Abstract: A swivel joint for connecting fluid pipes includes a plurality of elements placed one upon another. Each element includes a cylindrical stationary portion and a cylindrical rotatable portion surrounding the stationary portion and supported rotatably thereon by a pair of vertically spaced apart sliding bearings. The two portions define therebetween an annular fluid passage having a fluid inlet to which a pipe is connected and a fluid outlet to which another pipe is connected. The rotatable portion has a pair of inclined edge surfaces. Each bearing has an inclined edge surface which is complementary to one of the inclined edge surfaces of the rotatable portion and which cooperates therewith to align the axis of rotation of the rotatable portion with the center of the stationary portion. The two portions have therebetween a clearance for absorbing any positional variation by thermal expansion thereof relative to each other.