Piping connection device

An apparatus for heat-treating a plurality of objects, said apparatus comprising:

• means defining a reaction tube;
• means for externally heating said reaction tube;
• means for conveying objects into said reaction tube;
• quartz glass pipe means for feeding and exhausting treatment fluid to and from said reaction tube, said pipe means comprising at least a first pipe portion and a second pipe portion;
• and
• pipe connection means provided between said first pipe portion and second pipe portion to form a substantially hemispherical seal therebetween;
• said pipe connection means including:
• a convex quartz glass connecting element integrally coupled with an end portion of one of said pipe portions, said convex connecting element having a spherical, convex sealing surface remote from a first location where said convex element and said one pipe portion are integrally coupled, said convex connecting element having a substantially spherical outer engaging surface located between said convex sealing surface and said first location;
• a concave quartz glass connecting element integrally coupled to an end portion of the other of said pipe portions, said concave connecting element having a spherical concave sealing surface which is slidable when in sealing contact with said convex sealing surface to form said hemispherical seal, said concave connecting element having a substantially spherical outer engaging surface near a second location where said concave element is integrally coupled with said other pipe portion;
• a resilient sealing ring disposed between said convex and concave sealing surfaces near an outermost portion of said hemispherical seal and;
• presser means for urging said convex and said concave sealing surfaces against each other to establish said sealing contact between said sealing surfaces, said presser means comprising a first presser member locatable about said one pipe portion to engage said first outer engaging surface, a second presser member locatable about said other pipe portion to engage said second outer engaging surface, fastening means for fastening said presser members together, and resilient means interposed between at least one of said presser members and a portion of said fastening means, said fastening means and said resilient means urging said first and second presser members toward each other so as to urge said convex and concave sealing surfaces against each other.