Patent ID: 6286339
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A plunger assembly for pressing gobs of glass into hollow articles, said plunger assembly comprising:prime mover means having an elongate member with a free end for imparting reciprocating motion to a plunger;a plunger non-threadably engaging said free end of said elongate member;an annular collar surrounding said free end of said elongate member said annular collar being fixedly position with respect to a longitudinal central axis of said elongate member; anda split ring joined end to end and being fixedly positioned with respect to said plunger and said elongate member along said longitudinal central axis of said elongate member;wherein said split ring comprises first and second semi-cylindrical segments and said first and second semi-cylindrical segments are joined end to end during normal operation of said plunger assembly, and further comprising:an annular sleeve surrounding said split ring during normal operation of said plunger assembly to prevent separation of said first and second semi-cylindrical segments, said plunger of said plunger assembly reciprocating within said annular sleeve during normal operation and being movable relative to said annular sleeve to a position where said annular sleeve does not surround said split ring, whereby said first and second semi-cylindrical segments of said split ring may be separated from one another to permit said plunger to be removed from said elongate member during a plunger changing operation.