12a of the box section 12 are tapered although those surfaces may be partially tapered and partially coaxial with the pipe sections shown in fig1 these different arrangements can be used for different applications of the invention such as for example the embodiment shown in fig1 can be used as a connector for joining lengths of relatively large diameter conductor pipe and for joining a subsea wellhead housing to the last joint of conductor pipe the embodiment in fig3 for example can be used in connection with a jack up drilling rig from below the mud line to the rig in the embodiment of the invention shown in fig2 and 3 initial contact between the pin 10 and box 12 could be made between the box shoulder 16 and pin end 18 leaving a slight gap between the pin shoulder 42 and box shoulder 44 tightening of the latch screws 26 would tension the box 12 and bring shoulders 42 and 44 in contact the embodiment of fig2 could be further modified so that initial contact is made between tapered portions 10a and 12a and a slight gap is formed between pin end 18 and shoulder 16 and between shoulders 42 and 44 actuating the latch screws 26 would.