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A fluid-tight sealing apparatus with a protective liner for sealing a pair of tubes having high temperature and pressure fluid flowing therethrough. The apparatus comprises an inner tubular surface coupled to the first tube and a sealing assembly coupled to the second tube and receivable in the inne

A fluid-tight sealing apparatus with a protective liner for sealing a pair of tubes having high temperature and pressure fluid flowing therethrough. The apparatus comprises an inner tubular surface coupled to the first tube and a sealing assembly coupled to the second tube and receivable in the inner tubular surface in an interference fit. The sealing assembly comprises a metallic, annular resilient sealing member and a rigid protective liner located inside and substantially concentric to the sealing member but spaced inwardly therefrom for limiting radially inward deformation of the sealing member to prevent plastic deformation thereof.

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1. In a fluid-tight sealing apparatus for sealing a pair of tubes, the first tube having an inner tubular surface and the second tube having a metallic, resilient annular sealing member extending therefrom, the sealing member comprising a ring portion having a curved outer surface for engagement wit

1. In a fluid-tight sealing apparatus for sealing a pair of tubes, the first tube having an inner tubular surface and the second tube having a metallic, resilient annular sealing member extending therefrom, the sealing member comprising a ring portion having a curved outer surface for engagement with the inner tubular surface, the curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of the inner surface to provide an interference fit between the curved outer surface and the inner tubular surface, the improvement comprising: rigid means, coupled to said sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said ring portion having a curved cross section in the axial direction, which cross section is concave in the radially inwardly facing direction, said rigid means having an outer surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction and is convex in the radially outwardly facing direction. 2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said rigid means comprises an annular liner. 3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said annular liner has an inner surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction. 4. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said annular liner forms a portion of a sphere. 5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said ring portion extends to the distal end of said sealing member, and said rigid means extends past said ring portion. 6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said sealing member further comprises an annular portion extending from and coupled to said ring portion, and said rigid means comprises an annular liner and an annular support extending from and coupled to said annular liner, said annular support being located inside said annular portion. 7. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said annular portion is substantially cylindrical, and said annular support is substantially cylindrical. 8. The improvement according to claim 7, wherein said annular liner forms a portion of a sphere. 9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface has a curved cross section in the axial direction. 10. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface is substantially cylindrical. 11. In a fluid-tight sealing apparatus for sealing a pair of tubes, the first tube having an inner tubular surface and the second tube having a metallic, resilient annular sealing member extending therefrom, the sealing member comprising a ring portion having a curved outer surface for engagement with the inner tubular surface, the curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of the inner surface to provide an interference fit between the curved outer surface and the inner tubular surface, the improvement comprising: rigid means, coupled to said sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said ring portion forming a portion of a first sphere, and said rigid means comprising an annular liner forming a portion of a second sphere, said first and second spheres having a common center point, the radius of the first sphere being larger than the radius of the second sphere. 12. A fluid-tight sealing apparatus for coupling first and second pipes, the combination comprising: an outer shell; a first tubular member, having a first inner tubular surface, rigidly coupled inside said outer shell; a second tubular member, having a second inner tubular surface, rigidly coupled inside said outer shell; a first sealing assembly coupled to the first pipe; said first sealing assembly comprising a first metallic, resilient annular sealing member having a first ring portion with a first curved outer surface for engaging said first inner tubular surface, said first curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of said first inner surface to provide an interference fit between said first curved outer surface and said first inner surface, and first rigid means, coupled to said first sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said first ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said first ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said first ring portion having a curved cross section in the axial direction, which cross section is concave in the radially inwardly facing direction, said first rigid means having an outer surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction and is convex in the radially outwardly facing direction, and a second sealing assembly coupled to the second pipe, said second sealing assembly comprising a second metallic, resilient annular sealing member having a second ring portion with a second curved outer surface for engaging said second inner tubular surface, said second curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of said second inner surface to provide an interference fit between said second curved outer surface and said second inner surface, and second rigid means, coupled to said second sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said second ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said second ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said second ring portion having a curved cross section in the axial direction, which cross section is concave in the radially inwardly facing direction, said second rigid means having an outer surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction and is convex in the radially outwardly facing direction. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second rigid means comprises an annular liner. 14. A fluid-tight sealing apparatus for coupling first and second pipes, the combination comprising: a first annular flange coupled to the first pipe and having a first inner tubular surface rigidly located therein; a second annular flange coupled to the second pipe and having a second inner tubular surface rigidly located therein; a first sealing assembly comprising a first metallic, resilient annular sealing member having a first ring portion with a first curved outer surface for engaging said first inner tubular surface, said first curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of said first inner surface to provide an interference fit between said first curved outer surface and said first inner surface, and first rigid means, coupled to said first sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said first ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said first ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said first ring portion having a curved cross section in the axial direction, which cross section is concave in the radially inwardly facing direction, said first rigid means having an outer surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction and is convex in the radially outwardly facing direction; a second sealing assembly comprising a second metallic, resilient annular sealing member having a second ring portion with a second curved outer surface for engaging said second inner tubular surface, said second curved outer surface having a free maximum radius greater than the largest radius of said second inner surface to provide an interference fit between said second curved outer surface and said second inner surface, and second rigid means, coupled to said second sealing member and located inside and substantially concentric to said second ring portion but spaced inwardly therefrom, for limiting radially inward deformation of said second ring portion to prevent plastic deformation thereof, said second ring portion having a curved cross section in the axial direction, which cross section is concave in the radially inwardly facing direction, said second rigid means having an outer surface which has a curved cross section in the axial direction and is convex in the radially outwardly facing direction, and means for coupling said first and second sealing assemblies together for fluid flow therebetween. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said first and second rigid means comprises an annular liner.