The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 1991
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1989
Robert M Schurter, Elm Grove, WI (US);
Robert H Palmerton, New Dundee, CA;
A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
A pressure vessel (10) has partially telescoped upper and lower shells (12, 14), a diaphragm (20a) with a peripheral edge (26) trapped and sealed between the shells (12, 14), and compression structure (50, 52) on the inner side (44a) of the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (20a) reducing the amount of diaphragm material requiring compression and also increasing the compression of the bulge (42) of the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (20a) in the bulge (34) of the upper wall section (18) of the lower shell (14) to enhance the seal thereat. The compression structure includes one or more internal ribs (50, 52) on the inner side (44a) of the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (20a) such that the inner cylindrical wall portion (38) of the lower wall section (16) of the upper shell (12) compresses the internal ribs (50, 52) and subjects the bulge (42) of the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (20a) to a direct force to provide the noted increased compression of the bulge (42) of the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (20a), and such that the inner cylindrical wall portion (38) of the lower wall section (16) of the upper shell (12) engages and compresses the first rib (50) to apply a radial outward force compressing the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (44a) radially outwardly against a tapered wall portion (54) of the upper wall section (18) of the lower shell (14) which also compresses the peripheral edge (26) of the diaphragm (44a) downwardly into the widest radial area portion of the bulge (34) of the upper wall section (18) of the lower shell (14) to enhance the seal thereat, all while still maintaining ease of telescoped assembly of the shells (12, 14), and such that the radial force on the ribs (50, 52) from the inner cylindrical wall portion (38) of the lower wall section (16) of the upper shell (12) is allowed to spread the ribs (50, 52) axially into less compressed areas (74, 82) to enable the noted reduction in the amount of diaphragm material requiring compression.