WHAT JOINING METHOD FOR THE NEW-GENERATION OF ACCELERATORS (SSC AND LHC)

More than 8600 Superconducting magnets will equip the SSC (Superconduc ting Super Collider) accelerator and about 3000 will be used for the L HC (Large Hadron Collider) Those magnets require a specific piping sys tem with about 10 different lines ranging in diameter from 43 to 150 m m which are meant to provide ultra high vacuum and helium cooling down to 1.8 K. One of the joining methods unde, consideration is welding. We have developed another solution which allows a quick and ultra clea n joining method, using a chain-clamp on tapered flanges sealed with a HELICOFLEX(R) resilient metal seal.