The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 18, 1995
David A Snider, Hurst, TX (US);
Continental Emsco Co., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A flexible joint is provided for facilitating bending of tubular segments. The flexible joint includes an outer cylindrical housing and at least one inner tubular member disposed within the outer cylindrical housing. The outer cylindrical housing has a first end which has an inwardly projecting bevel-shaped portion. The inner tubular member has a first end which has an outwardly projecting bevel-shaped portion. An elastomeric pad is bonded between an inner surface of the outer cylindrical housing and an outer surface of the inner tubular member at their respective first ends. The elastomeric pad has a bevel-shaped section which is adjacent to the inwardly projecting bevel-shaped portion of the first end of the outer cylindrical housing and the outwardly projecting bevel-shaped portion of the first end of the inner tubular member. It retains the inner tubular member within the outer cylindrical housing and permits limited axial, angular, and rotational movement of the inner tubular member relative to the outer cylindrical housing. A plurality of outer cylindrical housing/inner tubular member pairs may be linked in series, arranged in a nested telescopic fashion, or a combination of these arrangements. Methods for constructing the various embodiments of the flexible joint are also provided.