Abstract: A mobile platform has a riser assembly mounted thereon. A loading arm assembly projects from an upper end of the riser assembly, and a jumper hose assembly projects from a lower end of the riser assembly. These assemblies can be interconnected between a marine tanker manifold and a storage facility conduit, to form a fluid transferring connection therebetween. The riser assembly has a pipe section supporting the loading arm assembly for horizontal rotation about a vertical axis. A parallel mechanism, within the riser assembly, supports the pipe section for swinging movement in a vertical plane. This parallel mechanism maintains the vertical orientation of pipe section. A drive system is provided for maximizing the total horizontal angle of rotation through which the pipe section can be rotated about the vertical axis. A power drive is provided for operating the parallel mechanism to raise and lower the pipe section.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted fluid spreading apparatus including a fixed spray bar having an extender spray bar mounted on each of the opposite ends thereof by means of swing joints so that each of the extender spray bars are movable about a single angularly disposed axis between extended and stowed positions. The spray bars and the swing joints have dual fluid flow passages formed therethrough so that fluid under pressure from a fluid supply is serially recirculated through the spray bars and swing joints back to the fluid supply when the apparatus is in a standby mode, and is sprayingly applied by actuator controlled self-adjusting nozzles mounted in the spray bars when the apparatus is in the operating mode.

Abstract: A mounting structure for the granulate hopper of the injection unit of an injection molding machine which is convertible for use with a selectively horizontally or vertically oriented injection unit, the structure comprising two joined, rotatable tubular connectors each with an oblique end face, the lower connector being seated on an inclined face of the mounting hub which holds the plastification cylinder, and the upper connector carrying the hopper. The latter consists of a conical lower hopper portion and a cylindrical upper hopper portion which is inclined against the former so as to have one common straight side line which is vertical in both configurations. Conversion adjustment is accomplished through rotation of the lower connector and of the hopper by 180.degree..

Abstract: A spray device having an attachment member for connecting the device to a stationary water supply and a spray head for discharging the water. The spray device includes at least two wedge-shaped connecting members, each having at least one wedge surface, the wedge-shaped connecting members being rotatably connected to one another along a plane, to the wedge surfaces of adjacent connecting members. One of the wedge-shaped members is rotatably connected to the attachment member. Another wedge-shaped member has the spray head mounted thereon. The attachment member and the wedge-shaped members provide communicating water passages between the stationary water supply and the spray head, whereby the spray head may be tiltably adjusted toward and away from the attachment.

Abstract: Sealing means sealing interconnected fitting assemblies. A faucet assembly with an externally threaded stem is mounted on a bunghole assembly with an internally threaded bore by turning the stem of the faucet assembly into the bore of the bunghole assembly. A winged nut is carried on the stem of the faucet assembly. It is advanced on the stem to compress a gasket or washer interposed between the nut and the bunghole assembly. A fluid-tight connection may be established after desired orientation of the faucet assembly with respect to the bunghole assembly.

Abstract: The device is provided for a coupling which comprises an annular sealing element interposed and compressed radially between the socket of one pipe element and the male end of the other pipe element. The pipe elements are capable of having an angular deviation therebetween. The device comprises an annular shoulder integral with the male end which shoulder is disposed, in the assembled state of the coupling, between an inner flange at the entrance of the socket and the sealing element. A split ring surrounds the male end between the flange and the shoulder. Screws engaged with and extending through tapped passages arranged circumferentially around and carried by the flange bear against a face of the shoulder so as to apply the ring against the shoulder.

Abstract: A remotely controllable connector for releasably interconnecting the ends of two oil well flowlines. The connector comprises two coupling members, one of which is extended into engagement with the other by actuation of fluid cylinders, and ball joints in one or both coupling members to accommodate misalignment of the flowlines. A pair of mating cones mounted on the opposed ends of the two coupling members align the members into proper position during the connecting operation, and clamp means that are activated by remote control secure the two coupling members together in a fluid-tight connection. Seals are then set by remote control to seal all joints and to lock the coupling members in working alignment.

Abstract: An improved articulated ball connector for use with pipelines as disclosed. In the illustrated embodiment, a sphere is attached to the end of a pipeline. A collar is fitted about the sphere. The collar has a surface contoured to match the surface of the sphere and its rotates or deflects through a designated angle. The collar has an encircling outer groove. A cup shaped receptacle receives the curved surface of the ball. The collar is abutted against a transverse shoulder on the cup shaped receptacle. The ball is pivoted relative to the cup shaped receptacle and the collar. A ring having a cross section which is U-shaped latches about the cup shaped receptacle and the collar. The U-shaped cross section includes upper and lower shoulders which protrude inwardly and engage the cup shaped receptacle and the groove in the collar. The ring is squeezed radially inwardly to clamp the cup shaped receptacle and the collar together.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed in which a coal burner pipe may be re-aimed into a rotary kiln. The burner pipe extends through a suitable opening provided in the associated hood of the kiln, with the discharge end of the burner pipe being so disposed as to discharge parallel to or obtusely to the axis of the kiln. Exteriorly of the kiln the coal burner pipe is provided with rigid angular pipe sections which can be reoriented relative to each other for effecting the re-aiming of the coal burner pipe within the kiln.

Abstract: A pipe coupling is disclosed in which two identical tubular parts, to receive pipe ends, each have a flange at one end thereof and are held together, via their flanges, by a clamping ring which has a radially inwardly facing groove which receives the flanges. Each flange on its side remote from the other flange slopes outwardly from the periphery of the tubular part towards said one end thereof providing a ramp surface engaged by the free edge of a respective one of the two side walls of the inwardly facing groove of the clamping ring so that a circumferential tension in the clamping ring produces a wedging action urging the flanges into engagement with each other. In a variant each of the two tubular parts is angled with respect to its end flange so that by adjusting the tubular parts relative to each other about the common axes of their flanges, the angle between the axes of the main portions of the tubular parts can be adjusted, thus providing a pipe bend of adjustable angle.

Abstract: A device which is to constitute a tubular duct includes a plurality of flexible tubular sections and a plurality of rigid tubular sections. Articulation units are provided between one section and the next. Each articulation unit includes a pair of brackets provided with fastening collars. The respective collars are secured to ends of the rigid sections, ends of a respective flexible section being mounted on skirts of the adjacent rigid sections. The brackets of each pair of brackets are pivotally connected to move about a first respective axis. At least one bracket of at least one pair is additionally mounted to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting two otherwise coupled railroad vehicles in gaseous flow communication comprises first and second ducts each mounted respectively at one end to one of the railroad vehicles, first and second coupling ducts each mounted respectively at an opposite open end of the first and second ducts to pivot about a vertical axis with one end enclosed in its respective duct and with a second end extending out from its respective duct, first and second frame members each mounted respectively at the second end of the first and second duct and having a mating surface circumferentially surrounding the second end, and first and second biasing means to extend between the respective pair of duct and coupling duct to urge the second end away from its duct and maintain the respective mating surfaces in abutting and sliding engagement one with the other.

Abstract: A torsionally controlled swivel joint having at least one axis of rotation is provided with a torque element, either in the form of a helical torsion spring or one or more torsion bars, completely enclosed within the flow passage of the joint to counteract torsional forces applied to one section of the joint relative to another section. One end of the torque element is rigidly connected to one section of the joint while the other end is rigidly connected to a cylindrical adjustment disc rotatable with and sealed in fluid tight engagement to the other section of the swivel joint. In the preferred embodiment, torsional preloading of the torque element is achieved by a plurality of locking balls in a ball race formed in the mating surfaces of the adjustment disc and swivel joint section.

Abstract: A method of repairing an under water pipeline from which a defective or damaged length of pipe has been cut away to form longitudinally spaced-apart, exposed, pipe ends which method includes the steps of:(a) butt-welding to each exposed pipe end a tubular end portion of a hollow, open-ended member having an inner or outer part-spherical mating surface;(b) butt-welding a sleeve to one end of a length of replacement pipe;(c) mounting on the sleeve a tubular end portion of a hollow open-ended member which has a part-spherical mating surface complementary to that of one of the open-ended members butt-welded to the exposed pipe ends and which is adapted to form therewith a ball-and-socket coupling;(d) welding to the other end of the replacement pipe a tubular end portion of a hollow open-ended member which has a part-spherical mating surface complementary to that of the other of the members butt-welded to the exposed pipe ends and which is adapted to form therewith a ball-and-socket coupling;(e) positioning the re

Abstract: Apparatus and method for connecting by welding two axially spaced apart pipes which may be misaligned relative to each other, including butt welding between the pipe ends a pair of coupling members, each coupling member having a tubular portion and an end portion having a face which lies on a plane which intersects the axis of the tubular portion at a nonperpendicular angle and which describes the circle upon the plane. The faces of the end portions may be abutted, rotated, and welded together such that the axes of the tubular portions thereof intersect at various angles. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling members are mounted in combination with a pair of tubes, each of the tubes has a radially enlarged ring near one end thereof, which end is butt welded to one of the pipe ends.

Abstract: A universally angularly adjustable sealable pipe coupling comprises a first coupling member including a first outer internally threaded pipe engaging section and an inner socket section of increasing radii of curvature approaching its open end and a second coupling member including an inner ball section with inside and outside faces of increasing radii of curvature approaching an open free end, the ball section registering with the socket and a second outer internally threaded pipe engaging section. A tubular plastic locking member includes a locking section having a curved outside face engaging the ball section inside face and a coaxial tubular shank slideably engaging the inner end of the first pipe engaging section. The first and second coupling members are relatively universally angularly adjustable and are locked in the present position by tightening a pipe in the first coupling section to advance the locking member.

Abstract: A self-resistant light-alloy sectional member for an articulated fitting, ich can be formed by extrusion. The sectional member is characterized in that its cross-section is closed to form an elongated box and in that at least one of the thickness edges of the sectional member has a rigid longitudinal fastening portion, enabling a fitting without any deformation together with a sectional member whose thickness edge is contiguous, provided with a corresponding fastening part running along it.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for selectively setting the axial alignment of sections of pipe from axial coincidence to an obtuse angle between the pipe sections.

Abstract: An angle adjustment sub which permits the rotational adjustment of adjacent portions of a running string to bring the axis of adjacent portions of a running string, which are deviated at different vertical angles, into a common planar axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for rigidly interconnecting the ends of two pipes, such as two pipes whose axes are misaligned. It includes a pair of coupling members, each of which is adapted for connection at one end thereof to one of the pipes which are to be interconnected. One of the coupling members has attached thereto an annular radially outwardly enlarged portion having forward and rearward sides, with the forward sides being generally spherical shaped. The other coupling member has attached thereto a housing having a seat portion adapted for receiving the forward side of the enlarged portion in generally mating engagement therewith, to thereby accommodate axial misalignment between said coupling members. Gripping means, such as a plurality of slips or a split ring, are supported generally between the housing and the enlarged portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for joining two conduits in an articulated relationship comprising: a male member attached to one of the conduits and having a radially enlarged portion thereon; a female member attached to the other of said conduits and into which the male member may be inserted; a gripping assembly carried by the female member and movable from a radially expanded position, in which the male member may be freely inserted and removed from the female member, to a radially contracted position gripping the enlarged portion of the male member, preventing its removal and locking it in a fixed articulated relationship with the female member; and an actuating assembly, carried by the female member, engageable with the gripping assembly and being operable by a force applied externally of the apparatus for moving the gripping assembly between its expanded and contracted positions.

Abstract: A coupler for joining the ends of pipes and ducts used for liquids and gaseous fluids, such as are carried in pipelines and the like, particularly where used in underwater locations, the coupler providing for angular relation between adjacent pipes to follow the contour of the bottom on which placed, the construction of the coupler facilitating its placement and providing a positive seal against leakage.

Abstract: The socket of one of the pipe elements has on at least a part of its outer end a radial abutment defining an abutment face facing inwardly of the socket. A device for locking the joint against forces tending to separate the pipe elements comprises at least one locking member having the general shape of a sector of a cylindrical ring and defining an inner wall which is secured to the smooth end portion of the other pipe element. At least one projecting portion is provided on the locking member and bears axially against the abutment face.