Technical Field A rotary joint generally comprises a fixed part named stator or body, and a rotary or rotatable part named rotor. Such rotary joint may be provided either with only one passage (or way), or with two or more passages independent from each other, according to the required applications in a plant.

More particularly, the rotary joint of the present invention is of the type comprising two independent passages each comprising two (axial or radial) inlet ports provided in the stator, and one axial outlet port and one radial outlet port in the rotor. Joints of this type are generally fitted to the bottom of oleodynamic or pneumatic cylinders of take-up reels of metal sheets.

The two ways are used to drive the cylinder, i. e. one way is used for the rod extension and the other for retracting the rod, respectively.

Two examples of rotary joints of this type, with an axial outlet port 21 and a radial outlet port 22, are described in the partially cross-sectioned side views of Figures 3 and 4.

The body 10 of the joint includes two inlets 11 and 12, connected to the outlets 21 and 22 respectively, with the body being further secured to the cylinder (not shown in the Figures) by means of a mounting on the cylinder bottom.

The known devices of this type show an inconvenience due to fact that the joint rotor has to be threaded for being connected to the cylinder bottom, and therefore it is not always posssible to obtain a desired angular arrangement, after the parts have been tightened together. This inconvenience is particularly felt in the joint maintenance operations, for example when replacement of the joint is needed.

Object of the Invention It is an an object of present invention to overcome the above mentioned drawback, and particularly to provide a two-way rotary joint having a radial outlet port that allows a positioning thereof according to any given or desired direction.

Disclosure of the Invention According to the invention, this object is accomplished by means of a rotary joint provided with the characteristics recited in claim 1.

Further advantageous characteristics are recited in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention will now be disclosed with reference to the attached drawings illustrating preferred non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are partially cross-sectioned side views illustrating two embodiments of a rotary joint capable of being oriented along a given direction according to present invention; Figures 3 and 4, already described, illustrate two-way rotary joints according to the prior art; and Figures 5 and 6 show some details of two embodiments of the sealing system.

Throughout all the Figures the same numeral references have been used to indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments With reference to Fig. 1, a rotary joint according to the invention comprises a body 10 and a rotor 3 provided with a threaded end portion 13 and exagonal planes for locking it to the cylinder bottom.

In the Figures, both inlet openings 1 and 2 in body or stator 10 are radial, however they could also be axially extending ports.

A hub 9, housed in a ring-shaped seat, is rotatably fitted to rotor 3, around the part far from the threaded portion. A spacer 4, inserted between the hub and the body 10 of the joint prevents the hub axial displacement.

Two axial passages or ducts 11 and 12 are formed in the rotor for the fluid passage, and one of them (passage 11 in Fig.

1) is closed by an end plug 6 and connected through a radial hole 7 to a ring-shaped channel 8 that in turn is provided with a radial outlet port 22 formed in hub the 9.

In rotor 3 two ring-shaped grooves are provided sideways to the channel 8 which make up seats for as many sealing gaskets 5 having a circular cross-section (e. g. O rings). These gaskets prevent fluid from spilling outside and allow to angularly orient the hub 9-and therefore the radial outlet 22-along the desired direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the radial outlet 22 of the rotary joint according to the invention can be oriented in the desired angular direction.

According to another embodiment (schematically shown in Fig. 5), the channels for receiving the sealing gaskets 5 can be formed in the hub 9.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of an orientable joint according to the invention, in which only one axial duct 21 is provided in the rotor, particularly with its axis coincident with that of the rotor, and an annular chamber 14 is provided communicating with the channel 8 which in turn opens on the outlet 22. Although not shown in the drawings, also the other outlet port (11 or 21, depending on which Figure) can be a radial outlet, that can be oriented in an independent manner from the other outlet port.

In the embodiment of the seal system shown in the detail view of Fig. 5, it is also provided that the orientable hub 9 housing the gaskets 5 is mounted at the end of the threaded portion 13.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the orientable hub 19 is fitted at the end of the threaded portion 13, while the gaskets 15 are of a flat type, and located between shoulders 16,17.

Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is generally susceptible of other applications and changes that fall within the scope of the invention, as will become evident to the skilled in the art.

Industrial Applicability The invention is applicable in fishing tackle and in particular in rotary joint for fluids used to transmit a pressurised fluid in machinery.