Apparatus and method for filling a container
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorJames E. Maness
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A storage container (12) is filled with a combustible mixture of gases including a flammable gas and a primary gas which contains an oxidizer gas. A fill head (50) has a continuous annular ridge (130) which extends around a gas outlet (132) from the fill head. The ridge (130) indents the material of the storage container (12) around an opening (152) in the storage container through which a flow of gas is directed during filling of a chamber in the storage container to provide a gas tight seal between the ridge and the container.
Claims14
A method of filling a chamber in a container with gas, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a seal between a fill head and the container by indenting material around an opening in the container with the fill head;
- conducting a flow of gas through the fill head and into the chamber in the container through the opening in the container;
- and
- blocking gas flow through the seal between the fill head and the container by engagement of the fill head with the indented material of the container around the opening in the container during flow through the fill head.
An apparatus for use in filling a chamber in a container with gas by directing a flow of gas through an opening in the container, said apparatus comprising:
- a fill head;
- passage means for conducting a flow of gas through said fill head, said passage means having an outlet which communicates with the opening in the container during filling of the chamber;
- and
- seal means for providing a gas tight seal between said fill head and the container, said seal means including a surface connected with said fill head and extending around said outlet for indenting the material of the container around the opening in the container through which a flow of gas is directed during filling of the chamber in the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.