Flexible fluid conductive coupling for fluid transfer systems

A flexible fluid-conductive coupling for use with a fluid transfer system including first and second conduits to be joined for fluid flow therebetween, said coupling comprising:

• a first flange fixedly connected to and extending radially outward from said first conduit;
• a second flange fixedly connected to and extending radially outward from said second conduit;
• opposing first and second bearing surfaces disposed respectively on said first and second flanges and in spaced relation relative to one another;
• bearing and sealing means comprising alternating laminae of resiliently deformable elastomer and substantially rigid material, said bearing and sealing means bonded between and to the first and second bearing surfaces whereby said bearing and sealing means accommodates misalignment between the first and second conduits;
• an extension tube fixedly connected to one of the conduits and disposed within and radially spaced from the other of the conduits at least for a portion of its axial length;
• said extension tube for preventing the obstruction, due to excessive misalignment of the first and second conduits, of flow of the fluid therebetween and for establishing a fluid stagnation region thereby protecting the bearing and sealing means from abrasive injury due to flowing particulate matter in the fluid stream;
• and
• wherein the second bearing surface has a radius less than that of the first bearing surface by an amount approximately equal to the axial thickness of the bearing and sealing means, said radii allow relative lateral displacement between the first and second conduits without appreciable change in the compressional force brought to bear on the bearing and sealing means, and the coupling permits the first and second conduits to rotate about their longitudinal axes and move laterally relative to one another, subject to the restoring forces of the elastomer in the assembly.

A flexible fluid-conductive coupling for use with a fluid transfer system including first and second conduits to be joined for fluid flow therebetween, said coupling comprising:

• a first flange fixedly connected to and extending radially outward from said first conduit;
• a second flange fixedly connected to and extending radially outward from said second conduit;
• opposing first and second bearing surfaces disposed respectively on said first and second flanges and in spaced relation relative to one another;
• bearing and sealing means comprising alternating laminae of resiliently deformable elastomer and substantially rigid material, said bearing and sealing means bonded between and to the first and second bearing surfaces whereby said bearing and sealing means accommodates misalignment between the first and second conduits;
• an extension tube fixedly connected to one of the conduits and disposed within and radially spaced from the other of the conduits at least for a portion of its axial length;
• said extension tube for preventing the obstruction, due to excessive misalignment of the first and second conduits, of flow of the fluid therebetween and for establishing a fluid stagnation region thereby protecting the bearing and sealing means from abrasive injury due to flowing particulate matter in the fluid stream;
• and
• wherein the extension tube includes, along an axial portion thereof adjacent to the first conduit, a third bearing surface, and wherein the first bearing surface is a substantially flat circular surface concentric with and normal to the axis of the first conduit and merges into the third bearing surface which is disposed substantially perpendicularly thereto.