Flexible coupling for fluid ducts

Claim 1

A flexible coupling for fluid ducts having outwardly extending flanges at the ends thereof comprising: (a) a pair of complementary coupling half assemblies, each having a generally tubular configuration arranged for slidably mounting over the end of one of the fluid ducts to be coupled with sufficient clearance between the inside of said coupling half assembly and the outside of the associated duct to permit conical movement therebetween; (b) duct sealing means mounted in each of said coupling half assemblies for encircling the duct on which said half assembly is mounted to secure the duct to said half assembly and for sealing the clearance between the outside of said encircled duct and the inside of said half assembly while permitting conical and axial movement therebetween; (c) adjacent end faces of each half assembly extending outwardly to form flanges abutting together in a plane disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center line of the associated half assembly; (d) one of said flanges of said half assemblies having threads on the peripheral surface thereof; and (e) a connector for securing one half assembly to the other, said connector being an annular collar having threads on the interior for mating with said threads of said one of said flanges and having an inwardly extending circular flange for engaging said flange without threads, the inside diameter of said collar providing sufficient clearance betwen the external diameter of said flange without threads and said collar to permit radial and rotational movement between each half coupling assembly prior to the secure coupling of said assemblies one to the other.