Latch assembly for use with an inversion drum
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsCraig Lawrence Noggle, Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa, Steven W. Wentworth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hinged cover overlays an opening that provides access to a pressurized inversion drum. A releasable latch assembly holds the cover in a closed and locked position. The latch assembly comprises a plurality of first knuckles formed in the cover that are interlaceable with a plurality of second knuckles formed in the body adjacent the opening. The latch assembly further comprises a rotatable latch pin that may be installed within the first and second knuckles. The latch assembly is moved from an unlocked to a locked position by rotation of the latch pin within the knuckles.
Claims23
An apparatus, comprising:
- a pressurized inversion drum comprising:
- a body having an opening formed therein, the opening surrounded by an outer body edge;
- a plurality of exposed notches formed in the outer body edge;
- a cover having opposed inner and outer surfaces and an outer cover edge, the cover positioned over the opening and movable between an open position and a closed position;
- a rotatable latch pin;
- a rotatable handle coupled to the body;
- in which rotation of the handle moves the rotatable latch pin between an unlocked position and a locked position;
- a plurality of knuckles projecting from the outer cover edge;
- in which the outer cover edge is sealed against the outer body edge when the cover is in the closed position;
- in which the plurality of knuckles mate with the plurality of exposed notches in a one-to-one relationship when the cover is in the locked position thereby preventing the cover from being removed from the opening and in which the plurality of knuckles and plurality of exposed notches form a plurality of passages;
- in which the rotatable latch pin is installed within the plurality of passages;
- and
- in which the cover is configured to be removed from the opening when the latch pin is in the unlocked position;
- a groove formed within the inner surface of the cover;
- a seal installed within the groove;
- in which the seal engages the outer body edge when the cover is in the closed position;
- and
- a window formed within the cover such that an interior of the body is viewable through the window.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a pressurized inversion drum comprising:
- a body having an opening formed therein, the opening surrounded by an outer body edge;
- a plurality of exposed notches formed in the outer body edge;
- a cover having opposed inner and outer surfaces and an outer cover edge, the cover positioned over the opening and movable between an open position and a closed position ;
- in which the outer cover edge is sealed against the outer body edge when the cover is in the closed position;
- a rotatable handle coupled to the body;
- in which rotation of the handle moves a latch pin from an unlocked position to a locked position;
- a plurality of knuckles projecting from the outer cover edge;
- in which the plurality of exposed notches are characterized as a first plurality of exposed notches, and a second exposed notch is formed within each of the plurality of knuckles, the second exposed notch configured to mate with a corresponding one of the first plurality of notches so as to form a passage;
- in which the plurality of knuckles are configured to mate with the plurality of exposed notches in a one-to-one relationship when the latch pin is in the locked position, thereby preventing the cover from being removed from the opening;
- and
- in which the cover is configured to be removed from the opening when the latch pin is in the unlocked position;
- a groove formed within the inner surface of the cover;
- a seal installed within the groove;
- in which the cover compresses the seal against the outer body edge when the latch pin is in the locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.