Flex-Lok Ball Joint Pipe

AMERICAN Flex-Lok Boltless Ball Joint Pipe (manufactured in 4" through 60"* sizes) is a rugged, boltless, flexible joint pipe designed and manufactured to assure the greatest economy in installation with maximum performance reliability. This ductile iron pipe meets all applicable requirements of AWWA C151 and is designed to withstand severe installation and service conditions encountered in river crossings, outfall waste lines, water supply intakes, swamps, floodlands and rugged terrain where variable joint deflection may be required.

Each joint of AMERICAN Flex-Lok Boltless Ball Joint Pipe provides variable deflection up to 15°, and the joint may be deflected to metal binding position at maximum deflection without harm to the pipe or joint components. This is made possible by the unique design of the pipe and joint components.

*Check AMERICAN for 60" and 64" requirements.

Spherical Socket

The spherical socket of the AMERICAN Flex-Lok Joint is cast of super-strength AMERICAN Ductile Iron and is accurately machined to accommodate the ball of the adjoining pipe. The thick bell section provides superior strength to minimize the stresses resulting from installation and service conditions.

The Flex-Lok Joint gasket recess in the socket is designed and manufactured to provide easy insertion and positive seating of the gasket to avoid displacement during assembly and for constant compression of the gasket through the entire range of deflection of the assembled joint.

The ductile iron spherical socket, manufactured in accordance with applicable material requirements of ASTM A536, is threaded onto** the ductile iron pipe barrel with threads conforming to ANSI B2.1 adapted to standard ductile iron pipe diameters.

Spherical Ball

The ball end of the AMERICAN Flex-Lok Joint is threaded onto** or integrally cast with the pipe barrel and is accurately machined to fit into the adjoining pipe socket and to provide constant compression of the gasket through the entire range of deflection of the assembled joint.

The inside surface of the ball is shaped so that the waterway will not be significantly obstructed at any angle of joint deflection. Extra metal thickness is provided at the juncture of the ball and barrel for additional strength to minimize the stress induced when the joint is subjected to metal binding at maximum deflection.

**The spherical ball and socket ends of 60" Flex-Lok pipes are fastened to the barrels of the pipe with a Fastite gasket and locking snap-ring arrangement instead of threads.

Flex-Lok Gasket

The AMERICAN Flex-Lok Joint utilizes the basic dual hardness gasket design of the AMERICAN Fastite Joint which has been proven with millions of joints over approximately 45 years. Designed to provide maximum sealability, the Flex-Lok gasket is manufactured to AMERICAN's rigid specification to assure controlled dimensional and material properties. One end of the gasket is of hard rubber, approximately 85 Shore Durometer hardness, which provides a strong shoulder for self-centering on the socket buttress, a permanent seal against cold flow, and protection from weathering and deterioration. The large end of the gasket is of softer rubber, approximately 65 Shore Durometer hardness, which provides ease of assembly and positive sealing at all angles of deflection under high or low pressures.

The snug fit of the gasket in the socket cavity, the design of the socket buttress and the hard section of the gasket act to restrain the gasket from dislodging during assembly.

Cross-sectional view showing the AMERICAN Flex-Lok Joints in the deflected position. Note that the waterway remains unobstructed when the joint is fully deflected.

LOCKING SYSTEM

Two types of locking systems are used to prevent longitudinal joint separation of the AMERICAN Flex-Lok joint, depending on pipe size. In the 4"-24" sizes, the locking system employs a substantial external locking ductile iron gland. For 30"-60" sizes, the joint is restrained with a ductile iron retainer ring fitted into a mating groove inside the heavy-section bell.

4"-24" Flex-Lok Pipe Joint

The locking gland of the 4"-24" AMERICAN Flex-Lok joint is cast of AMERICAN Ductile Iron. The gland has internal lugs which interlock with external lugs on the bell. The lugs on the gland are passed between and beyond the lugs on the bell periphery and the gland is then rotated to lock the joint and prevent separation.

Above: An exploded view showing the component parts of the 4"-24" American Flex-Lok Boltless Ball Joint: 1-Ductile Iron Socket. 2-Rubber gasket. 3-Ductile Iron Ball. 4-Locking gland. 5-Locking wedge.

Above: An exploded view showing the component parts of the 30"-60" American Flex-Lok Boltless Ball Joint: 1-Ductile Iron Socket. 2-Rubber gasket. 3-Ductile Iron Ball. 4-Retaining Ring. 5-Assembly clip.

When 4"-24"AMERICAN Flex-Lok Ball Joint Pipe is prepared for shipment to the job site, the locking gland is secured against the ball by steel straps. These straps must be removed to free the gland for assembly.

A steel wedge with a welded-on threaded stud, as shown above, is provided for each 4"-24" AMERICAN Flex-Lok joint. One wedge is placed into the space between two lugs and bolted into position. This wedge provides a positive lock to prevent gland rotation after assembly.

30"-60" Flex-Lok Pipe Joint

A substantial split retainer ring manufactured of AMERICAN Ductile Iron fitted into a mating groove inside the heavy-section bell provides restraint against longitudinal joint separation in the 30"-60" sizes. This ring is shipped secured to the ball with steel straps. These straps must be removed to free the ring for assembly. After the ring is fitted into the groove inside the bell, a locking clip, held in place by a stainless steel spring, is inserted into the space between the ends of the ring to securely lock it into the groove.

JOINT LUBRICANT

Sufficient special AMERICAN Joint Lubricant for underwater installation is furnished with each order to provide ample lubrication for assembly and joint flexing. This special lubricant is different from regular Fastite lubricant, and is insoluble, non-toxic, will impart no taste or odor to the conveyed liquid and will not have a deleterious effect on the rubber gasket.

AMERICAN Flex-Lok Ball Joint Pipe is centrifugally cast in laying lengths shown in Table Nos. 10-1 and 10-2 with the same standard outside diameters as AMERICAN Fastite or Mechanical Joint Pipe, thus simplifying tie-in connections by allowing the use of standard fittings.

AMERICAN Flex-Lok Ball Joint Pipe may be furnished with any of the coatings and linings described in Section 11. Unless otherwise specified, the pipe is normally furnished with an asphaltic coating on the exterior and with the interior cement lined per AWWA C104.