Flexible pipe joint having an annular flexible boot thermally or chemically insulating an annular elastomeric flexible element

A flexible pipe joint comprising:

• a body;
• an attachment member mechanically coupled to the body operable to attach the body to a first segment of a pipeline;
• an extension pipe extending from the body and operable to attach the body to a second segment of the pipeline, and
• at least one annular elastomeric flexible element flexibly coupling the extension pipe to the body to permit articulation of the flexible pipe joint whereby the extension pipe is operable to pivot with respect to the body;
• wherein the attachment member and the extension pipe define a lumen through the flexible pipe joint for fluid from the pipeline to flow through the flexible pipe joint, and the at least one annular elastomeric flexible element encircles the lumen;
• and
• an annular flexible boot operable to thermally and chemically insulate the at least one annular elastomeric flexible element from the fluid flowing through the flexible pipe joint, wherein the annular flexible boot encircles the lumen, and the annular flexible boot has a first annular end attached to the extension pipe and a second annular end mounted so that pivoting of the extension pipe with respect to the body causes a flexing of the annular flexible boot and a majority of the annular flexible boot has a shape conforming to a shape of an annulus formed by neighboring components of the flexible pipe joint,
• wherein the annular flexible boot includes a metal layer operable to prevent diffusion of invasive gas from the lumen.