High-pressure flexible self-supportive piping assembly
US5997047A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L11/18
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A high-pressure, flexible, self-supportive piping assembly includes a jointed conduit formed by a plurality of ball and socket joint elements, a flexible internal conduit extending through the jointed conduit, an external sheath, and fittings at opposite ends which communicate with the internal conduit. The sheath is heat shrunk onto the jointed conduit. Each joint element has a ball at one end and a socket at an opposite end whereby the joint elements can be connected serially in end-to-end relationship to form the jointed conduit. The ball of one joint element frictionally engages the socket of the next joint element and, in combination with the stiffness of the external sheath, result in a piping assembly which can selectively configured in shape and which will tend to retain such a shape until subsequently configured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.