Coupling system, kit, and method

1. A coupling system, comprising:

a first metallic bellows element having an outside diameter;

a fluid handling component; and

a hermaphroditic coupling assembly comprising first and second connectors wherein said first connector and said second connector have an outside diameter which is equal to or less than an outside diameter of the first metallic bellows element, and said first and second connectors mate together to releasably connect the first metallic bellows element to the fluid handling component.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hermaphroditic coupling assembly further comprises an attachment mechanism for maintaining a secure connection between the first metallic bellows element and the fluid handling component.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hermaphroditic coupling assembly further comprises a sealing structure positioned between the first metallic bellows element and the fluid handling component for maintaining a secure connection between the first metallic bellows element and the fluid handling component.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing structure is positioned to form a seal proximate an effective diameter of the first metallic bellows element.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing structure is an elastomeric seal.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sealing structure is an O-ring.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first connector is attached to the first metallic bellows element and said second connector is attached to the fluid handling component, the first and second connectors alignable with each other to form a locking space.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the hermaphroditic coupling assembly further comprises a locking member sized to fill the locking space.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid handling component is a second metallic bellows element.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid handling component is a machined coupling.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector has a first plurality of spaced fingers extending therefrom and the second connector has a second plurality of spaced fingers extending therefrom, the first plurality of spaced fingers adapted to interlock with the second plurality of spaced fingers to form a locking groove.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the hermaphroditic coupling assembly further comprises a locking ring sized to occupy the locking groove.

13. A kit for connecting a metallic bellows element to a fluid handling component, comprising:

a first connector having an outer diameter that is equal to or less than an outer diameter of said metallic bellows;

a second connector substantially identical to the first and releasably matable to the first connector;

an elastomeric seal adapted to be inserted between the mated first and second connectors; and

a flange lock retainer for maintaining releasable matability between the first and second connectors.

14. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising at least one metallic bellows element.

15. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising at least one fluid handling system component.

16. A method for coupling a metallic bellows to a fluid handling component, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first flange and a second flange, the first flange and the second flange being substantially identical and able to be locked together;

(b) fixing the first flange to the metallic bellows;

(c) fixing the second flange to the fluid handling component;

(d) positioning a sealing structure between the first flange and the second flange;

(d) mating the first flange and the second flange together to form a seal between the first flange and the sealing structure and the second flange, a portion of the first flange and the second flange defining a locking groove; and

(e) releasably inserting a flange lock retainer into the locking groove to maintain the seal formed in step (d).