Vessel screen retaining system and method
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsNathaniel Hull, Adam Lisbeth, William Sammler, John Tilley
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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.
Claims18
A screen assembly of an impregnator vessel, the screen assembly comprising:
- a plurality of fixed elements;
- and
- a retainer including,
- an outer ring,
- an inner ring,
- a plurality of wedges disposed about the outer ring and the inner ring, and
- a plurality of keyholes at spaced locations about the outer ring and the inner ring,
- each keyhole comprising a bore and a slot extending from the bore into an adjacent wedge of the plurality of wedges, the slots having a width less than a width of the bores, whereby the retainer may receive the plurality of 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 plurality of wedges.
A method of changing a screen of a screen assembly of a treatment vessel, comprising:
- placing a first side of the screen adjacent a grate;
- placing a retainer adjacent an opposite side of the screen, the retainer including,
- an outer ring,
- an inner ring,
- a plurality of wedges disposed about the outer ring and the inner ring, and
- a plurality of keyholes at spaced locations about the outer ring and the inner ring;
- and
- releasably clamping the screen between the grate and the retainer, wherein releasably clamping the screen includes,
- extending a plurality of lugs through the screen and the plurality of keyholes of the retainer during the placing of the screen and the retainer, and
- rotating the retainer until the plurality of lugs simultaneously engage the plurality of wedges,
- wherein the screen is clamped between the retainer and the grate when the plurality of lugs are engaged, and
- wherein the screen and the retainer are removable from the grate upon simultaneous disengagement of the plurality of lugs from the plurality of wedges by counter rotation of the retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.