A seal for use in a vacuum pump comprises a seal element positioned between inner and outer seal carriers located at the inner and outer surfaces of the seal element. Each of the seal element and carriers is substantially toroidal in shape. The outer carrier comprises retention means to hold the seal element in position. The inner carrier comprises at least one recess located in a surface adjacent to the seal element, and the seal element comprises at least one protrusion on an inner surface, which extends into the at least one recess of the inner carrier. A seal system comprises the described seal and first and second flanges. Methods for enhancing the chemical resistance of a seal system for use in a vacuum pump, and the use of the seal or seal system to connect pipework, are also provided.

A tubular structure includes at least one exterior tube and at least one interior tube, at least a portion of the interior tube is disposed within the exterior tube. The tubular structure further includes at least one expansion joint provided between the exterior tube and the interior tube and the expansion joint allows lateral expansion or contraction of the exterior tube and the interior tube and maintains a pressure within the exterior and the interior tubes.

A tubular structure includes at least one exterior tube and at least one interior tube, at least a portion of the interior tube is disposed within the exterior tube. The tubular structure further includes at least one expansion joint provided between the exterior tube and the interior tube and the expansion joint allows lateral expansion or contraction of the exterior tube and the interior tube and maintains a pressure within the exterior and the interior tubes.

A high capacity universal connector for use in connecting tubular members and a method for sealing the tubular members is provided. First and second tubular members are provided which each have ends that are brought into face-to-face engagement by a connector. A metal sealing element seals against conical surfaces at the ends of the first and second tubular members and enables the entire surface of the end of one tubular member to be bought into engagement with the surface of the end of the other tubular member so as to improve the bending and compression capacity of the assembly comprising the tubular members and the metal sealing element. A metal sealing ring for use in this assembly is also provided, along with a gasket retention assembly.

A high capacity universal connector for use in connecting tubular members and a method for sealing the tubular members is provided. First and second tubular members are provided which each have ends that are brought into face-to-face engagement by a connector. A metal sealing element seals against conical surfaces at the ends of the first and second tubular members and enables the entire surface of the end of one tubular member to be bought into engagement with the surface of the end of the other tubular member so as to improve the bending and compression capacity of the assembly comprising the tubular members and the metal sealing element. A metal sealing ring for use in this assembly is also provided, along with a gasket retention assembly.

A pipe coupling device includes a body configured to connect a first pipe segment to a second pipe segment, a sealing device carried by the body, and an activation unit. The sealing device includes a circumferential element including a first material and a peripheral element connected to an edge of the circumferential element and including a second material that is different from the first material. The activation unit is configured to adjust the sealing device to an activated state in which the sealing device extends radially from the body to form at least a portion of a seal with a pipe that surrounds the body, such that the seal fluidically isolates a first annular region between the first pipe segment and the pipe along a first side of the seal from a second annular region between the second pipe segment and the pipe along a second side of the seal.

A pipe coupling device includes a body configured to connect a first pipe segment to a second pipe segment, a sealing device carried by the body, and an activation unit. The sealing device includes a circumferential element including a first material and a peripheral element connected to an edge of the circumferential element and including a second material that is different from the first material. The activation unit is configured to adjust the sealing device to an activated state in which the sealing device extends radially from the body to form at least a portion of a seal with a pipe that surrounds the body, such that the seal fluidically isolates a first annular region between the first pipe segment and the pipe along a first side of the seal from a second annular region between the second pipe segment and the pipe along a second side of the seal.

A coupling manifold assembly has both regulated and unregulated flow orientations and includes a manifold body and a pressure regulator couplably received into the manifold body. The manifold body includes a pair of connection ports between which flow is movable through the manifold body, with the pressure regulator being received into a flow path between the connection ports. The pressure regulator is configured to regulate flow in a first direction between the connection ports and to allow for unregulated flow in an opposite second direction between the connection ports.

A coupling manifold assembly has both regulated and unregulated flow orientations and includes a manifold body and a pressure regulator couplably received into the manifold body. The manifold body includes a pair of connection ports between which flow is movable through the manifold body, with the pressure regulator being received into a flow path between the connection ports. The pressure regulator is configured to regulate flow in a first direction between the connection ports and to allow for unregulated flow in an opposite second direction between the connection ports.

The present disclosure provides a sealing apparatus for use in a hypertube, which includes a first tube, a second tube having one end connected to an end of the first tube, and a gasket including a seal made of a fiber structure formed with a space that is filled with a sealing fluid, wherein the gasket is configured to seal a space between the first tube and the second tube.