There is provided a protection structure for a gas cylinder assembly comprising a gas cylinder body and a valve. The gas cylinder body includes a base and a neck to which a proximal end of the valve is connectable in use. The protection structure comprises first and second structural sections, the first section being connectable to the valve such that the second section is spaced from the valve by the first section. Further, in use, the second section is arranged to transfer impact forces to the first section, and the second section is arranged to deform with respect to the second section in response to said impact forces to reduce the peak impact force on the valve.

Main technical features of a sealing mechanism of a pressure vessel provided by the invention are a sealing unit for airtightly combining with the vessel, and a combination unit for positioning the sealing unit in the airtight combination state, and there are common structures disposed between constituent elements of the sealing unit and the combination unit, so that the sealing unit and the combination unit can be combined with each other in order to facilitate use and storage and to avoid losing or missing parts.

Main technical features of a sealing mechanism of a pressure vessel provided by the invention are a sealing unit for airtightly combining with the vessel, and a combination unit for positioning the sealing unit in the airtight combination state, and there are common structures disposed between constituent elements of the sealing unit and the combination unit, so that the sealing unit and the combination unit can be combined with each other in order to facilitate use and storage and to avoid losing or missing parts.

A high brightness laser-sustained broadband light source includes a gas containment structure and a pump laser configured to generate a pump beam including illumination of a wavelength at least proximate to a weak absorption line of a neutral gas contained in the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more anamorphic illumination optics configured to focus the pump beam into an approximately elliptical beam waist positioned in or proximate to the center of the gas containment structure. The broadband light source includes one or more first collection optics configured to collect broadband radiation emitted by the plasma in a direction substantially aligned with a longer axis of the elliptical beam waist.

A gas storage structure includes: a container and a continuous coiled pipe supported by the container, the continuous coiled pipe including a major portion formed of thin walled pipe and a thick walled pipe defining an end of the continuous coiled pipe, the thick walled pipe having a wall thickness thicker than the thin walled pipe, the thick walled pipe being welded at a welded joint to the major portion to place an inner diameter of the thick walled pipe into communication with an inner diameter of the major portion and the thick walled pipe being connected to the container, while the major portion is free of any rigid, such as welded, connections to the container.

A gas storage structure includes: a container and a continuous coiled pipe supported by the container, the continuous coiled pipe including a major portion formed of thin walled pipe and a thick walled pipe defining an end of the continuous coiled pipe, the thick walled pipe having a wall thickness thicker than the thin walled pipe, the thick walled pipe being welded at a welded joint to the major portion to place an inner diameter of the thick walled pipe into communication with an inner diameter of the major portion and the thick walled pipe being connected to the container, while the major portion is free of any rigid, such as welded, connections to the container.

An assembly includes a pressure vessel for containing a fluid, the vessel including a domed end portion having an outer surface; and a component positioned at the domed end portion, wherein the component is attached to the outer surface by a plurality of filament bands wound upon the domed end portion and over at least a part of the component. In another aspect, an apparatus is described for preventing damage to a vessel. The apparatus includes a component configured to be positioned at the domed end portion, wherein the component is configured to be attached to the outer surface by a plurality of filament bands wound upon the domed end portion and over at least a part of the component. A method for attaching a component to a vessel is described that includes positioning the component at the domed end portion and winding a plurality of filament bands.

An assembly includes a pressure vessel for containing a fluid, the vessel including a domed end portion having an outer surface; and a component positioned at the domed end portion, wherein the component is attached to the outer surface by a plurality of filament bands wound upon the domed end portion and over at least a part of the component. In another aspect, an apparatus is described for preventing damage to a vessel. The apparatus includes a component configured to be positioned at the domed end portion, wherein the component is configured to be attached to the outer surface by a plurality of filament bands wound upon the domed end portion and over at least a part of the component. A method for attaching a component to a vessel is described that includes positioning the component at the domed end portion and winding a plurality of filament bands.

A boss assembly for a pressure vessel includes a boss, a fitting, a first seal and a second seal. The boss includes a bore with an inner surface and a first stop feature. The fitting is configured for at least partial insertion into the boss to prevent fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the pressure vessel, the fitting including an outer surface and a second stop feature. Each of the first and second seals is positioned along the outer surface. The fitting is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the first seal is sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces and the second seal is not sealingly engaged therebetween. In the second position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, the second seal is sealingly engaged, and the first and second stop features mutually contact.

A boss assembly for a pressure vessel includes a boss, a fitting, a first seal and a second seal. The boss includes a bore with an inner surface and a first stop feature. The fitting is configured for at least partial insertion into the boss to prevent fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the pressure vessel, the fitting including an outer surface and a second stop feature. Each of the first and second seals is positioned along the outer surface. The fitting is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the first seal is sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces and the second seal is not sealingly engaged therebetween. In the second position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, the second seal is sealingly engaged, and the first and second stop features mutually contact.