Abstract: A test head useful in the testing of compressed gas cylinders capable of withstanding high pressure. The water jacket head includes a neck seal including a spud insertable into the neck of a compressed gas cylinder for permitting a high pressure seal to be made to the cylinder. The present neck seal incorporates a permanent quick-connect sleeve for which mating male spud insert units can be designed for nearly any size cylinder neck. Changing the spud insert can be accomplished by hand, without removing the head from its use location. A diaphragm support spring is installed between the moving spud stem assembly and the top plate of the head which biases the spud stem assembly, thus increasing diaphragm life and preventing increasing reassembly difficulty following spud changes. Studs and screws replace welds in holding the top, side and bottom plates together which greatly alleviates the task of servicing inside the head when leaks eventually occur in the moving elements.

Abstract: An impacting apparatus comprising a hammer assembly including a housing and a driven, reciprocating ram extending axially from one end of the housing; an anvil assembly including a housing and a manually adjustably anvil extending axially from one end of the housing; and a pair of arms for connecting the one end of the anvil assembly housing to the one end of the hammer assembly housing with the anvil in facing, spaced, coaxial relationship to the reciprocating ram. Such impacting apparatus may be used to loosen threaded members that are tightly engaged by positioning such members between the anvil and the ram.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing collars from compressed gas cylinders by applying a lateral force on first opposite sides of the collar, the force having a magnitude sufficient to collapse the side walls of the collar, in the direction of the applied force and to elongate the side walls of the collar in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the applied force and repeating the above step on second opposite sides of the collar displaced by approximately 90.degree. from the first sides, the second step freeing the collar from the cylinder neck allowing its easy removal.

Abstract: A method and means for hydrostatically testing the expansion of a vessel immersed in a fluid-filled jacket when subjected to an internal pressure to thereby determine total expansion and permanent expansion of the vessel. A conical pan is suspended from the sensing element of an electronic balance and means are provided for conducting fluid from the jacket to and from the conical pan without physically contacting the same. When pressure is applied to the vessel, the fluid expelled from the jacket is conducted into the pan, the electronic balance providing an indication of the total volumetric change in the vessel. When the pressure is released from the vessel, the fluid is conducted from the pan back into the jacket whereupon the electronic balance provides an indication of the permanent volumetric expansion.