Mechanical leak-proof coupling

摘要

In order to provide a leak-proof coupling (22) for a gas-carrying pipe having two pipe sections (24,26) that are relatively movable, the coupling (22) includes a first pipe section (24) and a second pipe section (26) that have respective coupling ends (24b,26a) disposed in closely spaced adjacent relation to define a gap (32) therebetween. The first pipe section (24) has an upstream end (24a) in communication with a source of a pressurized gas (16) and a first coupling end (24b) remote therefrom such that the upstream end (24a) receives the pressurized gas from the source (16) and the gas then flows through the first pipe section (24) from the upstream end (24a) to the first coupling end (24b) for discharge therefrom. The second pipe section (26) has a second coupling end (26a) in communication with the first coupling end (24a) and receives the pressurized gas from the first pipe section (24) and the gas then flows through the second pipe section (26) from the second coupling end (26a) to the downstream end (26b) for discharge therefrom. Additionally, the coupling (22) includes structure for providing a positive pressure differential in the region of the first and second coupling ends (24b,26a) externally of the first and second pipe sections (24,26) to prevent pressurized gas from being able to escape through the gap (32).