentric with the first convex spherical surface, said second fluid conductor having a first internal concave spherical surface in mating relationship with the second convex spherical surface, and an inwardly extending flange having a second concave inner surface in mating relationship with the first convex spherical surface of the first fluid conductor, said first convex spherical surface and the second concave inner surface of the inwardly extending flange being so disposed as to resist separation of said conductors from each other, said flange providing between them a first annular chamber, means providing a direct pressure relationship between said first annular chamber and the fluid passage whereby the force of the first convex spherical surface against the second concave inner surface of the inwardly extending flange is counteracted by the pressure of fluid within said first annular chamber, said first fluid conductor having a third convex spherical surface located nearer than said outwardly extending flange to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second fluid conductor, the third convex spherical surface being concentric with said first convex spherical surface and having a smaller radius of curvature than said second convex spherical surface, said second fluid conductor having an inwardly extending portion which has a third concave inner surface in mating relationship with said third convex spherical surface, the inwardly extending portion defining with said outwardly extending flange a second annular chamber, means venting said second annular chamber to the ambience, a further flaNge extending from said first fluid conductor and located nearer than said third convex spherical surface to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second conductor, the further flange extending outwardly beyond the third convex spherical surface concentric with the first convex spherical surface, a fifth convex spherical surface on said first fluid conductor and located nearer than said further flange to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second condutor, the fifth convex spherical surface being concentric with the first convex spherical surface and having a smaller radius than said forth convex spherical surface, an annular, inwardly opening cavity in said second fluid conductor having a base, a first side wall adjacent said third concave inner surface, and a second side wall, said base including a fourth concave inner surface in mating relationship with said fourth convex spherical surface, a fifth concave inner surface adjacent said second side wall in mating relationship with said fifth convex spherical surface, said further flange and said first side wall providing between them a third annular chamber, said further flange and said second side wall providing between them a fourth annular chamber, further means providing a direct pressure relationship between said third annular chamber and the fluid passage, and means venting said fourth annular chamber to the ambience.

Claim 11

An articulated joint for high-pressure piping comprising: first and second fluid conductors arranged with their ends connected with each other to provide a fluid passage, said first fluid conductor having a first, external, convex spherical surface and a flange located nearer than said first spherical surface to the end of the first conductor which is connected with the second conductor, said flange extending outwardly beyond the first spherical surface and having at its periphery a second convex spherical surface concentric with the first convex spherical surface, said second fluid conductor having a first internal concave spherical surface in mating relationship with the second convex spherical surface, and an inwardly extending flange having a second concave inner surface in mating relationship with the first convex spherical surface of the first fluid conductor, said first convex spherical surface and the second concave inner surface of the inwardly extending flange being so disposed as to resist separation of said conductors from each other, said flange providing between them a first annular chamber, means providing a direct pressure relationship between said first annular chamber and the fluid passage whereby the force of the first convex spherical surface against the second concave inner surface of the inwardly extending flange is counteracted by the pressure of fluid within said first annular chamber, said first fluid conductor having a third convex spherical surface located nearer than said outwardly extending flange to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second fluid conductor, the third convex spherical surface being concentric with said first convex spherical surface and having a smaller radius of curvature than said second convex spherical surface, said second fluid conductor having an inwardly extending portion which has a third concave inner surface in mating relationship with said third convex spherical surface, the inwardly extending portion defining with said outwardly extending flange a second annular chamber, means venting said second annular chamber to the ambience, a further flaNge extending from said first fluid conductor and located nearer than said third convex spherical surface to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second conductor, the further flange extending outwardly beyond the third convex spherical surface concentric with the first convex spherical surface, a fifth convex spherical surface on said first fluid conductor and located nearer than said further flange to the end of the first fluid conductor which is connected with the second condutor, the fifth convex spherical surface being concentric with the first convex spherical surface and having a smaller radius than said forth convex spherical surface, an annular, inwardly opening cavity in said second fluid conductor having a base, a first side wall adjacent said third concave inner surface, and a second side wall, said base including a fourth concave inner surface in mating relationship with said fourth convex spherical surface, a fifth concave inner surface adjacent said second side wall in mating relationship with said fifth convex spherical surface, said further flange and said first side wall providing between them a third annular chamber, said further flange and said second side wall providing between them a fourth annular chamber, further means providing a direct pressure relationship between said third annular chamber and the fluid passage, and means venting said fourth annular chamber to the ambience.