Patent ID: 6390513
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B65B,F16L

Abstract:
A collapsible spacer pipe for use between associated equipment items for establishing a liquid tight fluid path between the associated equipment items, the associated equipment items being in generally opposing facing relation to one another and being formed with inwardly facing flanges thereon, the spacer pipe comprising:a flexible seal element having a main body and a pair of flange seals disposed at ends of the main body, the flange seals extending generally transverse to the main body and configured to engage the inwardly facing flanges of the associated equipment items; a pair of ferrules, each ferrule configured to engage and cooperate with one of the flange seals to compress the flange seal against its respective associated equipment item flange, the ferrules each having a locking leg for abutting and engaging the flange seal and a wedge portion in opposing relation to the locking leg, the wedge portions of the ferrules being in generally facing relation to one another when the ferrules are in place on the seal element; and a tapered clamp disposed between the ferrules, the tapered clamp configured to engage the ferrule wedge portions as it is tightened and to urge the ferrules outwardly to compress the flange seals against their associated respective equipment item flanges.