Height Adjuster for Glass Assembly

Abstract

A plug assembly including: a housing; glass assembly including a plug; a height adjuster including a mechanical adjuster; wherein: the glass assembly and the height adjuster are arranged in the housing; and the height adjuster is arranged to apply pressure to the glass assembly; and the height of the mechanical adjuster is adjustable.

It is hereby claimed: 
     
         1 . A plug assembly ( 200 ) comprising:
 a housing ( 140 );   glass assembly ( 15 ) comprising a plug ( 10 ); and   a height adjuster ( 40 ) comprising a mechanical adjuster ( 42 );   wherein:
 the glass assembly ( 15 ) and the height adjuster ( 40 ) are arranged in the housing ( 140 ); 
 the height adjuster ( 40 ) is arranged to apply pressure to the glass assembly ( 15 ); and 
   the height of the mechanical adjuster ( 42 ) is adjustable.   
     
     
         2 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the height adjuster ( 40 ) is restorative. 
     
     
         3 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the height adjuster is non-restorative. 
     
     
         4 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the height adjuster ( 40 ) further comprises an adjustment seat ( 41 ), and the adjustment seat ( 41 ) is in contact with the glass assembly ( 15 ). 
     
     
         5 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug assembly ( 200 ) further comprises as seat, wherein the seat ( 20 ) supports the glass assembly ( 15 ) from one side and the height adjuster ( 40 ) supports the glass assembly ( 15 ) from the other side. 
     
     
         6 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical adjuster ( 42 ) is arranged to change the pressure applied to the glass assembly ( 15 ). 
     
     
         7 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical adjuster ( 42 ) is a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical adjuster is threaded. 
     
     
         9 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass assembly ( 15 ) further comprises a bearing ring ( 11 ) arranged between the plug ( 10 ) and the height adjuster ( 40 ). 
     
     
         10 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the height adjuster ( 40 ) is configured with a first and second position; wherein:
 in the first position of the height adjuster ( 40 ), the height adjuster ( 40 ) applies a first pressure to the glass assembly ( 15 ); and   in the second position of the height adjuster ( 40 ), the height adjuster ( 40 ) applies a second pressure to the glass assembly ( 15 ).   
     
     
         11 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein in the first position, the height adjuster ( 40 ) applies no pressure to the glass assembly ( 15 ). 
     
     
         12 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the height adjuster ( 40 ) holds the glass assembly ( 15 ) in place, while the plug ( 10 ) is intact and stationary. 
     
     
         13 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a breaker object ( 30 ) wherein:
 in the first position, the plug ( 10 ) is intact and stationary; and   in the second position the breaker object ( 30 ) has made contact with the plug ( 10 ).   
     
     
         14 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to the  claim 13 , further comprising a shear ring ( 50 ) which supports the seat, wherein:
 the breaker object ( 30 ) is not in contact with the plug ( 10 ) in the first position; and   the shear ring ( 50 ) has sheared the shear ring ( 50 ) is arranged to shear when a pressure above a threshold pressure is applied to the glass assembly ( 15 ), releasing the plug and moving to the second position.   
     
     
         15 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to the  claim 14 , wherein the glass assembly ( 15 ) further comprises a first bearing ring ( 14 ) between the height adjuster ( 40 ) and the plug ( 10 ), wherein the first bearing ( 14 ) is not in contact with the plug ( 10 ) when in the plug assembly ( 200 ) is in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The plug assembly ( 200 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass assembly ( 15 ) further comprises a stabilizer ( 12 ) and wherein:
 the stabilizer is at least partially non-elastomeric;   the plug ( 10 ) further comprises a middle edge surface ( 64 ) which contains the widest portion of the plug ( 10 ); and   the stabilizer ( 12 ) is arranged around at least a portion of the middle edge surface ( 64 ).   
     
     
         17 . A method of installation of glass assembly ( 15 ) into a plug assembly ( 200 ),
 the plug assembly comprising:
 a seat ( 20 ); 
 a glass assembly ( 15 ) comprising a plug ( 10 ); and 
 a height adjuster ( 40 ) arranged with an adjustable height; 
   wherein:
 the seat ( 20 ) is arranged to support the plug ( 10 ); 
 a gap is arranged between the height adjuster ( 40 ) and the seat ( 20 ); and 
   the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) adjusting the size of the gap to be larger than the thickness of the glass assembly ( 15 ) with the height adjuster ( 40 ); 
 (b) inserting the glass assembly ( 15 ) into the gap; 
 (c) resting the glass assembly ( 15 ) on the seat ( 20 ); and 
 (d) adjusting the size of the gap to be smaller than in step (a) with the height adjuster ( 40 ). 
   
     
     
         18 . The method according to the  claim 17 , wherein in step (b), the glass assembly ( 15 ) is in contact with the height adjuster ( 40 ). 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein in step (c), the glass assembly is not in contact with the height adjuster ( 40 ).