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.
Claims27
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;
- a locking pin configured to inhibit movement of the actuating mechanism when the actuating mechanism is in a locked position, the locking pin configured not to be removed from the actuating mechanism;
- 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.
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, 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;
- and
- an o-ring seal groove disposed concentrically on the door, the seal groove further comprising an o-ring seal disposed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.