RELEASABLE, HIGH-PRESSURE SEAL AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME

摘要

A releasable, high-pressure seal is formed between axially aligned conduits each fitted with an end flange. One of the end flanges is relatively rigid. The other end flange is relatively resilient and slightly frustoconically shaped. The periphery of the resilient flange is connected to its associated conduit. A seal ring is disposed between the two flanges in proximity of the opening through the flanges. Fluid pressure applied to the inside of the resilient flange biases that flange towards the rigid flange because the portion of the former radially outward of the seal ring is subjected to ambient pressure only. In this manner the sealing force applied against the seal ring is increased proportionally to the fluid pressure interiorly of the conduits. A pair of opposing, inner conduits are rigidly secured to the respective outer conduits and they protrude past the outer conduits. They engage each other first when the conduit sets are axially moved towards each other so that the inner conduits act as a centering device. A seal is placed between ends of the inner conduits and the conduit sets are secured to each other with a peripheral clamp engaging opposing peripheral collars of the outer conduits.