Patent ID: 7887101
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. A joint for connecting a first tube and a second tube, the joint comprising: a. the first tube being located within the second tube, the first tube having a ball interface, the ball interface being present at an end of the first tube; and b. the second tube having a cup interface, the cup interface being present in a wall of the second tube, the cup interface of the second tube mating with the ball interface of the first tube and forming a cup-ball interface, wherein the cup-ball interface is located in the interior of the second tube; and c. a gas seal provided at the cup-ball interface, the gas seal comprising a gas feed/discharge channel, one end of the gas feed/discharge channel configured to be connected to a circumferential groove at the cup-ball interface and the other end configured to be connected to one of an inert gas source and a vacuum source, the inert gas source and the vacuum source configured to maintain respectively super atmospheric and sub atmospheric pressure conditions at the cup-ball interface.