VITROVEX® Cylindrical Instrument Housings Tubes

Flexible, Customizable Glass Tubes for Underwater Instrumentation

In addition to spherical designs, Nautilus Marine Service offers a range of cylindrical pressure housings, providing greater flexibility in design and integration for underwater instrumentation. These cylindrical housings can be customized to meet specific application requirements through direct consultation with Nautilus Marine Service or its authorized representatives.

Design Versatility

Cylindrical instrument housings can be configured in a variety of ways, including:

• With end caps on both ends
• With one end cap and one closed end
• With flanges on both ends for attaching end caps
• With mid-tube flanges to allow length extensions

Depending on the configuration, housings can be manufactured from either borosilicate glass or fused silica. For certain models, end caps may be supplied in optical-grade glass or metal. When flanges or metal end caps are required, titanium is recommended due to its compatible thermal expansion properties with glass.

Product Overview & Pressure Ratings

Nautilus Marine Service offers four standard configurations for cylindrical pressure housings, with pressure ratings determined by the outer diameter, wall thickness, and tube length.

By default, tubes are closed by end caps (with or without flanges). Alternative configurations, such as plane windows or plates, are also possible upon request.
Note: Drill holes cannot be applied directly to the cylindrical surface.

Vacuum Port Integration & Moisture Control

For housings closed with end caps, self-sealing vacuum ports are recommended for ease of operation and reliable moisture control. When used in combination with a deck purge box, these ports offer a simple alternative to nitrogen filling for keeping the housing interior moisture-free. 

If flanges are used, a vacuum port is still advisable to serve as an air relief valve.

Protective Housing & Mounting

Due to the wide variety of configurations available, Nautilus Marine Service does not supply fixed protective housings for cylinders.