Hydraulic joint

Abstract

Various systems and assemblies that can be utilized with hydraulic and other fluid flow lines are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the present application discloses an assembly that can include a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section can define a first passageway therein to receive and allow for passage of a fluid. The second section can define a second passageway that communicates with the first passageway. The second section and the first section together can form a first ball joint having an internal portion and an external portion. The first ball joint can comprise a moveable coupling between second section and the first section. The third section can define a third passageway that communicates with the second passageway. The third section can telescopically receive the second section therein and can be configured to form a linearly moveable joint between the third section and the second section.

1 . An assembly comprising:
 a first section defining a first passageway therein to receive and pass a fluid;   a second section defining a second passageway that communicates with the first passageway, the second section and the first section together forming a first ball joint having an internal portion and an external portion, the first ball joint comprising a moveable coupling between second section and the first section;   a third section defining a third passageway that communicates with the second passageway, the third section telescopically receiving the second section therein and configured to form a linearly moveable joint between the third section and the second section; and   a fourth section defining a fourth passageway that communicates with the third passageway, the fourth section and the third section together forming a second ball joint having an internal portion and an external portion, the second ball joint comprising a moveable coupling between the fourth section and the third section.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section is configured to house a seal, wherein the seal is configured to allow for the passage of a portion of the fluid as a weep into a volume defined between at least the seal, the one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section and a second seal, and wherein the one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section is configured to define a passageway to drain the portion of the fluid from the volume. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the seal comprises a Teflon bronze seal and is one of at least three seals provided between each of the first section and the second section, the second section and the third section, and the third section and the fourth section. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first section that forms the first passageway and the fourth section that forms the fourth passageway has at least one flared end portion configured to form a portion of a curvature of the external portion of at least one of the first ball joint and the second ball joint. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one flared end portion abuts a mating second flared portion of at least one of the second section and the third section at an interface, and wherein the interface allows a portion of the fluid to flow into a volume defined between at least one of the internal portion and the external portion of the first ball joint and the internal portion and the external portion of the second ball joint. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the fluid that flows into the volume defined between the internal portion and the external portion of one or more of the first ball joint and the second ball joint further weeps past a first seal in the one or more of the first ball joint and the second ball joint and into a second volume defined between the first seal, the internal portion and the external portion of the one or more of the first ball joint and the second ball joint and a second seal. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first seal comprises a Teflon bronze seal and is one of at least three seals provided between each of the first section and the second section, the second section and the third section, and the third section and the fourth section. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a circlip disposed between the second section and the third section, wherein the second section includes a flange projection received in a cavity of the third section and the circlip is configured to act as a stop to halt a movement of the flange projection out of the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is configured such that each seal is recessed in one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section, the assembly with each seal recessed allowing for a relative movement between the first section and the second section, the second section and the third section, and the third section and the fourth section. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange configured to abut and be fastened to one or more of the first section and the fourth section, the flange configured to form a part of the external portion of one or more of the first ball joint and the second ball joint, wherein the flange is configured to house at least two seals in grooves therein and is configured to interface with one or more of the second section and the third section. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a third seal disposed within a volume defined between at least the seal, the one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section and the second seal, the third seal configured to expand and contract in response to temperature to regulate the weep to the passageway to drain the portion of the fluid from the volume. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the third seal is configured to expand in the event of a fire or another high temperature event that results in an elevated temperature to block or substantially restrict the weep to the passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a second passageway having a connector configured to connect with a leakage monitor. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second passageway communicates with the volume between the third seal and the second seal. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a swivel assembly configured to moveably couple to the fourth section. 
     
     
         16 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An assembly comprising:
 a first section defining a first passageway therein to receive a fluid;   a second section defining a second passageway that communicates with the first passageway, the second section and the first section together forming a first ball joint having an internal portion and an external portion, the first ball joint comprising a moveable coupling between second section and the first section;   a third section defining a third passageway that communicates with the second passageway, the third section telescopically receiving the second section therein and configured to form a linearly moveable joint between the third section and the second section; and   a first seal positioned at the first ball joint and configured to allow for the passage of a portion of the fluid as a weep into a volume defined between the internal portion and the external portion and a second seal.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth section defining a fourth passageway that communicates with the third passageway, the fourth section and the third section together forming a second ball joint having an internal portion and an external portion, the second ball joint comprising a moveable coupling between the fourth section and the third section. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a third seal positioned at the second ball joint and configured to allow for the passage of a second portion of the fluid as a weep into a second volume defined between the internal portion and the external portion of the second ball joint and a fourth seal;   a fifth seal positioned between the second section and the third section and configured to allow for the passage of a third portion of the fluid as a weep into a third volume defined between the second section, the third section and a sixth seal;   wherein the first seal, third seal and fifth seal each comprise a Teflon bronze seal and at least three seals are provided between each of the first section and the second section, the second section and the third section, and the third section and the fourth section.   
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the assembly is configured such that each seal is recessed in one or more of the first section, the second section, the third section and the fourth section, the assembly with each seal recessed allowing for a relative movement between the first section and the second section and the second section and the third section. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a third seal disposed within the volume, the third seal configured to expand and contract in response to temperature to regulate the weep to the passageway to drain the portion of the fluid from the volume, and wherein the third seal is configured to expand in the event of a fire or another high temperature event that results in an elevated temperature to block or substantially restrict the weep to the passageway. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a second passageway having a connector configured to connect with a leakage monitor, wherein the second passageway communicates with the volume between the third seal and the second seal.