Flexible fluid-transport pipe joint apparatus

Abstract

A flexible pipe joint apparatus for use in a fluid (e.g., water) transport pipe system for maximally absorbing an external force such as a compression or tensile force applied to a pipe of the fluid transport system due to an earthquake, differential settlement, thermal expansion or contraction of the pipe per se, thus preventing resultant damage at a weak portion of the pipe. The apparatus includes a receiving tubular member and an inserting tubular member insertable into and connectable with the receiving tubular member along a tube axial direction. A stopper portion is formed in an outer peripheral face of the inserting tubular member, the stopper portion projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral face. A retaining portion is formed in an inner peripheral face of the receiving tubular member, the retaining portion coming into contact with the stopper portion of the inserting tubular member so as to prevent slidable displacement between the two tubular members at least on a withdrawal side in a predetermined relative slidable range of the tubular members. The stopper portion includes a plurality of projections formed at a plurality of positions along a periphery of the inserting tubular member. The retaining portion of the receiving tubular member includes a plurality of detaching recesses, each said recess allowing passage of each of the projections axially relative to the detaching recess only when the receiving tubular member and the inserting tubular member are located in a predetermined phase relationship with each other.