Alignment means for pressure tank air bags or the like

Claim 1

In a pressure tank having an inflatable member therein for retaining pressure on liquid stored in the tank, the inflatable member having a valve assembly thereon accessible through an opening in one wall of the tank, said opening being appreciably larger in diameter than the valve assembly and the valve assembly having a circumferential flange thereon, the improvement comprising: a coupling secured to the exterior of the tank surrounding said opening, and ring means secured in the coupling sized to surround and abut the valve assembly to prevent the valve assembly from being removed from said opening when the inflatable member is at least partially inflated, said ring means comprising: a snap ring secured in a mating groove in the interior of the coupling adjacent the respective wall of the tank; a first washer abutting the side of the snap ring facing the tank; and a second washer abutting the side of the first washer facing the tank, the second washer having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the first washer but larger than the inner diameter of the first washer, and the second washer having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the valve assembly and smaller than the diameter of the circumferential flange on the valve assembly; whereby the valve assembly will be loosely held in the tank opening accessible through the coupling.