Coupling for double-walled tubes

A coupling comprising:

• a primary flange;
• a secondary flange;
• a support for coaxial flanges of a double-coaxial coupling, the support comprising a circular support structure;
• wherein the circular support structure comprises:
• a primary mounting zone for attaching a primary flange for connecting a primary outer tube;
• a secondary mounting zone for attaching a secondary flange for connecting a secondary inner tube coaxial to the primary outer tube;
• wherein the primary mounting zone and the secondary mounting zone are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction for centering the primary flange and the secondary flange in a radially spaced coaxial manner;
• wherein the primary mounting zone comprises an outer circumferential connection region with at least three mounting points for attaching the primary flange;
• wherein the secondary mounting zone comprises an inner circumferential connection region with at least three mounting points for attaching the secondary flange;
• wherein a thermal path within the circular support structure between a mounting point of the primary mounting zone and an adjacent spaced apart mounting point of the secondary mounting zone is longer than the distance between the two points;
• wherein the circular support structure comprises a U-shaped profile in an axial cross-section thereof,
• wherein legs of the U-shaped profile comprise sleeve structures;
• and
• wherein an apex of the U-shaped profile comprises a ring structure;
• wherein the support rigidly connects the primary flange and the secondary flange and centers the secondary flange and the primary flange in a radially spaced coaxial manner;
• and
• wherein the primary flange and the secondary flange respectively each comprises an axially facing flange side for a sealingly-tight coupling connection to a respective counterpart.

A method for providing a support for coaxial flanges of a double-coaxial coupling, comprising:

• providing a circular support structure;
• providing, at the circular support structure, a primary mounting zone for attaching a primary flange for connecting a primary outer tube;
• providing, at the circular support structure, a secondary mounting zone for attaching a secondary flange for connecting a secondary inner tube coaxial to the primary outer tube;
• wherein the primary mounting zone and the secondary mounting zone are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction for centering the primary flange and the secondary flange in a radially spaced coaxial manner;
• wherein the primary mounting zone provides an outer circumferential connection region with at least three mounting points for attaching the primary flange;
• wherein the secondary mounting zone provides an inner circumferential connection region with at least three mounting points for attaching the secondary flange;
• wherein a thermal path within the circular support structure between a mounting point of the primary mounting zone and an adjacent spaced apart mounting point of the secondary mounting zone is longer than the distance between the two points;
• wherein the primary mounting zone and the secondary mounting zone are provided by a plurality of at least three brackets, each bracket providing one of the at least three mounting points of the primary mounting zone and one of the at least three mounting points of the secondary mounting zone;
• and
• wherein the support further comprises a circumferential connector providing a common mount for the plurality of at least three brackets.