Pressure vessel

Claim 2

A pressure vessel for holding a filter for conditioning and/or purifying fluid, comprising a cover having a top wall and a side wall extending downwardly therefrom, the side wall having an inner surface, inlet and outlet means formed in the cover for introducing fluid to and for removing fluid from the pressure vessel, a bowl positioned below the cover and having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, the side wall having an outer surface, sealing means between the cover and the bowl for sealing between the cover and the bowl, and securing means for securing the cover to the bowl, said securing means including a track comprising a first groove formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the cover and a second groove formed in the outer surface of the side wall of the bowl and being aligned with the first groove, an opening formed in the cover for providing an entrance to the track, and a flexible shear rod received in said track.

Claim 3

The pressure vessel of claim 1, the shear rod having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion and guiding means for guiding the shear rod within said track, said guiding means including a bead formed on the leading end portion of the shear rod.

Claim 4

The pressure vessel of claim 2, the bead having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the shear rod.

Claim 5

The pressure vessel of claim 1, the sealing means including a sealing groove formed in the outer surface of the side wall of the bowl, and a gasket seated in said sealing groove.

Claim 6

The pressure vessel of claim 4, the gasket having a substantially rectangular or circular cross-section.

Claim 7

The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the bowl further comprises a lip ledge formed on its outer surface, and the sealing means including a gasket disposed on said lip ledge, said gasket having a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

Claim 8

The pressure vessel of claim 1, the sealing means including a sealing gasket which is mounted on the inner surface of the side wall of the cover and which contacts the outer surface of the side wall of the bowl.

Claim 9

The pressure vessel of claim 7, the gasket being bonded to the cover by vulcanization or adhesives.

Claim 10

The pressure vessel of claim 7, the gasket having a single leg protruding inwardly.

Claim 11

The pressure vessel of claim 1, the sealing means including a sealing gasket mounted onto the inner surface of the cover and being compressed and held in place between a compression ring and the cover.

Claim 12

The pressure vessel of claim 1, further comprising a manifold mounted to the top wall of the cover, said manifold having an upper portion, and said manifold including a hollow inlet tube and a hollow outlet tube formed in and extending through it, said tube protruding from the top wall of the cover.

Claim 13

The pressure vessel of claim 11, the inlet and outlet means formed in the cover comprising a first hole and a second hole formed in the top wall of the cover, and grooves formed in the upper portion of the manifold aligned with the first hole and the second hole of the cover, and a gasket seated in each groove.

Claim 14

The pressure vessel of claim 11, the manifold being sealed to the inner surface of the top wall of the cover by an O-ring, ultrasonic insertion, adhesive bonding, or a combination of both ultrasonic insertion and bonding.

Claim 15

The pressure vessel of claim 11, the manifold having a lower edge portion, the vessel further including a silicone seal or an adhesive between the lower edge portion of the manifold and the inner surface of the side wall of the cover.

Claim 16

The pressure vessel of claim 11, further comprising means for securing a cartridge within the vessel, said securing means including a sealing port mounted on or being integral with the outlet tube, and an anti-sway stub formed in the bottom wall of the bowl.

Claim 17

The pressure vessel of claim 15, further comprising a cartridge having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion being secured to the sealing port and the lower end portion being fitted over the anti-sway stub.

Claim 18

The pressure vessel of claim 1, further including a manifold formed integrally with the cover.

Claim 19

A pressure vessel for holding a filter for conditioning and/or purifying fluid, comprising a cover having a top wall and a side wall extending downwardly therefrom, the side wall having an inner surface, a bowl positioned below the cover and having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, the side wall having an outer surface, sealing means between the cover and the bowl for sealing between the cover and the bowl, securing means for securing the cover to the bowl, said securing means including a track comprising a first groove formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the cover and a second groove formed in the outer surface of the side wall of the bowl and being aligned with the first groove, an opening formed in the cover for providing an entrance to the track, and a flexible shear rod received in said track, the shear rod having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion and guiding means for guiding the shear rod within said track, said guiding means including a bead formed on the leading end portion of the shear rod, the bead having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the shear rod, the sealing means being a gasket vulcanized on or otherwise bonded or compressed against the inner surface of the cover, the gasket having a single leg protruding inwardly, further comprising a first hole and a second hole formed in the top wall of the cover, and a manifold mounted to the top wall of the cover, said manifold having an upper portion, and said manifold including a hollow inlet tube and a hollow outlet tube formed in and extending through the upper portion, said tubes protruding from the top wall of the cover, further comprising grooves formed in the upper portion of the manifold aligned with the first hole and the second hole of the cover, and a gasket seated in each groove, the manifold being sealed to the inner surface of the top wall of the cover by an O-ring, ultrasonic insertions, adhesive bonding, or a combination of both ultrasonic insertions and adhesive bonding, the manifold having a lower edge portion, the vessel further including a silicone seal or an adhesive between the lower edge portion of the manifold and the inner surface of the side wall of the cover, further comprising means for securing a cartridge within the vessel, said securing means including a hollow sealing port mounted on or being integral with the outlet tube, and an anti-sway stub formed in the bottom wall of the bowl, and further comprising a cartridge having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion being secured to the sealing port and the lower end portion being fitted over the anti-sway stub.

Claim 20

A pressure vessel for holding a filter for conditioning and/or purifying fluid, comprising a cover having a top wall and a side wall extending downwardly therefrom, the side wall having an inner surface, a bowl positioned below the cover and having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, the side wall having an outer surface, sealing means between the cover and the bowl for sealing between the cover and the bowl, securing means for securing the cover to the bowl, said securing means including a track comprising a first groove formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the cover and a second groove formed in the outer surface of the side wall of the bowl and being aligned with the first groove, an opening formed in the cover for providing an entrance to the track, and a flexible shear rod received in said track, the shear rod having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion and guiding means for guiding the shear rod within said track, said guiding means including a bead formed on the leading end portion of the shear rod, the bead having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the shear rod, the sealing means being a gasket vulcanized on or otherwise bonded or compressed against the inner surface of the cover, the gasket having a single leg protruding inwardly, further comprising a first hole and a second hole formed in the top wall of the cover, and a manifold mounted to the top wall of the cover, said manifold having an upper portion, and said manifold including a hollow inlet tube and a hollow outlet tube formed in and extending through the upper portion, said tubes protruding from the top wall of the cover, further comprising grooves formed in the upper portion of the manifold aligned with the first hole and the second hole of the cover, and a gasket seated in each groove, the manifold being sealed to the inner surface of the top wall of the cover by an O-ring, ultrasonic insertions, adhesive bonding, or a combination of both ultrasonic insertions and adhesive bonding, the manifold having a lower edge portion, the vessel further including a silicone seal or an adhesive between the lower edge portion of the manifold and the inner surface of the side wall of the cover, further comprising means for securing a cartridge within the vessel, said securing means including a hollow sealing port mounted on or being integral with the outlet tube, and an anti-sway stub formed in the bottom wall of the bowl, and further comprising a cartridge having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, the upper end portion being secured to the sealing port and the lower end portion being fitted over the anti-sway stub.