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US 11,859,751 B2Granted
Closure for pressure vessel or pipeline
AssigneeIn-Line Flow Products Ltd.
InventorKeith Alan Kozak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure is provided for a pressure vessel or pipelines that can provide quick and easy access to the interior of a pressure vessel or pipeline and means for a pressure tight seal between the hub and door. The closure can incorporate means for mechanically fastening the door to the hub using an external split clamp ring actuated by a toggle mechanism. A locking mechanism can be provided to safeguard against unintended closure actuation and provides a layer of redundancy to the holding characteristics of the toggle mechanism. The locking mechanism can be interlocked to a pressure alert system to ensure any differential pressure condition contained within the closure is detected prior to disengaging the locking mechanism and actuating the toggle mechanism.
Claims24
A closure device for a pressure vessel or a pipeline, the closure device comprising:
- a hub comprising a central opening configured to correspond to an opening in the pressure vessel or pipeline;
- a door configured to contact the hub and close access to the hub central opening;
- a hinge assembly operatively coupling the door to the hub;
- a split annular ring assembly operatively coupled attached to the hub and further comprising opposing ring sections configured to move between an open position to a closed position, the opposing ring sections each comprising an inner channel configured to engage corresponding flange elements disposed on both the door and the hub;
- an actuating mechanism configured to cause the split annular ring assembly to engage the flange elements thereby fastening the door to the hub, the actuating mechanism comprising:
- blocks attached to each of the opposing ring sections, each block comprising a longitudinal through-hole comprising an axis substantially parallel with a plane defined by the split annular ring assembly, wherein the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks substantially align with each other when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position,
- toggle linkages disposed on anterior and posterior sides of a first of the blocks operatively coupling the first of the blocks to a toggle handle, the toggle handle operatively coupling a second of the blocks to the toggle linkages, the toggle handle configured to move the opposing ring sections between the open and closed positions, and
- wherein the toggle linkages further comprise second longitudinal through-holes configured to align with the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position;
- a locking pin configured to inhibit movement of the actuating mechanism when the actuating mechanism is in a locked position, the locking pin further comprising:
- a cylindrical pin comprising a diameter substantially corresponding to the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks and the toggle linkages, and
- a locking pin handle shaft comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the cylindrical pin, the locking pin handle shaft substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical pin, and wherein the locking pin handle shaft is disposed through a closed slot disposed through a sidewall of a stem housing operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking pin handle shaft is constrained within the closed slot so that the locking pin is configured not to be removed from the stem housing when the actuating mechanism is operated to expand the split annular ring assembly into an unlocked position;
- and
- a pressure alert assembly operatively coupled to the hub, the pressure alert assembly configured to inhibit movement of the locking pin when the actuating mechanism is in the locked position.
10 more elements
A closure device for a pressure vessel or a pipeline, the closure device comprising:
- a) a hub comprising a central opening configured to correspond to an opening in the pressure vessel or pipeline, the hub further comprising a concentric recess disposed around the central opening;
- b) a door configured to contact the hub and close access to the hub central opening, the door further comprising a concentric protrusion, the concentric protrusion configured to seat within the concentric recess when the door is fastened to the hub;
- c) a hinge assembly operatively coupling the door to the hub;
- d) a split annular ring assembly operatively coupled attached to the hub and further comprising opposing ring sections configured to move between an open position to a closed position, the opposing ring sections each comprising an inner channel configured to engage corresponding flange elements disposed on both the door and the hub;
- e) an actuating mechanism configured to cause the split annular ring assembly to engage the flange elements thereby fastening the door to the hub, the actuating mechanism comprising:
- blocks attached to each of the opposing ring sections, each block comprising a longitudinal through-hole comprising an axis substantially parallel with a plane defined by the split annular ring assembly, wherein the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks substantially align with each other when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position,
- toggle linkages disposed on anterior and posterior sides of a first of the blocks operatively coupling the first of the blocks to a toggle handle, the toggle handle operatively coupling a second of the blocks to the toggle linkages, the toggle handle configured to move the opposing ring sections between the open and closed positions, and
- wherein the toggle linkages further comprise second longitudinal through-holes configured to align with the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position;
- f) a locking pin configured to inhibit movement of the actuating mechanism when the actuating mechanism is in a locked position, the locking pin further comprising:
- a cylindrical pin comprising a diameter substantially corresponding to the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks and the toggle linkages, and
- a locking pin handle shaft comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the cylindrical pin, the locking pin handle shaft substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical pin, and wherein the locking pin handle shaft is disposed through a closed slot disposed through a sidewall of a stem housing operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking pin handle shaft is constrained within the closed slot so that the locking pin is configured not to be removed from the stem housing when the actuating mechanism is operated to expand the split annular ring assembly into an unlocked position;
- and
- g) an o-ring seal groove disposed concentrically on the door, the seal groove further comprising an o-ring seal disposed therein.
10 more elements
An improved pressure vessel or pipeline, the improvement comprising:
- a closure device welded or bolted thereto, wherein the closure device comprises:
- a hub comprising a central opening configured to correspond to an opening in the pressure vessel or pipeline;
- a door configured to contact the hub and close access to the hub central opening;
- a hinge assembly operatively coupling the door to the hub;
- a split annular ring assembly operatively coupled attached to the hub and further comprising opposing ring sections configured to move between an open position to a closed position, the opposing ring sections each comprising an inner channel configured to engage corresponding flange elements disposed on both the door and the hub;
- an actuating mechanism configured to cause the split annular ring assembly to engage the flange elements thereby fastening the door to the hub, the actuating mechanism comprising:
- blocks attached to each of the opposing ring sections, each block comprising a longitudinal through-hole comprising an axis substantially parallel with a plane defined by the split annular ring assembly, wherein the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks substantially align with each other when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position,
- toggle linkages disposed on anterior and posterior sides of a first of the blocks operatively coupling the first of the blocks to a toggle handle, the toggle handle operatively coupling a second of the blocks to the toggle linkages, the toggle handle configured to move the opposing ring sections between the open and closed positions, and
- wherein the toggle linkages further comprise second longitudinal through-holes configured to align with the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position;
- a locking pin configured to inhibit movement of the actuating mechanism when the actuating mechanism is in a locked position, the locking pin further comprising:
- a cylindrical pin comprising a diameter substantially corresponding to the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks and the toggle linkages, and
- a locking pin handle shaft comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the cylindrical pin, the locking pin handle shaft substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical pin, and wherein the locking pin handle shaft is disposed through a closed slot disposed through a sidewall of a stem housing operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking pin handle shaft is constrained within the closed slot so that the locking pin is configured not to be removed from the stem housing when the actuating mechanism is operated to expand the split annular ring assembly into an unlocked position;
- and
- a pressure alert assembly operatively coupled to the hub, the pressure alert assembly configured to inhibit movement of the locking pin when the actuating mechanism is in the locked position.
11 more elements
An improved pressure vessel or pipeline, the improvement comprising:
- a closure device welded or bolted thereto, the closure device comprising:
- a hub comprising a central opening configured to correspond to an opening in the pressure vessel or pipeline, the hub further comprising a concentric recess disposed around the central opening;
- a door configured to contact the hub and close access to the hub central opening, the door further comprising a concentric protrusion, the concentric protrusion configured to seat within the concentric recess when the door is fastened to the hub;
- a hinge assembly operatively coupling the door to the hub;
- a split annular ring assembly operatively coupled attached to the hub and further comprising opposing ring sections configured to move between an open position to a closed position, the opposing ring sections each comprising an inner channel configured to engage corresponding flange elements disposed on both the door and the hub;
- an actuating mechanism configured to cause the split annular ring assembly to engage the flange elements thereby fastening the door to the hub, the actuating mechanism comprising:
- blocks attached to each of the opposing ring sections, each block comprising a longitudinal through-hole comprising an axis substantially parallel with a plane defined by the split annular ring assembly, wherein the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks substantially align with each other when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position,
- toggle linkages disposed on anterior and posterior sides of a first of the blocks operatively coupling the first of the blocks to a toggle handle, the toggle handle operatively coupling a second of the blocks to the toggle linkages, the toggle handle configured to move the opposing ring sections between the open and closed positions, and
- wherein the toggle linkages further comprise second longitudinal through-holes configured to align with the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks when the opposing ring sections are in the closed position;
- a locking pin configured to inhibit movement of the actuating mechanism when the actuating mechanism is in a locked position, the locking pin further comprising:
- a cylindrical pin comprising a diameter substantially corresponding to the longitudinal through-holes of the blocks and the toggle linkages, and
- a locking pin handle shaft comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the cylindrical pin, the locking pin handle shaft substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical pin, and wherein the locking pin handle shaft is disposed through a closed slot disposed through a sidewall of a stem housing operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking pin handle shaft is constrained within the closed slot so that the locking pin is configured not to be removed from the stem housing when the actuating mechanism is operated to expand the split annular ring assembly into an unlocked position;
- and
- an o-ring seal groove disposed concentrically on the door, the seal groove further comprising an o-ring seal disposed therein.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.