GB1034671A - Liquefied gas transfer line - Google Patents

Abstract

1,034,671. Pipe couplings. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. Jan. 15, 1963 [Jan. 23, 1962; June 22, 1962], No. 1816/63. Headings F2G and F2P. A liquid gas transfer line includes a plurality of elements interconnected in sealed fashion and each of the elements possesses an individual static vacuum constituted by an annular sealed enclosure the volume of which is variable. The elements may be straight through or branched. Each individual element in the case of a straightthrough type comprises an inner tube 9 attached to each end connection 6, 4 of the outer easing 1 by an expansion bellows 11 and a tube 7, and a component 13 and a tube 14 respectively. The joints between the parts are effected by welding. The space formed between the inner tube and the outer casing is provided with spacing rings 18, tablets of live charcoal 19 and screens of aluminium foil 20, the charcoal to maintain the vacuum and the foil to prevent radiation losses. Two elements are coupled by sliding tube 14 within tube 7, these tubes 7, 14 forming an interference fit, and screwing a ring 21 into the female cap 4, a P.T.F.E. sealing ring 22 being compressed therebetween to provide a fluid light seal. The elements may also be constructed as elbows (Fig. 3, not shown). In the modification of Fig. 4, not shown, parts of a branch pipe are welded into the casing and inner tube respectively, the cylindrical expansion bellows in this construction being connected to and extending outwardly from the inner tube. The adjacent ends of two elements may be connected together but spaced apart by a spacer 61 (Fig. 5a, not shown) extending between an end cap 51 of one element and a substantially similar end cap 52 of the other element (Fig. 5b, not shown). The spacer is attached to the end cap 51 by screw-threaded members 52, 62 and sealed by a ring 55 seated in a groove of the end cap. The other end of the spacer is connected to the other end cap 52 by a screw-threaded member of similar construction to member 53, the member being locked by a nut, and sealed by a ring seated in a groove of the end cap. In a modification (Fig. 6a, not shown) the spacer is provided by a plurality of rods 74. The rods at one end clamp two flanges 66, 70 about the end cap 63, the flange 70 also co-operating with a sealing and thrust ring assembly 68, 69. At their other ends the rods 74 are threaded and held in a flange of the other end cap, the flange being held in position by a keyed washer (Fig. 6b, not shown).