Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a ceiling terminating gas line to an item of equipment at floor level, which includes, a tubular outer member having a gas inlet end for connection to the ceiling outlet and a gas outlet end, a tubular piston rod, of substantially the same length as the outer tube, telescopically mounted in the outer tube with one end extending from the outlet end of the outer tube and having an internal diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter in the outer tube, an annular piston mounted on the opposite end of the piston rod in the annular space between the piston rod and the outer tube which presents an annular piston surface to the opening of the gas inlet end of the outer tube and a spring mounted in the annular space between the piston rod and the outer tube having a biasing force greater than the force exerted on the piston by the gas entering the inlet end of the outer tube so that the piston is normally urged toward the inlet end of the outer tube when the apparatus is connect