Method of assembling multiple port assemblies in a spherical cavitation chamber

Abstract

A method of assembling multiple port assemblies in a single cavitation chamber, typically a spherical chamber, is provided. The method is comprised of the steps of boring a first cone-shaped port in a cavitation chamber wall of one piece of the cavitation chamber; locating a mounting ring with a cone-shaped external surface corresponding to the first cone-shaped port within the cavitation chamber prior to assembling the multiple pieces that comprise the cavitation chamber; assembling the multiple cavitation chamber pieces together to form the cavitation chamber; boring a second, smaller cone-shaped port in the cavitation chamber wall; inserting a first cone-shaped member corresponding to the second, smaller cone-shaped port into the cavitation chamber through the first, larger cone-shaped port; positioning the first cone-shaped member in the second, smaller cone-shaped port; inserting a second cone-shaped member corresponding to the internal cone-shaped surface of the mounting ring through the first, larger cone-shaped port; positioning the mounting ring within the first, larger cone-shaped port; and positioning the second member into the mounting ring. The second, smaller cone-shaped port can be bored before or after cavitation chamber assembly. The smallest diameter of the first port is larger than the largest diameter of either member, thus insuring that the members can be inserted into the cavitation chamber through the port. The first and second members can be windows, plugs, gas feed-throughs, liquid feed-throughs, mechanical feed-throughs, sensors, sensor couplers, or transducer couplers. To aid the assembly process, specialized tools can be used to position the first and second members.

1 . A method of assembling at least two port assemblies in a cavitation chamber, the method comprising the steps of: 
 boring a first cone-shaped port in a cavitation chamber wall of a first cavitation chamber piece of the cavitation chamber, wherein the cavitation chamber is comprised of multiple cavitation chamber pieces including said first cavitation chamber piece, wherein an external port diameter of said first port and associated with a cavitation chamber external surface is smaller than an internal port diameter of said first port and associated with a cavitation chamber internal surface;    locating a mounting ring with a cone-shaped external surface corresponding to said first cone-shaped port within said multiple cavitation chamber pieces, said mounting ring having an internal cone-shaped surface defined by a first diameter associated with said cavitation chamber internal surface and a second diameter associated with said cavitation chamber external surface, wherein said second diameter is smaller than said first diameter;    joining said multiple cavitation chamber pieces together to form the cavitation chamber, wherein said mounting ring is located within said cavitation chamber prior to completion of said joining step;    boring a second cone-shaped port in said cavitation chamber wall of the cavitation chamber, wherein an external port diameter of said second port and associated with said cavitation chamber external surface is smaller than an internal port diameter of said second port and associated with said cavitation chamber internal surface;    inserting a first member with a cone-shaped external surface corresponding to said second cone-shaped port through said first cone-shaped port into said cavitation chamber, wherein said first member is defined by a third diameter associated with said cavitation chamber internal surface and a fourth diameter associated with said cavitation chamber external surface, wherein said fourth diameter is smaller than said third diameter, and wherein said third diameter is smaller than said external port diameter of said first port and larger than said external port diameter of said second port;    positioning said first member in said second port;    inserting a second member with a cone-shaped external surface corresponding to said internal cone-shaped surface of said mounting ring through said first cone-shaped port into said cavitation chamber, said cone-shaped external surface of said second member defined by a fifth diameter corresponding to said cavitation chamber internal surface and a sixth diameter corresponding to said cavitation chamber external surface, and wherein said fifth diameter is smaller than said external port diameter of said first port;    positioning said mounting ring in said first cone-shaped port; and    positioning said second member in said mounting ring.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of boring said second cone-shaped port is performed prior to said joining step.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching a removable tool to an external chamber surface of said first member prior to said step of inserting said first member through said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of bonding a first tool to an external chamber surface of said first member and temporarily attaching a second tool to said first tool for use in said first member inserting step, wherein said bonding and attaching steps are performed prior to said step of inserting said first member through said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said bonding step is performed with a removable adhesive.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 bonding a first tool to an external chamber surface of said first member;    temporarily attaching a second tool to said first tool for use in said first member inserting step;    temporarily attaching a third tool to said first tool for use in said first member positioning step; and    detaching said second tool from said first tool prior to performing said first member positioning step.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said bonding step is performed with a removable adhesive.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detaching said third tool from said first tool; and    detaching said first tool from said external chamber surface of said first member.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of applying an adhesive to at least a portion of said cone-shaped external surface of said first member, said applying step performed prior to said first member inserting step.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 bonding a first tool to an external chamber surface of said second member prior to said second member inserting step; and    temporarily attaching a second tool to said first tool for use in said second member positioning step.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said bonding step is performed with a removable adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting said first member from the group consisting of a window, a gas feed-thru, a liquid feed-thru, a mechanical feed-thru, a sensor, a sensor coupler, a transducer coupler, or a plug.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting said second member from the group consisting of a window, a gas feed-thru, a liquid feed-thru, a mechanical feed-thru, a sensor, a sensor coupler, a transducer coupler, or a plug.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of coupling a retaining ring to said mounting ring, wherein said retaining ring is external to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of coupling a retaining plate to said first member, wherein said retaining plate is external to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of coupling a retaining plate to said second member, wherein said retaining plate is external to said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a malleable material between said second member and said mounting ring prior to said step of positioning said second member in said mounting ring.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of selecting a metal for said malleable material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of selecting brass as said malleable material.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a malleable material between said mounting ring and said first cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said mounting ring in said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of selecting a metal for said malleable material.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of selecting brass as said malleable material.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a malleable material between said first member and said second cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said first member in said second cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of selecting a metal for said malleable material.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of selecting brass as said malleable material.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing at least one o-ring between said second member and said mounting ring prior to said step of positioning said second member in said mounting ring.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing at least one o-ring between said mounting ring and said first cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said mounting ring in said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing at least one o-ring between said first member and said second cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said first member in said second cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a sealant between said second member and said mounting ring prior to said step of positioning said second member in said mounting ring.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a sealant between said mounting ring and said first cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said mounting ring in said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing a sealant between said first member and said second cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said first member in said second cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing an adhesive between said second member and said mounting ring prior to said step of positioning said second member in said mounting ring.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing an adhesive between said mounting ring and said first cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said mounting ring in said first cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of interposing an adhesive between said first member and said second cone-shaped port prior to said step of positioning said first member in said second cone-shaped port.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the joining step uses a brazing procedure.