US 11,788,666 B2
Johnston coupling with additional vacuum enclosure
Holger Schulz, Hannover (DE); and Christian Frohne, Hannover (DE)
Assigned to NEXANS, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed by NEXANS, Courbevoie (FR)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/149,341.
Claims priority of application No. 20305040 (EP), filed on Jan. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0278028 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. F16L 59/14 (2006.01); F16L 59/18 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 59/141 (2013.01) [F16L 59/184 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plug-in coupling for connecting a first to a second double-walled, vacuum-insulated cryogenic line, each cryogenic line having media-conducting inner pipe wherein the plug-in coupling comprises:
a coupling plug and a coupling socket,
wherein the coupling plug has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a first connecting flange and is connected to the first cryogenic line,
wherein the coupling socket has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a second connecting flange and is connected to the second cryogenic line, wherein between the inner and the outer pipe piece of the coupling socket, there is formed an annular gap which is open in the region of the second connecting flange and which is surrounded both at its inner circumference and at its outer circumference by an insulating vacuum,
wherein the outer pipe piece of the coupling socket is welded to the second connecting flange and the end of the outer pipe piece remote from the second connecting flange is connected to one end of the inner pipe piece of the coupling socket in a vacuum-tight manner by means of a connecting ring,
wherein the other end of the inner pipe piece of the second connecting flange is welded to a seal holder,
wherein the media-carrying inner pipe of the second cryogenic line is welded to the seal holder, and
wherein the seal holder bears a seal, which in the assembled state of the plug-in coupling is in contact with the coupling plug and seals the media-carrying inner pipes of the first and second cryogenic lines, respectively.