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:
May. 18, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 16, 1997
Ernst Antonius Bakker, The Hague, NL;
Anthony Fui Liew, Amsterdam, NL;
Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A flexible joint is disclosed which comprises a first rigid wall portion, a second rigid wall portion, a flexible wall portion extending between the first and second rigid wall portions, the three wall portions defining a longitudinal passage through the joint and being arranged along the length of the passage, a sleeve secured at one end to the first rigid wall portion and extending through the passage so as to overlap the second rigid wall portion, the sleeve being spaced from the flexible wall portion and free to move relative to the second rigid wall portion. In a preferred embodiment, a layer of insulating material is provided on a surface of the sleeve while leaving the space between the sleeve and the flexible wall portion to be occupied by process fluid when in use. In another embodiment, the length of the portion of the sleeve overlapping the second rigid wall portion is at least five times the distance of the sleeve from the second rigid wall portion, as measured perpendicular to the sleeve.