Access union

In a container for fluids including wall means having interior and exterior surface means, the said interior and exterior surface means defining the interior and exterior of the container for fluids respectively, the wall means having an opening therethrough which permits communication between the said interior and exterior surface means, the improvement which comprises an access union installed on the said exterior surface means around the said opening in the wall means to thereby provide access to the said interior of the container for fluids, the access union comprising a weldable short axially extending access member having inner and outer termini, the access member having a non-internally threaded axially extending opening extending between the said outer terminus thereof and the said inner terminus thereof to thereby provide a passageway for fluid to flow longitudinally therethrough, a short axially extending conduit receiving member having inner and outer termini, the conduit receiving member having an axially extending opening extending between the said inner terminus thereof and the said outer terminus thereof to thereby provide a passageway for fluid to flow longitudinally therethrough, the said openings in the access member and conduit receiving member having approximately the same internal diameters, the outside diameter of the access member being generally larger than the outside diameter of the conduit receiving member and the access member being relatively uniformly thick walled and the conduit receiving member being relatively thin walled along most of its length, the said inner terminus of the access member including first pressure sealing means around the said opening therein, the said inner terminus of the conduit receiving member including second pressure sealing means around the said opening therein, the said first and second pressure sealing means cooperating to form a fluid tight seal therebetween with the opening in the conduit receiving member being in communication with the opening in the access member when force is applied to the access member and conduit receiving member longitudinally in directions toward their respective inner termini, detachable means carried by the access member and the conduit receiving member for releasably applying force thereto longitudinally in directions toward their respective inner termini, the said detachable force applying means being adapted to be mounted in an effective force applying relationship on the relatively large outside diameter outer surface of the access member and the relatively small outside diameter outer surface of the conduit receiving member, the said first and second pressure sealing means being urged into a fluid tight sealing relationship and the opening in the conduit receiving member being in communication with the opening in the access member when the said detachable force applying means is carried by the access member and the conduit receiving member and the said force is applied thereto, the said first and second pressure sealing means being rendered ineffective to form a fluid tight seal therebetween and the opening in the conduit receiving member being out of assured communication with the opening in the access member when the said detachable force applying means is no longer carried by the access member and the conduit receiving member and the said force is no longer applied thereto, the access member including means adjacent the outer terminus thereof for adapting it to be permanently installed by welding on the said exterior surface means around the said opening in the wall means with the said opening in the access member being in communication with the said interior surface means to thereby provide access to the interior of the container for fluids, the said adapting means on the access member including an annular welding bevel around the said opening in the outer terminus thereof, the welding bevel being tapered toward the outer terminus of the access member and inward toward the outer terminus of the said opening therewith and terminating adjacent the outer terminus of the said opening therein, the outer terminus of the access member having a configuration which substantially conforms with the contour of the said wall of the container for fluids to thereby aid in permanently installing the access member thereon by welding along the said welding bevel, and the conduit receiving member including means adjacent the outer terminus thereof for attaching a conduit for fluid thereto whereby the interior of the said conduit is in communication successively with the said opening in the conduit receiving member and the said opening in the access member.