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: A heat suppressor for a gas turbine engine is mounted on an aircraft by means separate from the engine mounts. A sleeve apparatus is needed to connect the exhaust duct of the engine to the suppressor duct for continuous flow of turbine gases. The sleeve apparatus is in the form of a bellows to absorb bending forces created by flexing of the air frame. This invention provides a unique connecting assembly to connect the bellows to the engine. The assembly consists of an annular socket fixed to the bellows and constructed to receive a radially extending flange on a connecting shroud fixed to the engine. The flange and socket are slidably engaged to allow twisting movement between the bellows and the engine, while the bellows allows relative displacement of the axes of the connecting passages.

Abstract: A fluid-tight pipe coupling for interconnecting two pipe sections, comprising two flanges integral with said pipe sections, respectively, and clip means for clamping said flanges against each other, the engaging faces of said flanges being flat, one of said flanges having a frusto-conical shape whereas the other flange has a cylindrical shape and said clip is formed with a clamping groove of complementary or mating cylindro-conical shape.

Abstract: An expansion joint or dredging sleeve having a body built up from a rubber and fabric ply construction at least one section of the body being reinforced by a reinforcing structure comprising a ring of rubber having a Shore A hardness of not less than 70.degree. sandwiched between two rings of fabric comprising cords which have a compression deflection characteristic measured as described herein not exceeding 1% under a load of 40 kg. said cords extending substantially circumferentially of the rings.

Abstract: An equalizing arrangement for a low temperature line having at least one rigid inner tube used for the conduction of a cryogenic medium which contains at least one tubular compensating element for the equalization of length changes in which an expansion device is associated with the compensating element permitting the length of the compensating element to be preset as a function of the inner tube temperature to prevent forces from acting upon the terminations connected to the low temperature line during a cooling process.

Abstract: Rigid conduit sections have a flexible hose interconnecting their ends with in a cardan joint. One end of the hose has a flange that rotatably seals in fluidtight relationship with a flange on the adjacent end of the associated rigid pipe section, thereby to relieve torsion in the hose.

Abstract: A process and device for connecting a sink tailpiece to a trap out of alignment therewith. The device has an upper section, a lower rigid section capable of being cut with a hacksaw, and a flexible pleated section.

Abstract: A coupling for sealingly joining together two sections of gas-containing pipe. The coupling comprises an annular housing having two end sections with an inside diameter substantially the same as the pipe outside diameter, and an intermediate section with an inside diameter greater than the pipe outside diameter and forming an annular space therebetween. The two end sections are capable of being welded to the pipe, and into the annular intermediate space is inserted an annular elongated C-shaped sleeve. Also included are pressurization means for compressing the sleeve against the pipe sections to seal the joint therebetween.

Abstract: A flexible linearly expansible expansion joint including a flexible sleeve utilized in the connection of one tubular member to a second tubular member. The flexible sleeve encircles the one tubular member and is attached at one end thereto, the opposed end including an elongated cylindrical portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the second tubular member wherein the elongated cylindrical portion extends into the second tubular member and an O-ring is disposed around the outer surface of the cylindrical portion and fits within an annular area defined by the outer surface of the flexible sleeve and the inner surface of the second tubular member to provide a fluid tight seal between the first and second tubular members.

Abstract: A conduit for conveyance of a fluid and especially liquefied natural gas and comprising an internal circulation pipe for said fluid surrounded with a sheath of insulating material protected by an outer rigid covering, said sheath comprising several fluid-tight lap joints of coaxial structure and variable lap surface and said circulation pipe being interrupted at joint emplacements thus communicating with corresponding fluid-tight annular cylindrical spaces defined between a respective stationary coaxial sleeve surrounding a gap of said circulation pipe and two corrugate or waved compensators respectively connected between one sleeve end and the external surface of said circulation pipe at either side of said gap.

Abstract: An internally insulated bellows assembly for providing a flexible transition between internally and externally insulated components of a high temperature fluid pressure system comprises an annular bellows having first and second end portions, a cylindrical shield disposed in spaced, concentric relation within the bellows and coextensive therealong to provide an annular cavity therebetween. The shield has first and second end portions with the first end portions being connected to the first end portion of the bellows and with the second end portion being disposed in spaced radial relationship inwardly from the second end portion of the bellows to provide a predetermined radial gap therebetween. Loose fill insulation material is disposed within the cavity to a point adjacent the second end portion of the shield in filling relation within the internal convolutions of the bellows.

Abstract: An expansion compensator for pipelines of the type including a metal casing lined with refractory materials comprising a corrugated sheath and annular distributing members for a coolant supply beneath the corrugated sheath, the distributing members being located at the inner side of the metal casing of the pipeline.

Abstract: An underwater pumping arrangement includes a submersible pump having a pump outlet conduit provided with a first connecting flange adapted to register with a second connecting flange of an outflow conduit permanently provided at the bottom of a liquid-filled pit or container to form with the second connecting flange a seal-tight conduit joint. As the pump is lowered into the liquid-filled pit or container towards the bottom thereof, it is guided by cables or rails into a predetermined position in which the first connecting flange registers with the second connecting flange. The pump is provided at its underside with a supporting structure for directly supporting the pump upon the bottom of the pit or container when the pump has been lowered into the predetermined position. One of the two conduits is provided with an expandable-contractable connecting chamber connected to one connecting flange.

Abstract: Joint to be used between culvert sections and the like comprising short tubular flexible members made of elastic material to be attached to the ends of adjoining culvert sections and a plurality of strengthening members extending between the ends of these sections. The strengthening members are provided inside and outside of said flexible members and are adjustable to accommodate variations in the gap between the adjoining sections.

Abstract: Segmented conduits for transmitting heated fluid, and particularly tuyere feed lines for injecting preheated air into shaft furnaces, have an annular cooling chamber incorporated into the coupling joints between conduit sections. The cooling chambers are positioned inwardly toward the conduit axis with respect to flexible bellows devices which heremetically seal the articulated coupling joints.

Abstract: A hermetic expansion joint for use between conduits lined with refractory material and a tuyere stock for blast furnaces utilizing a plurality of such expansion joints. The expansion joints include a bellows coaxial with and connected to the exterior of the conduits to be coupled and, located within the bellows, a shielding tube and a protective layer of compressible refractory material. The compressible refractory layer is positioned within the shielding tube and bridges the joint between the conduits.

Abstract: An infrared receiver having a thermal conductive device for providing continuous thermal contact between a detector cooling means and an IR detector is disclosed. The thermal conductive device is bellows shaped and constructed from laminated layers of copper, nickel and copper or other suitable materials having the necessary thermal conductivity and elasticity at operating temperatures.

Abstract: A universal coupling for irrigation pipes that are incorporated into continuously movable land surface irrigation systems may incorporate pipe sections having extremities that are adapted to be positioned one within the other. A connector projection extends from one of the pipe sections and is adapted to be received within a connection aperture defined in the opposite one of the pipe sections upon assembly of the pipe sections. The coupling has a load bearing capability which is promoted by one of the extremities of each one of the pipe sections being supported directly by a mobile tower which the opposite extremity thereof bears upon the supported extremity of the adjacent pipe section, thereby causing both of the pipe sections to be supported one relative to the other. At least one of the extremities of one of the pipe sections is formed to allow substantially vertical movement of the opposite pipe section during assembly and disassembly thereof.

Abstract: A hermetic expansion joint employing an external bellows and means positioned within the bellows for limiting the relative axial displacements of the conduits being joined in both compression and tension. The expansion joint device has, located within the annular chamber defined by the bellows, a layer of compressible refractory material which bridges the joint between the conduits and a shielding tube which envelopes the compressible refractory material. The expansion joint device is further provided, on oppositely disposed fittings which connect the bellows to the conduits, with means for limiting the axial width of the joint.

Abstract: In connecting a pipe with another pipe or another connector element, a cylindrical member is provided which is inserted into the end of the pipe. The cylindrical member has ring means thereon which are radially expanded in situ by an expanding tool which is inserted into the cylindrical member. As the ring means expands, the adjacent walls of the pipe are plastically deformed to form circumscribing grooves whereby the ring means are accommodated in the circumscribing grooves to thereby sealingly secure said cylindrical member to said pipe. The aforementioned securement may be effected while maintaining the integrity of any covering layer such as insulation or the like on the outside of the pipe.

Abstract: An expansion joint having a first corrugated tubular member including a plurality of ridges and valleys and having connections at each end for connection in a conduit in which a protective member including a second corrugated tubular member is sized to encircle the exterior of the first tubular member and includes a plurality of ridges and valleys mating with the ridges and valleys of the first member. The second protective tubular member receives any material flowing through a leak in the first member and prevent spraying of the material to the surroundings. The second member is flexible for moving with the first member and preferably the second member is transparent whereby leaks in the first member may be visually observed.

Abstract: A flexible coupling tube corrects misalignment between gas meter and corresponding meter bar connections. The combination of meter bar and flexible coupling allows use of a single size meter bar for any gas meter installation. Potential damage to meter installations from external shock loads is reduced by the shock-absorbing properties of the flexible couplings.

Abstract: A flexible pipe joint comprising a cylindrical tie member for tieing the ends of pipes together and a flexible envelope for fluid flow conduction between the pipes. The tie member comprises a plurality of annular series of parallel tie bars arranged co-axially and there is adjustable mounting means for the tie member in the envelope for enabling the tie member to accommodate misalignment of the pipes on installation. Further misalignment produced by thermal expansion of the pipes is accommodated by the tie member by uniform flexing of the tie bars.

Abstract: A flexible supportive joint is provided between a buoyancy chamber of flotation means and a sub-sea well riser conduit upon which the flotation means is mounted. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, such flexible supportive joint comprises an assembly of coaxial, telescopically oriented pipe sections with a cylindrical elastomeric member bonded therebetween to flexibly join the two sections in load bearing relation, one section being connected to the riser conduit with the other section being connected to the flotation means buoyancy chamber. In a first alternative exemplary embodiment, the flexible supportive joint is provided by a ball and socket-like connection while in a second alternative construction, the flexible supportive joint is provided by a combination of an elastomeric member in load bearing relation with coaxial conduit sections and a ball and socket-like joint between the sections.

Abstract: A flexible fluid-conducting assembly includes a pair of pipes which respectively terminate in free end regions which are adjacent but spaced from each other so as to define a predetermined gap between themselves. A flexible, fluid-tight, tubular sheet surrounds and is fluid-tightly fixed to the free end regions of the pipes and bridges the gap therebetween to prevent fluid from escaping through said gap outwardly beyond the fluid-tight, tubular sheet. An internal structure is fixed within the pipes internally thereof at their free end regions and extends through the gap for maintaining substantially unobstructed flow of fluid through the pipes while connecting the pipes to each other for at least limited turning movement, one with respect to the other, about at least one axis which is situated in the gap between the free end regions of the pipes.