Stress relieving joints for pipes

摘要

A stress relieving joint (10) is designed for use with riser pipe (22) in floating systems wherein a vessel is subject to variable motion caused by wind, currents, and/or wave action. The riser pipe (22) has one end connectable to the sea floor and an upper portion (22A) arranged to pass through a constraining opening (30) in the bottom or keel (24) of the vessel. A ball joint and socket assembly (32) is removably attached to the keel (24) at the constraining opening (30). A sleeve (36) is attached at substantially its midpoint in the ball joint. The riser pipe portion (22A) received in the sleeve (36) is provided with wear strips (38) that reduce the rate of reduction in wear surface diameter. <IMAGE>