Abstract: A coupling member for a blind mate fluid coupling includes a housing and a valve body that is self-centering and alignable relative to the housing. The valve body may include at least two radial shoulder portions or abutments that are configured to engage at least two corresponding radial abutments of the housing to improve self-centering when in a decoupled state. A biasing member may urge the valve body abutments against the corresponding housing abutments to compensate for misalignment and/or provide self-centering in both a decoupled and mated state.

Abstract: A gasket includes a first slope at a first axial end. The fluid device includes a second slope that contacts the first slope. The first slope and the second slope have different gradients. The first slope allows at least the first axial end to be deformed along the second slope. The first slope contacts the second slope with a gradient that varies depending on a gradient of the second slope to seal a gap between the first slope and the second slope.

Abstract: A push joint adapter is connectable to one or more push joint pipe fittings in a pipeline. The push joint adapter includes an insertion section insertable into a socket of a push joint pipe fitting in an interference fit, a pipeline section connectable with the pipeline, and a collar disposed between the insertion section and the pipeline section. A restraint ring assembly cooperable with the push joint pipe fitting includes a restraint ring secured to the pipeline section and engaging the collar and a restraint rod connected to the restraint ring. The push joint adapter facilitates connecting push joint gasketed bell gate valves and fittings in a pipeline such as a polyethylene pipeline.

Abstract: An exhaust nozzle's rotating support assembly includes a first assembly having a first ring, a shaft coaxial with the first ring, and first spokes rigidly coupling the shaft to the first ring. The rotating support assembly also includes a second assembly having a second ring, a hub coaxial with the second ring, and second spokes rigidly coupling the hub to the second ring. The hub is mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect to the shaft. Bearings are disposed between the shaft and the hub. The first assembly is rigidly coupled to an exhaust exit port of an exhaust manifold, and the second assembly is rigidly coupled to an exhaust entry port of the exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a common rail formed by bonding a common rail body and a common rail holder which has a pressing surface and a convex bonding surface, by means of a heat pressure bonding process and a liquid phase diffusion bonding process, wherein the height H of the convex bonding surface satisfies 1 ?m?H?50 ?m, and the common rail holder includes a deformation introducing portion in which an area of a cross-section parallel to the pressing surface is smaller than the area of the pressing surface.

Abstract: A method of avoiding damage to a decoupling hose mounted between two tubes of a motor vehicle exhaust system, said hose comprising a deformable inner portion, an outer sealing leakproofing portion in the form of a continuous and leaktight sleeve having a flexible central zone and two rigid endpieces, and an intermediate portion in the form of a wad of thermal lagging extending substantially over the entire length of the outer sleeve, each rigid endpiece extending at least over a length such that its peripheral end edge connected to the flexible central zone overlies the inner portion of the hose which is subjected to deformation, wherein, in order to avoid any damage to the wad of thermal lagging by said peripheral end edge of each endpiece, the method consists in defining the effective length of the endpieces in such a manner that for the wad of thermal lagging having an initial thickness H0 and a compressed thickness Hc when compressed by said peripheral edge of each endpiece during maximum transverse defle

Abstract: A high-pressure connection for a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines is proposed, which compensates for errors of alignment between the high-pressure line and the high-pressure connection without any bending stress being exerted on the high-pressure line.

Abstract: A universal pipe joint for attaching two round pipes together accommodating misalignment using a female adapter fitting (30) engaging a male adapter fitting (44), each having a radial interior and exterior diameter (38) and (50) with a compression nut (52) urging them together. The female fitting has external threads (40) with a number of locking grooves (42) at right angles to the threads, and a compression nut with a spring-loaded ball (54) therein that clicks into the grooves while the nut is being tightened. When the nut is fully tightened, the radial diameters are compressed and the ball (62) is locked into the groove with a set screw (66). Thus securing the connection and eliminating loosening by over the road operation of a vehicle to which the device is attached. A second embodiment replaces the compression nut with a pair of flanges (68) held together by nuts and bolts.

Abstract: A connector for coupling pipe sections which may be either aligned or misaligned axially, the connector having a male fitting, a female fitting which mates with the male fitting and a retaining means which can be connected to the female fitting to hold the male fitting in place against the female fitting. In one embodiment, the retaining means comprises a hammer nut which has a retaining surface. The retaining surface of the hammer nut contacts a rear surface of a first one of the flanges for urging this flange forward. The hammer nut has threads which are complementary to a set of threads on the second flange. When the hammer nut is threaded onto the second flange, the first and second flanges are pulled together. The retaining surface of the hammer nut and the rear surface of the first flange have complementary spherical shapes so that the hammer nut can rotate and swivel with respect to the flange.

Abstract: An articulating connector system including an active connector coupled to a first line and a hub assembly coupled to a second line. The active connector includes a swivel coupling element intermediate a grip and a ball nose to allow rotational and articulating motion. A seal is coupled to the ball nose and is protected and guided by an alignment lip into mating engagement with a sealing surface defined by the hub. A clamp closes about the swivel coupling element and hub to draw together the seal and sealing surface into sealing contact to connect the first line to the second line.

Abstract: A drain apparatus includes a conduit and a compression fitting sealingly connected to the conduit having a pivotable member mounted thereon. There is a rod-like member extending slidably through the pivotable member into the conduit. The rod-like member can be moved axially and pivotally inside the conduit to clear obstructions therein. For example, the first conduit and the second conduit may be adjacent portions of an elbow. The pivotable member may be a ball-like member received in a socket in the fitting.

Abstract: A flexible joint for a culvert includes a pair of annular connecting members, a flexible sealing member fixed to the connecting members, bearing means provided radially inwardly of the flexible sealing member and fixed to the connecting members for supporting the flexible sealing member to prevent inward deformation of the flexible sealing member. The bearing means may consist of bearing bars arranged circumferentially or may consist of a pair of annular support members. The flexible joint further includes cylinders fitted loosely on the bearing bars. The flexible joint may further include an annular joint filling member provided between the connecting members for preventing flowing of secondary lining concrete into space between the connecting members and having a thickness in the radial direction which enables continuous depositing of the concrete from one culvert unit to another culvert unit to be joined together.

Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated pipe connection for two conducting arts of a motor vehicle which comprises spherical connecting pieces for joining the two conducting parts and has at least on one connecting piece a flange-shaped connecting piece abuttable axially against the latter, said connecting piece being connected with spring tension by spring means with the other connecting piece, with the connecting pieces being held together by the spring means with a pretensioning force.

Abstract: The spherical wall element (2, 15) is provided with a series of work-hardened annular strips (16, 17) spaced apart and extending substantially coaxially so as to form reinforcement that is not very deformable for the spherical wall element.

Abstract: A swivel connector for supporting a fixture and including a swivel socket, a spherically shaped hollow member located in the socket and forming with the socket a first universal joint, and two adaptors for connecting the swivel connector to a support and the fixture, respectively, with the support-connecting adapter being connected to the swivel socket and with the fixture-connecting adaptor having a spherical portion received within the hollow swivel member and forming with the swivel member a second universal joint.

Abstract: An improved rotating pipe joint for use in the sootblower system of a rotary regenerative air heater employs a ball and socket type construction floating seal assembly. The ball and its associated seal rings rotates within the socket to allow a slide pipe of the sootblower system to deviate from the vertical position while maintaining sealing. The improved rotating pipe joint also accommodates rotary, axial and lateral motion between the moving and stationary parts of the air heater.

Abstract: A connector for sealingly joining together lengths of tubing such as those used in automobile fluid conveying systems accommodates large angular bending and twisting motions as a result of a spherical shell which rotates inside guide/thrust circumferential bearings. Noise and vibration damping are achieved by an elastomeric pad of non-uniform thickness bonded between the spherical shell and an enlargement formed on one of the lengths of tubing.

Abstract: A tail piece for insertion in a waste pipe of a water drainage system including a main tubular portion connected to a waste pipe, tubular branch means having central conduit means connected to the main tubular portion, and means for selectively adapting the tubular branch means for connection to an upwardly extending tube for draining an appliance into a downwardly extending tube for priming a drain trap.

Abstract: The inlet nozzle suitable for swimming pools is constructed as a two-piece-spherical body. This is pivotally graduated on a seating ring and equipped with a continuous bore. One part of the spherical body is, with respect to the other, rotatable about the one axis which runs eccentrically with respect to the axis of the bore. Thereby the cross-section of the bore can be changed at the transition point between both bore sections by turning of the one part of the spherical body. Between the two parts is a gap through which air from the air pipe is introduced.

Abstract: A coupling apparatus having a male member and a female member. The male member includes a flow passage having radially extending ports and a valve means. The female member includes a body member having an interior surface and a flow passage, a socket member having an exterior surface and a flow passage, and, an insert member having a first complementary surface and a second complementary surface. The valve means of said male member allows communication between said radially extending ports and said flow passage of said socket member. The interior surface of said body member is engaged in sliding contact with said first complementary surface of said insert member thus permitting universal movement of said insert member relative to said body member. The exterior surface of said socket member is engaged in sliding contact with the second complementary surface of said insert member thus permitting radial movement of said socket member relative to said insert member.

Abstract: A submarine ball and socket pipe connection employs male and female coupling members, of which the male member has an enlarged portion with concentric forward and rearward facing part-spherical external surfaces and the female member has a housing defining a part-spherical recess to receive said forward facing, part-spherical surface of the male member. The male member furthermore carries, slidably with relation thereto, a hub having a part-spherical surface to engage said rearward facing, part-spherical external surface of the male member, and means are provided for drawing said hub towards said housing to make the connection. The male member furthermore carries means biasing the hub towards the rearward facing part-spherical surface of the male member, from the rearward side thereof to assist in assembling the connection.

Abstract: For mounting a showerhead or the like to a pipe, a pivot ball is formed entirely of plastic material. It has a base internally threaded to attach to the pipe and a hollow shell coupled to the base so as to constitute the spherical portion of a ball joint. That spherical portion is composed of first and second mating approximately semi-hemispherical segments. The first segment is formed integrally with the base and the second segment is coupled to that base in establishment of the spherical ball. An internal tube extends from the second segment essentially through the entire assembly. In a second version, the internal tube is shorter but also serves to secure the two segments together. This version has a base which is externally threaded. Still another version has a different form of mating between the segments.