Patent ID: 9091379
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a hollow connecting sleeve connecting a hollow first tube to a hollow second tube, said hollow connecting sleeve having an internal surface that extends from a first hollow sleeve terminal end to a second hollow sleeve terminal end, all of said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve being free of threads and being a single right circular cylindrical surface, portions of said first tube and said second tube being positioned within said hollow connecting sleeve along said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve, said first tube having a first tube terminal end positioned within said hollow connecting sleeve, said second tube having a second tube terminal end positioned within said hollow connecting sleeve, said first tube being movable within a first gap between said first tube and said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve, said first gap extending from said first hollow sleeve terminal end to said first tube terminal end, said second tube being movable within a second gap between said second tube and said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve, said second gap extending from said second hollow sleeve terminal end to said second tube terminal end, all of said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve being free of threads allowing said first tube and said second tube to be slidable within said hollow connecting sleeve in a linear direction parallel to said internal surface of said hollow connecting sleeve to adjust a position of said first tube relative to said second tube, said second tube comprising internal screw threads, and said first gap and said second gap allowing unobstructive air and fluid leaks; a hollow connecting tube connected to an internal surface of said second tube and positioned within said first tube, said hollow connecting tube comprising a first end having external screw threads engaged with said internal screw threads of said second tube; an O-ring located on an external portion of a second end of said hollow connecting tube opposite said first end, said second end of said hollow connecting tube being positioned within said first tube such that said O-ring contacts an internal surface of said first tube, said O-ring sealing a third gap between said external portion of said hollow connecting tube and said internal surface of said first tube, and said first tube, said hollow connecting tube, said O-ring, and said second tube forming a continuous, airtight, sealed passage; and adjustable fasteners extending through said hollow connecting sleeve to exterior surfaces of said first tube and said second tube, said adjustable fasteners temporarily maintaining said first tube and said second tube in fixed positions relative to said hollow connecting sleeve after said position of said first tube relative to said second tube has been adjusted.