Joint for connecting two tubes in a high-temperature environment
A joint for connecting two tubes. The joint includes a first tube that provides a ball interface at its end. The joint also includes a second tube that provides a cup interface inside its wall. The cup interface of the second tube and the ball interface of the first tube form a cup-ball interface. This cup-ball interface is located in the interior of the second tube.
1. A joint for connecting a first tube and a second tube, the joint comprising:
a. the first tube being located within the second tube, the first tube having a ball interface, the ball interface being present at an end of the first tube; and
b. the second tube having a cup interface, the cup interface being present in a wall of the second tube, the cup interface of the second tube mating with the ball interface of the first tube and forming a cup-ball interface, wherein the cup-ball interface is located in the interior of the second tube; and
c. a gas seal provided at the cup-ball interface, the gas seal comprising a gas feed/discharge channel, one end of the gas feed/discharge channel configured to be connected to a circumferential groove at the cup-ball interface and the other end configured to be connected to one of an inert gas source and a vacuum source, the inert gas source and the vacuum source configured to maintain respectively super atmospheric and sub atmospheric pressure conditions at the cup-ball interface.
2. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, silicon carbide, silicon, and aluminum oxide.
3. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the second tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, silicon carbide, silicon, and aluminum oxide.
4. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the second tube comprises a process tube and a support tube, the support tube supporting the process tube, the support tube providing the cup interface.
5. The joint of claim 4 , wherein the support tube is made of a material comprising quartz.
6. The joint of claim 4 , wherein the process tube is made of a material comprising silicon carbide.
7. The joint of claim 1 further comprising a clamp, the clamp being provided to maintain the cup interface and the ball interface in a fixed, contacting position relative to each other.
8. The joint of claim 7 , wherein the clamp comprises a spring, the spring biasing the cup-ball interface into the contacting position.
9. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is a gas injector tube.
10. The joint of claim 1 , wherein the first tube is a thermocouple tube.
11. A joint for connecting a first tube and a second tube, the joint comprising:
a. the first tube_being located within the second tube, the first tube having a ball interface, the ball interface being present at an end of the first tube;
b. the second tube comprising a process tube and a support tube, the support tube supporting the process tube, a cup interface being present in a wall of the support tube, the cup interface of the support tube mating with the ball interface of the first tube and forming a cup-ball interface, wherein the cup-ball interface is located in the interior of the support tube; and
c. a gas seal provided at the cup-ball interface, the gas seal comprising a gas feed/discharge channel, one end of the gas feed/discharge channel configured to be connected to a circumferential groove at the cup-ball interface and the other end configured to be connected to one of an inert gas source and a vacuum source, the inert gas source and the vacuum source configured to maintain respectively super atmospheric and sub atmospheric pressure conditions at the cup-ball interface.
12. The joint of claim 11 , wherein the first tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, silicon carbide, silicon, and aluminum oxide.
13. The joint of claim 11 , wherein the second tube is made of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, silicon carbide, silicon, and aluminum oxide.
14. The joint of claim 11 , wherein the support tube is made of a material comprising quartz.
15. The joint of claim 11 further comprising a clamp, the clamp being provided to maintain the cup interface and the ball interface in a fixed, contacting position relative to each other.
16. The joint of claim 15 , wherein the clamp comprises a spring, the spring biasing the cup-ball interface into the contacting position.