A vacuum pump comprises an inlet flange for connecting to a vacuum chamber, where the inlet flange comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of protruding fixing elements extending from the vacuum chamber. The protruding fixing elements comprise an enlarged retaining portion at an end remote from the vacuum chamber and a fastener receiving portion having at least one radial dimension that is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the enlarged retaining portion. A fastening mechanism is provided that comprises a plurality of slots each extending from a same side of a plurality of apertures. The fastening mechanism is configured to be rotatable between a mounting position in which the apertures are aligned with the protruding fixing elements and a sealing position in which the slots are aligned with the protruding fixing elements.

A connection element for connecting lines for conducting a fluid, in particular of a fluid circuit of an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, is based on the object of specifying a connection element which has high rigidity and low weight and which allows a fluid-tight connection with low production costs. This object is achieved in that the connection element has an attachment means and a connection means, wherein the connection means is arranged in a recess in the attachment means.

A method is described for fastening coupling means to respective ends (25,26) of pipes (10, 12) that are to be joined together, comprising a pair of mutually axially telescopic conical casings (18,22) that are inserted, one on each pipe end, as the conical casing pair are mutually pushed together with the help of respective tightening bodies (14, 16) so that the radially outer casing (18) squeezes the inner casing (22) into a fastening against the surface of the pipe (10, 12) and joins the pipe ends together, so that a tight joining together is achieved between the ends (25,26) of the pipes (10, 12) and it is characterised in that an inner conical casing (22) is used which is divided into a number of sections of axially directed slits (30) through the wall of the casing, said slits (30) contribute to the inner casing being able to be forced radially inwards during the simultaneous closing of the slits (30) and so that the inside of the inner conical casing is forced into a fastening against the surface of the pipe during the mutual pushing together of the casings. A coupling construction and an application of this are also described.

A split retaining ring for a connection assembly adapted for connecting an instrument or other device to a vessel, such as a pressure vessel. The connection assembly includes a base, an instrument or device, and a split retaining ring wherein the split retaining ring includes overlapping end portions. The split retaining ring also includes an annular rib adapted for engaging a ferrule of the instrument or device in order to substantially sealing engage the instrument or device to the base.

An assembly may include first and second components and a service flange. The first component has a first opening. The second component has a second opening in communication with the first opening. The service flange may be mounted to the first component such that the first component is disposed between the service flange and the second component. The service flange extends around the periphery of the first opening and may include a plurality of separate and discrete segments that are individually secured to the first component. Adjacent segments define joints that movably connect the segments together while allowing for relative movement between the segments before the first component is secured to the second component. The segments include mounting apertures spaced apart from the joints and receiving fasteners configured to fixedly secure the first component to the second component. Each fastener only engages a single segment of the service flange.

An assembly may include first and second components and a service flange. The first component has a first opening. The second component has a second opening in communication with the first opening. The service flange may be mounted to the first component such that the first component is disposed between the service flange and the second component. The service flange extends around the periphery of the first opening and may include a plurality of separate and discrete segments that are individually secured to the first component. Adjacent segments define joints that movably connect the segments together while allowing for relative movement between the segments before the first component is secured to the second component. The segments include mounting apertures spaced apart from the joints and receiving fasteners configured to fixedly secure the first component to the second component. Each fastener only engages a single segment of the service flange.

A flange fixing structure is provided that fixes flange parts respectively provided to two pipe conduits by means of a fixture in a butting manner via a gasket. In this flange fixing structure, when an effective length of the fixture is denoted by L.sub.0, a linear expansion coefficient of the fixture is denoted by .sub.0, thicknesses of n (where n is an integer of 1 or more) members held by the fixture are respectively denoted by t.sub.1 to t.sub.n, and linear expansion coefficients of the n members are respectively denoted by .sub.1 to .sub.n, a product L.sub.0.sub.0 of the effective length L.sub.0 of the fixture and the linear expansion coefficient .sub.0 of the fixture is substantially equal to a sum t.sub.i.sub.i (i=1 to n) of products of the respective thicknesses t.sub.1 to t.sub.n and the respective linear expansion coefficients .sub.1 to .sub.n.

The present invention provides a tube with coupling according to which liquid leakage and the like can be suppressed as much as possible when couplings are connected. A tube with coupling 10 according to the present invention is a tube with coupling 10 obtained by forming a coupling 30 on a leading end portion 22 of a tube 20 through injection molding, and the leading end portion 22 of the tube 20 is arranged at a position set back from a leading end portion 32 of the coupling 30, at least a portion of the leading end portion 22 of the tube 20 being covered by the coupling 30. It is desirable that a flange 36 is provided so as to protrude outward at a position set back from the leading end portion 32 of the coupling 30 and the leading end portion 22 of the tube 20 is arranged at a position set further back from the flange 36.

A cut-in fitting has a flange hub, a flange ring, a central body, a first gasket, a second gasket, a split flange hub, a split flange ring and a band clamp.

A device for connecting a pump body to a pipe of a hydraulic system, which comprises a planar flange having a thread on the inside diameter for its coupling to a tubular intake portion or delivery portion of the pump body, which is threaded complementarily on its outside diameter.