Abstract: A sight glass assembly comprising a first housing section having an opening therethrough, mountable on a vessel wall having an opening therethrough so that the first housing section opening registers with the vessel wall opening, the opening of the first housing section having an enlarged section, a second housing section cooperable with the first housing section, having an opening therethrough registered with the opening in the first housing section, the opening in the second housing section having an enlarged section disposed in opposed relation to the enlarged section of the opening in the first housing section, a lens disposed across the openings having the periphery thereof disposed between the housing sections and received within the enlarged sections of the openings in the housing sections, a sealing ring assembly disposed in the enlarged sections of the housing section openings, included a rigid compression ring and a resilient packing member, the compression ring being engageable with one of the hous

Abstract: A sight glass assembly comprising a housing structure having a circular opening therethrough, the opening having an enlarged section, a lens disposed across the opening and having a peripheral portion received within the enlarged section of the housing structure opening, a sealed ring assembly disposed in the enlarged section of the housing structure opening, the sealing ring assembly comprising a rigid compression ring and a resilient packing member mounted on the compression ring, the packing member having an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration including a wall portion mounted on an inner side of the compression ring and engaging the periphery of the lens and a flange portion mounted on the compression ring and engaging the housing structure, and means mounted on the housing structure and engageable with the compression ring for urging the compression ring against the packing member, causing the packing member to expand radially, thereby effecting a seal between the housing structure and the periphery of

Abstract: A method of making a sight glass assembly generally including forming a housing having an opening therethrough provided with an annular wall, forming a lens having an annular peripheral wall provided with a diameter greater than the diameter of the housing wall at predetermined equilibrium conditions, effecting a change in the predetermined equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing sufficient to cause a dimensional change between the diameters of the housing and lens walls sufficient to permit the insertion of the lens into the opening of the housing, inserting the lens into the housing opening while maintaining the change in conditions so that the lens wall is positioned in opposed relation to the housing wall, and maintaining the lens in the opening with the lens and housing walls disposed in opposed relation while permitting a return to the equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing whereby the housing and lens wall will engage to place the lens in radial compression and form a fluid tight seal th

Abstract: A sight glass assembly including a housing structure mountable on a vessel for containing fluid, the housing structure having an opening therethrough, the opening having an enlarged section providing a shoulder, a face plate having an opening registered with the opening in the housing structure, mounted on the housing structure so that a portion thereof is disposed in opposed relation to the shoulder, a lens disposed in the enlarged section of the opening in the housing structure and interposed between the shoulder and the portion of the face plate, a packing member disposed in the enlarged section of the opening between the housing structure and the periphery of the lens, the packing member being hollow and filled with a fluid and means for securing the face plate to the housing structure and applying a force on the packing member causing the packing member to exert a uniform compressive force about the periphery of the lens and effect the seal between the housing structure and the periphery of the lens.

Abstract: A method of making a sight glass assembly generally including forming a housing having an opening therethrough provided with an annular wall, forming a lens having an annular peripheral wall provided with a diameter greater than the diameter of the housing wall at predetermined equilibrium conditions, effecting a change in the predetermined equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing sufficient to cause a dimensional change between the diameters of the housing and lens walls sufficient to permit the insertion of the lens into the opening of the housing, inserting the lens into the housing opening while maintaining the change in conditions so that the lens wall is positioned in opposed relation to the housing wall, and maintaining the lens in the opening with the lens and housing walls disposed in opposed relation while permitting a return to the equilibrium conditions of the lens and housing whereby the housing and lens wall will engage to place the lens in radial compression and form a fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly adapted to be mounted across an opening in a container wall, generally including a housing structure having an opening registrable with the opening in the container wall, the opening having an enlarged section including a pair of spaced opposed wall portions disposed in converging relation, a lens disposed in the enlarged section of the opening having bearing surfaces cooperable with the spaced opposed wall portions of the enlarged section of the housing structure, and sealing means interposed between the opposed wall portions of the enlarged section and the bearing surfaces of the lens.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly adapted to be mounted across an opening in a vessel containing a fluid, generally including a housing having an opening registerable with a vessel opening, means for mounting the housing on such a vessel when the housing opening is registered with the vessel opening, the housing opening having a frusto-conically shaped wall section, an annular lens holder mounted on the housing, and a lens having a peripheral side wall, mounted in the lens holder across the opening therein, the lens holder having a collet portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers having interior surfaces engagable with the peripheral side wall of the lens and exterior surfaces engagable with the frusto-conically shaped wall of the housing, the collet portion being urged into camming relation with the frusto-conically shaped wall section of the housing opening whereby the collet fingers are cammed laterally inwardly relative to the lens, placing the periphery of the lens in radial compression.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly comprising a housing having an opening therethrough, the opening having an enlarged section providing a shoulder, a face plate having an opening registered with the opening in the housing, mounted on the housing in opposed relation to the shoulder, a lens disposed in the enlarged section of the opening in the housing and interposed between the shoulder and the face plate, a resilient packing disposed in the enlarged section of the opening in the housing, between the lens and the housing structure, said face plate having a flange portion projecting into the enlarged section of said housing opening and engaging said resilient packing, and means for securing said face plate to said housing to apply a compressive force on the packing, causing the packing to expand laterally to provide a compressive force about the periphery of the lens.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly generally including a housing structure having an opening therethrough, the opening having an enlarged section providing a shoulder, a face plate having an opening registered with the opening in the housing structure, mounted on the housing structure in opposed relation to the shoulder provided by the enlarged section of the housing opening, a lens disposed in the enlarged section of the housing opening and interposed between the shoulder provided by the enlarged section of the housing opening and the face plate, a compressible packing member disposed in the enlarged section of the housing opening between the housing and a periphery of the lens, an outer end of the packing member having an annular recess extending toward the face plate, an annular wedging member disposed on the shoulder provided by the enlarged section of the housing opening and projecting into the recess of the packing member, the wedging member having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross section area of the r

Abstract: A sight glass assembly generally including a first housing section having an opening therethrough, mountable on a container wall having an opening communicating with a fluid contained therein so that the housing section opening registers with the container wall opening, the first housing section opening having an enlarged section including a lens seating surface and a packing bearing surface inclined relative to a longitudinal center line of the first housing section opening, a second housing section having an opening therethrough registered with the first housing section opening, the second housing section opening having an enlarged section including a lens seating surface and a packing bearing surface inclined relative to the longitudinal center line, disposed in opposed relation to the lens seating and packing bearing surfaces of the enlarged section of the opening in the first housing section, a lens disposed in the housing openings, interposed between the seating surfaces, a packing member disposed in th