Closure for a pressure vessel and method
AssigneeRobbins & Myers Energy Systems L.P.
InventorDouglas J. McGuire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure assembly 10 contains positive and/or vacuum pressure within a pressure vessel 16 having a neck 12. A circumferential locking member 22 supported on a door 20 locks the door to the neck, and is radially moveable between an open position and a closed position. A seal 26 between the neck and the door maintains fluid-tight integrity. A lever or other hand powered operator may be used for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position. The locking member may include locking segments interconnected to form the circumferential locking member.
Claims27
A closure for sealing with a pressure vessel, the closure comprising:
- a neck for attaching to the vessel, the neck having an access port and an interior profile for radially receiving a circumferential locking member when the door is in the closed position;
- a door sized to close off the access port in the neck;
- the circumferential locking member carried by the door for locking the door to the neck, locking member comprising a plurality of locking segments and a flexible circumferential band positioned within a slot in each locking segment, the locking member being radially moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- a seal for sealing between the neck and the door when the locking member is in the closed position;
- and
- an operator for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position.
A closure for sealing with a pressure vessel, the closure comprising:
- a neck for attaching to the vessel, the neck having an access port and an interior profile for radially receiving a locking member when the door is in the closed position;
- a door sized to close off the access port in the neck and fit within the neck when the door is closed;
- the locking member carried by the door for locking the door to the neck, the locking member including a plurality of locking segments each interconnected with a circumferential band angled with respect to a centerline of the access port, the locking members being radially moveable with the circumferential band between an open position and a closed position;
- a seal for sealing between the neck and the door when the locking member is in the closed position;
- and
- an operator for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position.
A method of opening and closing a door sized to close off an axis port in a neck attached to a pressure vessel, the method comprising:
- supporting a locking member on a door for locking the door to the neck;
- providing a circumferential locking member moveable between an open position for opening the door from the neck and a closed position to close off the access port in the neck with the door, the locking member including a plurality of locking segments interconnected by a circumferential band;
- providing an interior profile in the neck for radially receiving the locking member when the door is in the closed position;
- providing a seal formed by mating ends of an extruded seal material;
- providing a back-up ring for supporting the seal;
- moving the locking member from the open position wherein the locking ring is radially retracted to the closed position wherein the locking member is radially expanded into the interior profile in the neck;
- and
- sealing between the door and the neck when the locking member is in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.