Abstract: A bundle of tubular pipes 1 is assembled by laying a first bed of p pipes on lateral support beams 2, banding it to the beams, placing key blocks 4 between at least the two outermost pipes on each side of the bed, laying a second bed of p pipes on top the first in vertical columns, clamping the ends of the two outermost pipes on each side of the second bed together, laying an upper bed of p-1 pipes on top the second bed in a staggered manner, and strapping the bundle near its ends.

Abstract: A male end is inserted in a socket with radial clearance. An annular elastically yieldable sealing element has an outer heel portion disposed in an inner groove in the socket. A single lip portion on the sealing element extends inwardly of the socket and has a radially inner end which grips the male end. The heel portion has, at rest, an axial dimension which is of the same order of magnitude as its radial dimension and exceeds the axial dimension of the groove. The axial dimension of the groove is greater than the greatest radial space between the male end and the edge of the groove adjacent the entrance of the socket.