Removable end plug

• US 20070044655A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polygon Company
• Original Assignee: Polygon Company
• Inventors: Fish, Elson
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 92/169.100
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/1438 Cylinder to end cap assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 10/00 Engine or like cylinders pressure vessels in general F16J12/00; cylinders for engines or other apparatus of particular kinds, see the appropriate subclasses, e.g. for combustion engines F02F; Features of hollow, e.g. cylindrical, bodies in general

Abstract

A pressure assembly including a cylinder, an end plug and a split ring band. The cylinder has an end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The end plug is inserted into the end of the cylinder, the end plug having an outer surface that is in partial contact with the inner surface of the cylinder. The split ring band is in contact with the outer surface of the cylinder, the split ring band being secured to the cylinder and to the end plug.

Claims

1. A pressure assembly, comprising:

a cylinder having an end, an inner surface and an outer surface;

an end plug inserted into said end of said cylinder, said end plug having an outer surface that is in partial contact with said inner surface of said cylinder; and

a split ring band in contact with said outer surface of said cylinder, said split ring band being secured to said cylinder and to said end plug.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said cylinder is a reinforced polymeric composite cylinder including a reduced diameter portion on said outer surface to accommodate said split ring band.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said split ring band is at least partially disposed in said reduced diameter portion.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said split ring band substantially fills said reduced diameter portion.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said split ring band includes a plurality of holes therethrough, said cylinder having a plurality of holes therethrough, said holes of said split ring band being spaced similar to a spacing of said holes in said cylinder.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said cylinder includes an annular groove to accommodate positioning of said split ring band therein.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said end plug includes a plurality of blind holes therein which substantially align with said plurality of holes in said cylinder.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of fasteners that utilize said holes in said band, said holes in said cylinder and said blind holes of said end plug to secure said band to said end plug.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an other end plug; and

an other split ring band, wherein said cylinder has an other end into which said other end plug is inserted, said other split ring band being in contact with said outer surface of said cylinder, said other split ring band being secured to said cylinder and to said other end plug.

10. A fluid tight end of a cylinder assembly, comprising:

a tube having an inner shaped surface and an outer surface;

a plug having an outer surface shaped to compliment said inner shaped surface, said plug being place in at least partial contact with said inner shaped surface; and

a band positioned on said outer surface of said tube, said band being secured to said outer surface of said tube and to said plug.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said tube being a reinforced polymeric composite tube including a reduced diameter portion on said outer surface to accommodate said band.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said band is at least partially disposed in said reduced diameter portion.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said band substantially fills said reduced diameter portion.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said band includes a plurality of holes therethrough, said tube having a plurality of holes therethrough, said holes of said band being spaced similar to a spacing of said holes in said tube.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said tube includes an annular groove to accommodate positioning of said band therein.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said plug includes a plurality of blind holes therein which substantially align with said plurality of holes in said tube.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of fasteners that utilize said holes in said band, said holes in said tube and said blind holes of said plug to secure said band to said end plug.

18. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

an other plug; and

an other band, wherein said tube has an other end into which said other plug is inserted, said other band being in contact with said outer surface of said tube, said other split ring band being secured to said tube and to said other end plug.

19. A method of assembling a pressure assembly, comprising the steps of:

inserting an end plug into an end of a hollow cylinder;

positioning a band at least partially around an outer surface of said cylinder; and

fastening said band to said end plug.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said positioning step includes positioning said band in an annular groove in said cylinder.