A coupling assembly, to be flowed through by fluid, for coupling two components has a coupling element and a ball joint assembly with a female ball joint element, a male ball joint element, and a securing element. The female and male ball joint elements form a ball joint by form fit. The male ball joint element has a ball segment and the female ball joint element has an expandable ball segment. The ball segment of the male ball joint element engages the expandable ball segment so that the female ball joint element at least partially encloses the male ball joint element. The securing element contacts externally an outer contour of the female ball joint element. The coupling element forms one of the female and male ball joint elements. One of the two components forms the other one of the female and male ball joint elements.

A seal for a flexible alignment sealing coupling. The seal includes an annular member being symmetric about a longitudinal axis. The annular member has a radially inward facing surface extending an axial width between a first axial end and a second axial end. In a relaxed state of the seal, the radially inward facing surface has an asymmetric generally concave V-shaped cross section and is defined by a first section and a second section. The first section has a first seal taper angle measured relative to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second section has a second seal taper angle measured relative to another line parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first seal taper angle is less than the second seal taper angle. Each of the first seal taper angle and the second seal taper angle is greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.

A seal for a flexible alignment sealing coupling. The seal includes an annular member being symmetric about a longitudinal axis. The annular member has a radially inward facing surface extending an axial width between a first axial end and a second axial end. In a relaxed state of the seal, the radially inward facing surface has an asymmetric generally concave V-shaped cross section and is defined by a first section and a second section. The first section has a first seal taper angle measured relative to a line parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second section has a second seal taper angle measured relative to another line parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first seal taper angle is less than the second seal taper angle. Each of the first seal taper angle and the second seal taper angle is greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees.

A coupling assembly, to be flowed through by fluid, for coupling two components has a coupling element and a ball joint assembly with a female ball joint element, a male ball joint element, and a securing element. The female and male ball joint elements form a ball joint by form fit. The male ball joint element has a ball segment and the female ball joint element has an expandable ball segment. The ball segment of the male ball joint element engages the expandable ball segment so that the female ball joint element at least partially encloses the male ball joint element. The securing element contacts externally an outer contour of the female ball joint element. The coupling element forms one of the female and male ball joint elements. One of the two components forms the other one of the female and male ball joint elements.

A coupling assembly, to be flowed through by fluid, for coupling two components has a coupling element and a ball joint assembly with a female ball joint element, a male ball joint element, and a securing element. The female and male ball joint elements form a ball joint by form fit. The male ball joint element has a ball segment and the female ball joint element has an expandable ball segment. The ball segment of the male ball joint element engages the expandable ball segment so that the female ball joint element at least partially encloses the male ball joint element. The securing element contacts externally an outer contour of the female ball joint element. The coupling element forms one of the female and male ball joint elements. One of the two components forms the other one of the female and male ball joint elements.

A cam ring for a pipe connector includes a first axial side, a second axial side opposite the first axial side, a radially outward-facing side, a radially inward-facing side, and a cam element extending a circumferential length along the radially inward facing-side. The cam element includes a first cam section and a second can section, the cam sections respectively have first and second radially facing cam surfaces adjacent respective first and second axially facing cam surfaces. The second radially facing cam surface has a second radial depth lesser than a first radial depth of the first radially facing cam surface. The second axially facing cam surface has a second axial location closer to the first axial side than a first axial location of the first axially facing cam surface. A gripper for a pipe connector includes a body and teeth with an arc shape.

A cam ring for a pipe connector includes a first axial side, a second axial side opposite the first axial side, a radially outward-facing side, a radially inward-facing side, and a cam element extending a circumferential length along the radially inward facing-side. The cam element includes a first cam section and a second can section, the cam sections respectively have first and second radially facing cam surfaces adjacent respective first and second axially facing cam surfaces. The second radially facing cam surface has a second radial depth lesser than a first radial depth of the first radially facing cam surface. The second axially facing cam surface has a second axial location closer to the first axial side than a first axial location of the first axially facing cam surface. A gripper for a pipe connector includes a body and teeth with an arc shape.

An eccentric universal joint mechanism, even when there is a lateral displacement between a first pipe and a second pipe, can absorb the displacement and connect the first pipe and the second pipe. The eccentric universal joint mechanism includes: a first sleeve; a second sleeve; and an eccentric universal joint connecting the first sleeve and the second sleeve. The eccentric universal joint includes a first eccentric pipe, and a second eccentric pipe rotatably joined to the first eccentric pipe. A displacement between the center line of the first eccentric pipe and the center line of the second eccentric pipe is determined by the rotational position of the second eccentric pipe.

In one embodiment, pipe connection joints are constructed using two materials, a flexible material and a rigid material, which are fixedly attached to form a pipe connection joint that provides a few degrees of flex in order to allow for mis-alignment of pipe ends and to reduce stress at the joint. The flexible pipe connection joints are made in a variety of nominal angles, configurations, and sizes and each of the individual pipe connection joints can be flexed in any direction a few degrees from the nominal angle.

In one embodiment, pipe connection joints are constructed using two materials, a flexible material and a rigid material, which are fixedly attached to form a pipe connection joint that provides a few degrees of flex in order to allow for mis-alignment of pipe ends and to reduce stress at the joint. The flexible pipe connection joints are made in a variety of nominal angles, configurations, and sizes and each of the individual pipe connection joints can be flexed in any direction a few degrees from the nominal angle.