# US 10,502,346 B2 · Connection device of two pipes, comprising a seal which is configured to limit the risks of damaging the seal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,346 B2 - Document ID: US10502346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/965,108 - Filed: 2015-12-10 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-19 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Applicants: Airbus Operations (SAS) - Inventors: Alexis Courpet; Olivier Bourbon; Matthieu Biteau; Jean-Marc Roques; Christophe Buresi; Brice Lenoir; Philippe Villeroux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502346B2 ## CPC - F16L 15/08: with supplementary elements (F16L15/04 takes precedence) - F16L 21/08: with additional locking means (F16L21/06 takes precedence; couplings of the quick-acting type F16L37/00) - F16L 27/026: {Universal and axially displaceable joints} - F16L 27/1021: {comprising an intermediate resilient element, e.g. a ring} - F16L 21/00: Joints with sleeve or socket (F16L13/00, {F16L15/00,} F16L17/00, F16L19/00 take precedence; {joints for pipes made of reinforced concrete F16L25/0027;} connecting arrangements or other fittings specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/00; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/00) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A connection device of a female pipe and a male pipe, with a head which is configured to be accommodated in a receptacle of the female pipe, and comprising a peripheral groove in which a seal is accommodated. The male pipe comprises at least one extension which is configured to limit the pivoting of the male pipe around an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the female pipe. This configuration makes it possible to limit the risks of damaging the seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connection device comprising: a female pipe comprising at one of its ends an upstream portion and a widened portion which forms a receptacle, the receptacle having a first length and a first diameter which is larger than an inner diameter of the upstream portion of the female pipe, a male pipe comprising at one of its ends an upstream portion and a head which is configured to be accommodated in the receptacle of the female pipe, the head having a second diameter which is larger than an outer diameter of the upstream portion of the male pipe and very slightly smaller than the first diameter of the receptacle, the head having a form permitting slight pivoting of the head relative to the receptacle, said head comprising a peripheral groove, a seal being positioned in the peripheral groove in the male pipe, said male pipe comprising at least one extension configured to limit a pivoting movement of the male pipe relative to the female pipe around an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the female pipe, and in operation, when a longitudinal axis of the male pipe is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the female pipe and the second diameter of the head is positioned within the receptacle, at least part of the at least one extension is introduced into the upstream portion of the female pipe, the at least one extension having an outer diameter less than the second diameter of the head in order to be introduced into the upstream portion of the female pipe, and the connection device comprising play between the at least one extension and the upstream portion of the female pipe such that the pivoting movement of the male pipe relative to the female pipe does not exceed an angle α, the angle α being the maximum angle of the pivoting movement before contact between the male and female pipes, the at least one extension having a length which is at least as long as the first length of the receptacle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the angle α of the pivoting movement does not exceed approximatively 2°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein each at least one extension extends from the head of the male pipe, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head of the male pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the play is equal to the length of the at least one extension multiplied by tan(a). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one extension comprises an inner surface in an extension of an inner surface of the male pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the extension of the inner surface of the male pipe is a tube coaxial with the male pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The connection device according to claim 6, wherein the tube comprises slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of extensions, each extension corresponds to a portion of a tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The connection device according to claim 8, wherein each portion of the tube extends around an angular sector of between 30° and 60°. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The connection device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of extensions are regularly distributed around a circumference of the male pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The connection device according to claim 8, wherein each extension comprises a face formed by opposing inner and outer surfaces and a recess forming a through-hole in the face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connection device according to claim 11 wherein the through-hole is centered on the face of the at least one extension. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises an end which is configured to cooperate with an inner shoulder of the receptacle.