Automated top head and stem guide assembly for coking drums

A top head cover device for pivotal removal and replacement of a head cover unit onto an upper flanged connector unit attached onto a vertical vessel, comprising:

• (a) a flanged connector unit having a lower flange plate and an upper flange plate which are separated by a cylindrical-shaped connecting conduit, said unit having a bore extending axially therethrough, said lower flange plate being attachable pressure-tightly onto a top flange of a vessel;
• (b) a top head cover unit pivotally attached onto said lower flanged plate at a first location, said head cover unit being attachable pressure-tightly onto said upper flange plate and being pivotable from a first lower position to a second upper position;
• and
• (c) a lifting mechanism including dual jack screws and a transverse beam which is pivotally attached to the upper side of said head cover unit and is movably attached at opposite ends to one of the jack screws, each said jack screw having a lower end pivotally attached to said lower flange plate;
• actuator motor drive means attached to the transverse beam for raising the top head cover unit from the first lower position to the second upper position relative to said flanged connector unit, and then lowered to engage said upper flange plate by operation of the actuator motor drive means of said transverse beam.

A stem guide device for attachment onto a top flange of a vertical vessel for closing a top flanged opening of the vessel, said device comprising:

• (a) a flanged connector unit having a lower flange plate and an upper flange plate which are separated by a cylindrical-shaped connecting conduit, said unit having an axial bore extending therethrough said lower flange plate being attached pressure-tightly onto a top flange of a vessel;
• (b) a stem guide unit pivotally attached onto said lower flange plate, said stem guide unit being sized so as to cover the bore extending through said connector unit, and includes a lower base plate member having a central opening therein, and including dual horizontally movable clamping parts pivotally attached to the upper side of said lower base plate member;
• and
• (c) piston actuator means pivotally attached at one end to said lower flange plate and pivotally attached at its other end to said lower base plate member of said stem guide unit, whereby said stem guide unit can be pivotally lowered by said actuator means from a substantially upright position to a substantially horizontal position to cover the bore extending through said connector unit and then pivotally raised again to the substantially upright position.

A top head and stem guide assembly for alternately opening and closing a top head opening in a vertically-oriented vessel, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a flanged connector unit having a lower flange plate and an upper flange plate separated by a cylindrical-shaped connecting conduit provided therebetween, said unit having an axial bore extending therethrough, said lower flange plate being attachable pressure-tightly onto a top flange of the vessel;
• (b) a top head cover unit pivotally attached onto said lower flange plate at a first location and pivotable from a first lower position to a second upper position;
• (c) a lifting means pivotally attached at a lower end to said lower flange plate at a second location and pivotally attached to its upper end to the upper side of said cover unit, said lifting means including dual jack screws and a transverse beam unit movably attached to the dual jack screws, each of said jack screws pivotally attached at a lower end to said lower flange plate, and actuator motor drive means attached to the transverse beam unit for vertically moving the transverse beam unit on the dual jack screws, and
• (d) a stem guide unit pivotally attached onto said lower flange plate at a location substantially diametrically opposite the first attachment location of said head cover unit, said stem guide unit including a lower base plate member having a central opening therein and dual horizontally movable clamping parts pivotally attached to said lower base plate member;
• piston actuator means for pivotally moving said stem guide unit relative to said flanged connector unit;
• whereby said head cover unit can be pivotally raised to a substantially upright position, and said stem guide unit can be pivotally lowered from a substantially upright position to cover the bore extending through said connector unit.