Expansion joint

Claim 1

An expansion device which allows for expansion and contraction along an axis longitudinal to said device and along an axis normal to said device comprising: first and second longitudinally extending conduit members joined in flow communication one with the other; said first conduit member having a radially outward extending flange at one end thereof, said flange having a pair of opposed spaced vertically extending slotted openings, with respect to said longitudinally extending conduit members, therein and stop means thereon extending outwardly therefrom substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said first conduit member; said second conduit member having a radially outward extending flange on one end thereof facingly opposed to said flange on said first conduit, said flange on said second conduit having a pair of opposed apertures therein, said apertures spaced from and in alignment with said slotted openings on the flange of said first conduit; flexible packing means disposed between said opposed flanges and in communication with said first conduit flange and said second conduit flange in fluid tight relation, said stop means extending a preselected distance, said distance being less than the thickness of said packing means in a noncompressed state; and, fastening means extending through said slotted openings of said first conduit flange and said apertures of said second conduit flange whereby said conduits are held together in a flow through fluid tight connection.