Gas shroud

In the combination of shrouding apparatus for establishing and maintaining a protective gaseous atmosphere around a liquid stream during its transfer between distribution means comprising a first container having a liquid exit opening for passing the liquid stream through said shrouding apparatus and into collection means comprising a second container having a liquid entry opening, wherein the improvement comprises:

• shrouding apparatus comprising
• a. a shroud head having an open-ended tubular member positioned between said first and second containers without contacting said first and second containers and a second tubular member having an open end and its other end connected with said first tubular member so as to form an interconnecting passageway for the passage of a protective gas between said tubular members;
• b. an end member releasably connected to and in substantially sealed relationship with the open end of said second tubular member, said end member supported by and connected to linkage positioning means comprising at least two pivot points for positioning said shroud head between said first and second containers;
• and
• c. gas delivery means for passing a protective gas into and through said end member and, thereafter, through said second and first tubular members so as to cause the protective gas to exit from the open ends of said first tubular member.