Importance

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Abstract

A tube or pipe coupling joint structure comprises a pair of spaced flange members adapted for relative movement toward each other along a longitudinal axis. Each of the flange members has a face surface which is generally a surface of revolution about the longitudinal axis with the face surfaces on the respective flange members being located in opposed relationship to each other. A relatively smooth thin metal gasket is positioned between the opposed face surfaces of the flange members and each of the face surfaces comprises a sealing protrusion and a stop surface for limiting penetration of the sealing protrusion into the gasket. Moreover, each sealing protrusion is a circumferentially continuous flat and polished narrow sealing band of narrow width lying in a plane which is normal or deviates from normal to the longitudinal axis by no more than about 1 to 3 degrees. Each stop surface lies radially outward of the associated sealing band and is inclined at an angle in the range of 3 to 15 degrees relative to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis. The radially innermost portion of each stop surface is circumferentially continuous and is located axially behind the plane of the associated sealing band a predetermined distance.

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First Claim