Vessel screen retaining system and method
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsNathaniel Hull, Adam Lisbeth, William Sammler, John Tilley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Certain embodiments include a screen assembly of a vessel, where the screen assembly includes a plurality of fixed elements and a retainer, and the retainer includes a ring, a plurality of wedges disposed about the ring, and a plurality of keyholes at spaced locations about the ring. Each keyhole includes a bore and a slot extending from the bore into an adjacent wedge of the plurality of wedges, the slots have a width less than the bores, and the retainer may receive the fixed elements through the bores and may be rotated in a relation with the plurality of fixed elements to bring the plurality of fixed elements into simultaneous engagement with the wedges.
Claims29
A screen assembly of a vessel, comprising:
- a screen including,
- an outer ring section,
- an inner ring section, and
- an arrangement of keyholes along the outer ring section and the inner ring section;
- a grate affixable to a lid of a treatment vessel;
- a plurality of axially extending lugs fixed to the grate and arranged consistent with the arrangement of keyholes of the screen, the plurality of axially extending lugs cooperating with the keyholes of the screen so as to register placement of a first side of the screen adjacent the grate;
- and
- a retainer including,
- an arrangement of keyholes consistent with the arrangement of keyholes of the screen, the plurality of axially extending lugs cooperating with the keyholes of the retainer so as to register placement of the retainer adjacent a second side of the screen,
- one or more wedges adjacent to one or more of the keyholes of the retainer, and each keyhole of the retainer with an adjacent wedge including a slot, the slot extending into the adjacent wedge, and the retainer being rotatable so as to simultaneously engage one or more of the plurality of lugs with a respective wedge of the one or more wedges, the screen being clamped between the retainer and the grate when the one or more wedges are so engaged, and the screen and the retainer being removable from the grate upon disengagement of the one or more wedges by counter rotation of the retainer.
A screen assembly, comprising:
- a screen including,
- an outer ring section,
- an inner ring section, and
- an arrangement of apertures along the outer ring section and the inner ring section;
- a grate affixable to a lid of a treatment vessel;
- a plurality of axially extending lugs in a fixed relation with the grate and arranged consistent with the arrangement of apertures, the plurality of axially extending lugs cooperating with the apertures to register placement of a first side of the screen adjacent the grate;
- a retainer including,
- an arrangement of keyholes consistent with the arrangement of apertures, the plurality of axially extending lugs cooperating with the keyholes to register placement of the retainer adjacent a second side of the screen, and
- one or more wedges adjacent to one or more of the keyholes, and wherein each keyhole of the retainer with an adjacent wedge includes a slot, and the slot extends into the adjacent wedge, and wherein the retainer is rotatable so as to simultaneously engage one or more of the plurality of lugs with a respective wedge of the one or more wedges;
- wherein the screen is clamped between the retainer and the grate when the one or more wedges are so engaged;
- and
- wherein the screen and the retainer are removable from the grate upon disengagement of the one or more wedges by counter rotation of the retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.