Patent ID: 6286541
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: F16L,Y10T

Abstract:
A leak-proof coupling for a gas-carrying pipe, comprising:a first pipe section having an upstream gas-receiving end in communication with a source of pressurized gas and a first coupling end remote therefrom, said upstream gas-receiving end of said first pipe section receiving said pressurized gas from said source and accommodating flow of said pressurized gas from said source through said first pipe section, said pressurized gas flowing through said first pipe section from said upstream gas-receiving end to said first coupling end for discharge therefrom;a second pipe section having a second coupling end in communication with said first coupling end and a downstream end remote therefrom, said second coupling end of said second pipe section receiving said pressurized gas from said first pipe section and accommodating flow of said pressurized gas from said first pipe section through said second pipe section, said pressurized gas flowing through said second pipe section from said second coupling end to said downstream end for discharge therefrom;said first and second coupling ends being disposed in closely spaced adjacent relation to define a gap through which at least some of said pressurized gas could escape while flowing through said first and second pipe sections in the event of a negative pressure differential in the region of said first and second coupling ends externally of said first and second pipe sections, said second coupling end thereby being moveable relative to said first coupling end and said gap; andmeans for providing a positive gas pressure differential in the region of said first and second coupling ends externally of said first and second pipe sections to thereby prevent said pressurized gas flowing through said first and second pipe sections from being able to escape through said gap defined by said first and second coupling ends of said first and second pipe sections.