Vibration decoupling exhaust connector

A flexible connector apparatus, for flexibly connecting first and second components of a fluid conduit system, such as an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• an attachment flange, having an aperture therethrough having an inside diameter, the attachment flange having first and second sides;
• at least one attachment element disposed on the attachment flange to enable attachment of the attachment flange to one of the first and second components of a fluid conduit system, by means for prompting the second side of the attachment toward against a surface of the one of the first and second components of a fluid conduit system;
• a liner tube assembly having a first end and a second, opposite end, the first end having an outer diameter that is substantially equal, in dimension, to the inside diameter of the aperture of the attachment flange,
• the first end of the liner tube assembly being positioned within and substantially sealingly affixed to the inside surface of the aperture of the attachment flange at the first side of the attachment flange,
• the liner tube assembly being operably configured to accommodate relative movement between the first and second components of a fluid conduit system, when the apparatus is affixed to the one of first and second components of a fluid conduit system;
• a tubular sealing member, having at least one circumferential corrugation along its length, and a cylindrical collar,
• the cylindrical collar of the tubular sealing member being positioned within the second side of the attachment flange, within the aperture of the attachment flange, the at least one circumferential corrugation being placed adjacent the second side of the attachment flange,
• whereupon attachment of the attachment flange to the one of the first and second components of a fluid conduit system, the at least one corrugation of the sealing tube member becomes captured and subsequently compressed between the second side of the attachment flange and the surface of the one of the first and second components of a fluid conduit system, to create a substantially gas-tight seal between each of the at least one corrugation, the one of the first and second components of a fluid conduit system, and the attachment flange,
• the seal created by the tubular sealing member combining with the seal between the liner tube assembly and the attachment flange combining to enable the flexible connector apparatus to establish a substantially gas-tight fluid transport path between the first and second components of a fluid conduit system.