Flexible joints for marine risers

A flexible joint through which fluid can be conducted comprising:

• first and second bodies having a fluid passage therethrough and adapted to be disposed in a tubular string, said first and second bodies having first and second generally spherical bearing surfaces, respectively, and also first and second generally spherical seal surfaces, respectively, a housing structure surrounding said bodies and having spaced generally spherical first and second bearing surfaces confronting said bearing surfaces on said first and second bodies, respectively, a first bearing assembly between and engaging said first body bearing surface and said first bearing surface on said housing structure, a second bearing assembly between and engaging said second body bearing surface and said second bearing surface on said housing structure, a third body between said first and second bodies and having generally spherical first and second seal surfaces confronting said first and second body seal surfaces, respectively, first and second seal structures between and engaging said third body first and second seal surfaces, respectively, and said first and second body seal surfaces, respectively, said housing structure including means for compressing said first and second bearing assemblies between said housing structure and first and second bodies and said seal structures between said third body and said first and second bodies, each of said bearing assemblies including generally spherical laminations of alternate layers of rigid material and yieldable material and secured to a first or second body and said housing structure, each of said seal structures including generally spherical laminations of alternate layers of rigid material and yieldable material secured to said third body and each of said first and second bodies.