Fluid cylinder

A fluid cylinder apparatus comprising:

• (a) a tubular body portion having an axial bore and first and second open end portions,
• (b) a piston rod and piston movable axially relative to the bore of the body portion,
• (c) first and second end plugs sealingly engaging the first and second open end portions respectively of the body portion, the end plugs being of a non-porous material, the first end plug having a piston rod opening therein to receive the piston rod passing therethrough, the rod opening being sealed against the piston rod to prevent fluid leaking therefrom, the first end plug having an outer surface containing a seal groove extending around the rod opening, and an annular seal fitted in the seal groove and sealably engaging the rod,
• (d) first and second end caps enclosing the first and second end plugs and the open end portions of the body portion respectively, the first end cap having an axial clearance opening aligned with the piston rod opening of the first end plug to receive the piston rod passing therethrough, and
• (e) retainers cooperating with the end caps to retain the end caps on the body portion.

A fluid cylinder apparatus comprising:

• (a) a tubular body portion having an axial bore and first and second open end portions,
• (b) a piston rod and piston movable axially relative to the bore of the body portion,
• (c) first and second end plugs sealingly engaging the first and second open end portions respectively of the body portion, the end plugs being of a non-porous material, the first end plug having a piston rod opening therein to receive the piston rod passing therethrough, the rod opening being sealed against the piston rod to prevent fluid leaking therefrom,
• (d) first and second end caps enclosing the first and second end plugs and the open end portions of the body portion respectively, the first end cap having an axial clearance opening aligned with the piston rod opening of the first end plug to receive the piston rod passing therethrough, and
• (e) retainers cooperating with the end caps to retain the end caps on the body portion, the retainers comprising each end cap having at least one pair of bar openings, the bar openings of each end cap being disposed on generally opposite sides of the said end cap, the bar openings of the first end cap being aligned with corresponding bar openings of the second end cap;
• and the retainers also comprising at least one pair of axially disposed retaining bars disposed parallel to the tubular body portion, each bar having respective first and second end portions passing through the aligned bar openings of the first and second end caps respectively to retain the caps on the end portions of the tubular body portion.