A flexible joint for conveying a fluid in a fluid pipe in order to unite two pipes in leaktight and flexible manner comprises a tubular vessel having an upstream end for flexible and leaktight connection with an upstream tube, a downstream end for leaktight connection with a downstream tube, and a tubular bellows fastened in leaktight manner to the inside of the vessel, thereby defining two concentric spaces that are mutually separated in leaktight manner in normal operation. An inner space is provided in which the fluid flows between the upstream end and the downstream end. A peripheral space is situated between the inner space and a side wall of the vessel and is filled with an incompressible liquid. The joint further includes at least one sensor for detecting a hydrocarbon fluid in the incompressible liquid if the seal is broken between the inner space and the peripheral space.

A flexible joint for conveying a fluid in a fluid pipe in order to unite two pipes in leaktight and flexible manner comprises a tubular vessel having an upstream end for flexible and leaktight connection with an upstream tube, a downstream end for leaktight connection with a downstream tube, and a tubular bellows fastened in leaktight manner to the inside of the vessel, thereby defining two concentric spaces that are mutually separated in leaktight manner in normal operation. An inner space is provided in which the fluid flows between the upstream end and the downstream end. A peripheral space is situated between the inner space and a side wall of the vessel and is filled with an incompressible liquid. The joint further includes at least one sensor for detecting a hydrocarbon fluid in the incompressible liquid if the seal is broken between the inner space and the peripheral space.

A flexible joint is provided. The flexible joint is for use in a steel catenary riser that includes a compression bearing (106) having a transition shim (120) and a plurality of alternating flexible elements (116) and shims (118) collectively stacked and bonded to a lower portion of the transition shim (120). The flexible joint also includes an inner bonding material (126) having a profile that is complementary to a profile of an extension tube (104), the inner bonding material (126) being disposed between the extension tube (104) and compression bearing (106) and configured to serve as a bonding mechanism between extension tube and compression bearing.

A flexible joint is provided. The flexible joint is for use in a steel catenary riser that includes a compression bearing (106) having a transition shim (120) and a plurality of alternating flexible elements (116) and shims (118) collectively stacked and bonded to a lower portion of the transition shim (120). The flexible joint also includes an inner bonding material (126) having a profile that is complementary to a profile of an extension tube (104), the inner bonding material (126) being disposed between the extension tube (104) and compression bearing (106) and configured to serve as a bonding mechanism between extension tube and compression bearing.

A flexible pipe joint has a body and an annular elastomeric flexible element flexibly coupling an extension pipe to the body and operable to pivot the extension pipe with respect to the body. The flexible pipe joint also has an annular flexible boot operable to thermally or chemically insulating the annular elastomeric flexible element from the fluid flowing through a lumen of the flexible pipe joint. The annular flexible boot encircles the lumen, and the annular flexible boot has a first annular end attached to the extension pipe and a second annular end mounted so that pivoting of the extension pipe with respect to the body causes a flexing of the annular flexible boot, and a majority of the annular flexible boot has a shape conforming to shape of neighboring components of the flexible pipe joint.

A flexible pipe joint has a body and an annular elastomeric flexible element flexibly coupling an extension pipe to the body and operable to pivot the extension pipe with respect to the body. The flexible pipe joint also has an annular flexible boot operable to thermally or chemically insulating the annular elastomeric flexible element from the fluid flowing through a lumen of the flexible pipe joint. The annular flexible boot encircles the lumen, and the annular flexible boot has a first annular end attached to the extension pipe and a second annular end mounted so that pivoting of the extension pipe with respect to the body causes a flexing of the annular flexible boot, and a majority of the annular flexible boot has a shape conforming to shape of neighboring components of the flexible pipe joint.

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.

A flexible pipe joint (200) includes a body (210) having a pin-end member (230) telescopically fitted within a box-end member (220), the pin-end member (230) including an outer connection profile (235) and the box-end member (220) including a complementary inner connection profile (225), a bearing (240) including an outer bearing surface (244), wherein the bearing (240) is fitted within the body (210) such that at least a portion of an inner body surface (212) interfaces with at least a portion the outer bearing surface (244), and wherein the bearing (240) includes an inner bearing surface (243), and an extension pipe (270) including an outer extension pipe surface (289), wherein the extension pipe (270) is fitted within the bearing (240) such that at least a portion of the inner bearing surface (243) interfaces with at least a portion of the outer extension pipe surface (289).

A flexible pipe joint (200) includes a body (210) having a pin-end member (230) telescopically fitted within a box-end member (220), the pin-end member (230) including an outer connection profile (235) and the box-end member (220) including a complementary inner connection profile (225), a bearing (240) including an outer bearing surface (244), wherein the bearing (240) is fitted within the body (210) such that at least a portion of an inner body surface (212) interfaces with at least a portion the outer bearing surface (244), and wherein the bearing (240) includes an inner bearing surface (243), and an extension pipe (270) including an outer extension pipe surface (289), wherein the extension pipe (270) is fitted within the bearing (240) such that at least a portion of the inner bearing surface (243) interfaces with at least a portion of the outer extension pipe surface (289).