Patent ID: 6039319
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
A flange joint and gasket for joining and sealing tube or pipe ends that define an axial flow passage there through, comprising:a first annular flange and a second annular flange, each of said flanges being at a respective one of the tube ends; said flanges having axially opposed end faces and adjacent radial end walls that define a circumferential groove when the joint is assembled;said groove having a first portion open to the flow passage of the tubes and having a second portion that extends radially outward from said groove first portion, said groove second portion being radially bounded by said radial end walls; anda polymeric gasket to seal the assembled joint to prevent loss of fluid from the flow passage of the tubes, said gasket having a gasket first portion that seals said groove first portion and having a gasket second portion that extends from said gasket first portion and into said groove second portion;said gasket first portion comprises a rib that is axially compressed when the joint is assembled, said rib when under compression in the assembled joint being radially displaced to form a subtatially flush bore line seal that is contiguous with interior surfaces of the tubes; andsaid gasket second portion being axially compressed when the joint is assembled and engaging with said radial end walls to produce a radial compression of said gasket; said gasket second portion having a volume that is less than volume of said groove second portion to provide an expansion space in said groove second portion when the joint is assembled.