Jet pump plug seal and methods of making and using same
OwnerNicholas P. Osmond, Vikram Shahinventors
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Abstract
A jet pump plug and methods of forming a seal with a plurality of nozzles of a jet pump are disclosed. The plug has a plug body and a washer embedded within and bonded to the plug body. The washer has a center opening that cooperates with the plug body to define a central bore extending through the plug and the central bore can be configured to receive a fastener. A plurality of the disclosed plugs can be positioned in alignment with a respective nozzle, with each plug being sealed to the respective nozzle to form a seal.
Claims20
A plug comprising:
- a plug body defining a central bore and comprising a polyurethane ester;
- and
- a washer embedded within and bonded to the plug body, wherein the washer has a central opening,
- wherein the central opening of the washer cooperates with the central bore of the plug body to define a passageway extending through the plug,
- wherein the passageway is configured to receive a fastener.
A method of forming a seal with a plurality of nozzles of a jet pump, comprising:
- positioning a plurality of plugs in alignment with the plurality of nozzles of the jet pump, wherein each plug is positioned in alignment with a respective nozzle, each plug of the plurality of plugs comprising:
- a plug body defining a central bore and comprising a polyurethane ester, and
- a washer embedded within and bonded to the plug body, wherein the washer has a central opening, wherein the central opening of the washer cooperates with the central bore of the plug body to define a passageway extending through the plug, and wherein the passageway is configured to receive a fastener;
- and
- securing each plug to a respective nozzle to form a seal over the nozzle.
A method of making a plug, the method comprising:
- positioning a washer within a mold;
- positioning a liquid material comprising a polyurethane ester within the mold;
- and
- curing the liquid material to form a plug body, the plug body defining a central bore with the washer embedded within and bonded to the plug body, wherein the washer has a central opening, wherein the central opening of the washer cooperates with the central bore of the plug body to define a passageway extending through the plug, and wherein the passageway is configured to receive a fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.