Sealing connection for conduit couplings

Claim 1

A means for joining a mutually confronting pair of conduits, comprising: a. a sealing connection including means forming annular radially outwardly open channels at the confronting ends of the conduits, resilient seal rings in the channels and projecting outwardly therefrom and a cylindrical sealing sleeve extending over and engaging the outer surfaces of the seal rings in regions spaced outwardly from the radial outer margins of said channels; b. a mechanical connection means including a housing sleeve having a cylindrical portion extending over the sealing sleeve in radially spaced relation thereto, and pivotal connecting units joining the end portions of the housing sleeve to each conduit at positions axially spaced from said channels away from said ends and from the axial ends of said sealing sleeve; c. and a band of a cylindrical reinforced elastomer, the ends of which are axially spaced from said pivotal connecting units, said band essentially filling the space between the sealing sleeve and housing sleeve from substantially end-to-end thereof and tending to maintain the sleeves in concentric parallel relation upon relative angular movements of said conduits about said pivotal connecting units thereby to resist diametrical translation movement and tilting movement of the sealing sleeve with respect to the seal rings, as well as distortion of the sleeve from a cylindrical into an oval shape, thereby to minimize increase in the distance between a radially outer margin of a channel and the confronting portion of its sealing sleeve, and retain the seal ring in its channel.