Universal pipe joint construction

A universal pipe joint for connecting a pair of pipes comprising:

• a pair of articulation rings each having a spherical convex outer surface portion and a cylindrical inner surface portion adapted to fit over one of the pipes, and a sealing member interposed between each articulation ring and the pipe associated therewith;
• means for attaching one of the articulation rings to each one of the pipes comprising an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the articulation ring, a first split lock ring adapted to fit in said groove, an annular recess formed in the outer surface of the pipe associated with such one articulation ring, and means for engaging the first lock ring in said recess by decreasing the diameter of the first lock ring;
• a joint pipe having at each end thereof an annular concave inner surface adapted to engage a portion of the convex outer surface of one of the articulation rings, and a second sealing member interposed between the convex outer surface of each articulation ring and the joint pipe;
• and,
• a pair of separation preventive rings, and means for attaching the separation preventive rings to the joint pipe at the ends thereof, each separation preventive ring having an annular concave inner surface which is adapted to engage a portion of the convex outer surface of one of the articulation rings in an axial direction opposite to the concave inner surface of the joint pipe engaging such one articulation ring.