Length-adjustable pressure-retaining piping components

A device, comprising:

• a first pressure component;
• a second pressure component;
• a movable sealing component axially movable relative to said first and second pressure components, wherein said movable sealing component is positioned between said first and second pressure components and adapted to affect a pressure-tight seal between a circumferential surface of said first pressure component and a radial surface of said second pressure component;
• and
• a means for moving said movable sealing component relative to said first and second pressure components.

A length-adjustable pressure-retaining device, comprising:

• a first pressure component;
• a spacer ring operatively coupled to said first pressure component and adapted to adjust an overall combined length of said first pressure component and said spacer ring by moving relative to an end of said first pressure component and a face of a second pressure component positioned adjacent thereto, said spacer ring being further adapted to transfer a load used for fixedly attaching said first pressure component to said second pressure component between said first and second pressure components;
• and
• a movable sealing element adapted to move relative to said end of said first pressure component and a sealing surface of said second pressure component, said movable sealing element being further adapted to provide a pressure-tight seal between said first and second pressure components.

A length-adjustable pressure assembly, comprising:

• a first pressure-retaining component comprising first and second ends, wherein said first end is adapted to sealingly engage a first sealing surface of a first mating pressure part;
• a second pressure-retaining component adapted to sealingly engage said second end of said first pressure-retaining component and a second sealing surface of a second mating pressure part, wherein a distance between said first sealing surface and said second sealing surface is greater than said first overall length;
• and
• a spacer ring adapted to adjust an overall combined length of said first pressure-retaining component and said spacer ring between at least a first overall length that is less than said distance between said first and second sealing surfaces, and a second overall length that is substantially the same as said distance between said first and second sealing surfaces.

A valve assembly adapted to permit fluid communication between a first piping component and a second piping component, comprising:

• a valve having a first length;
• a first split body assembly comprising means for sealingly engaging an opening in said first piping component and means for sealingly engaging a first end of said valve;
• a second split body assembly comprising means for sealingly engaging an opening in said second piping component and means for sealingly engaging a second end of said valve, wherein a distance from a first sealing surface of said first split body assembly to a second sealing surface of said second split body assembly is greater than said first length of said valve;
• and
• means for adjusting a length of said valve from at least said first length to at least a second length greater than said first length, wherein said second length is substantially the same as said distance from said first sealing surface to said second sealing surface.

A method of adjusting a length of a pressure-retaining component, comprising:

• positioning a movably adjustable sealing element at a first end of said pressure-retaining component;
• operatively coupling a length-adjustable spacer ring to said first end of said pressure-retaining component;
• positioning said first end of said pressure-retaining component adjacent a sealing surface of a first mating pressure component, wherein a first sealing surface of said movably adjustable sealing element is a first axial distance from said sealing surface of said first mating pressure component, and a face of said length-adjustable spacer ring is a second axial distance from said sealing surface of said first mating pressure component;
• and
• movably adjusting a length of said length-adjustable spacer ring relative to said first end of said pressure-retaining component until said face of said length-adjustable spacer ring contacts a contact surface of said first mating pressure component.