Flexible joint and method of manufacturing flexible joint

A method of constructing a flexible joint, the method comprising:

• disposing an extension tube, which comprises at substantially frustoconical upper profile, at least partially within a housing;
• providing a transition shim having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface of the transition shim is substantially flat when compared to the lower surface at any selected section of the transition shim, wherein the lower surface is correspondingly radiused at that same selected section;
• molding a compression bearing comprising the transition shim and a stack of a plurality of alternating elastomeric elements and shims, the stack being bonded to the lower surface of the transition shim, wherein each of the elastomeric elements is a discrete layer that is disconnected from others of the elastomeric elements;
• bonding, using an inner bonding material, the upper surface of the transition shim to a surface of the frustoconical profile of the extension tube;
• capturing the compression bearing between the housing and the extension tube;
• bonding the compression bearing to the housing;
• and
• placing the compression bearing in a state of compression.

A flexible joint comprising:

• a housing;
• an extension tube disposed at least partially within the housing, wherein the extension tube comprises a substantially frustoconical upper profile;
• a compression bearing comprising:
• a transition shim having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface of the transition shim is substantially flat when compared to the lower surface at any selected section of the transition shim, wherein the lower surface is correspondingly radiused at that same selected section;
• and
• at least one flexible element bonded to the lower surface of the transition shim;
• an inner bonding material bonded to each of the extension tube and the upper surface of the transition shim of the compression bearing, wherein the upper surface of the transition shim is bonded to a surface of the frustoconical upper profile of the extension tube;
• and
• a central pipe disposed between a first end of the housing, which is opposite a second end of the housing through which a lower portion of the extension tube extends, and a cavity formed in an upper portion of the extension tube;
• wherein the compression bearing is bonded to an inner surface of the housing.