Fluid cylinder and method of assembly

A fluid cylinder comprising:

• a) a tube having a sidewall and at least one open end, the sidewall having a locking groove formed therein adjacent the at least one open end, the at least one open end includes an edge which includes a chamfer;
• b) at least one endcap for closing the at least one open end, the at least one endcap comprising:
• a leading end having a groove formed therein, said groove adapted to receive a compressible retaining ring, the retaining ring adapted to engage the locking groove when the at least one open end is closed by the at least one endcap;
• a shoulder;
• and a sealing member located between the leading end and the shoulder, said sealing member adapted to sealingly engage the edge of the at least one open end, the sealing member includes a base and a lip made integral with the base, the lip including along one side, a chamfer adapted to engage the chamfered tube edge, said lip adapted to be movable between a first position where the lip is substantially parallel to the shoulder and a second position where the lip is in abutment with the shoulder.

The method of assembling a fluid cylinder that includes a piston tube having a sidewall which defines a piston tube chamber, the piston tube having at least one open end having an edge and a groove formed along the sidewall;

• at least one endcap to close the at least one open end, the endcap including a leading end having a groove, a retaining member seated in the groove, a shoulder and a movable sealing member located between the leading end and shoulder, the method comprising the following steps:
• a) moving the at least one endcap into an associated open end and engaging the retaining member with the edge of the open end, and compressing the retaining member into the groove;
• b) moving the at least one endcap along an axis until the retaining member is located in the groove;
• c) engaging the leading end with the groove to form a primary seal;
• d) engaging the sealing member with the at least one edge to form a secondary seal and flexing the sealing member from a first position where the sealing member is substantially parallel to the shoulder to a second position where the sealing member is in abutment with the shoulder.