Flexible coupling for pipework

A flexible coupling for pipework, the coupling comprising a sleeve assembly for circular section coaxially engaged around the ends of the pipes to be coupled together, and being connected to each of them in sealed manner by means of respective annular gasket of flexible and resilient material that are received coaxially in corresponding annular gaps between said ends and respective ends of the sleeve assembly, said sleeve assembly being constituted by at least one assembly of rigid tubes in alignment on the same longitudinal axis and assembled together in sealed manner by connection means which hold them in alignment along said axis, but which allow them limited amplitude mutual displacement along said axis, said at least one assembly of rigid tubes comprising two end tubes spaced apart along the axis and an intermediate tube of different diameter that bridges a gap between the two end tubes, with the connection means between the tubes comprising, between two consecutive tubes, an annular gasket of flexible and resilient material;

• wherein said connection means are designed to provide resiliency along the above-mentioned axis and further include a set of laminated blocks regularly distributed around said axis, each of the blocks being made up of alternating superposed layers that are rigid and layers that are flexible and resilient, the layers being in the form of cylindrical surfaces centered on said axis, said annular gasket and said set of laminated blocks being inserted side by side in the gap between the two tubes that they connect together, and being fixed to respective facing surfaces belonging to said tubes.