Pressure lock assembly and pressure vessel

A pressure lock assembly for use between first and second independently pressurized areas, said pressure lock assembly being actuated when said first area has a substantially higher pressure than said second area, said pressure lock assembly being deactuated when said areas have substantially uniform pressures, said pressure lock assembly comprising:

• first and second body members, said first body member having an inner surface bounding said first area and an outer surface bounding said second area, said first body member having a through-opening extending between said surfaces, said through-opening having inner and outer ends, said body members being displaceable between an open position wherein said body members are at least partially disengaged and a closed position wherein said body members are closely engaged;
• a flexure member disposed adjacent said inner end of said through-opening, said flexure member being disposed in a relaxed configuration wherein said flexure member is loosely disposed in proximity to said first body member, when said areas have said substantially uniform pressures, said flexure member being disposed in a pressurized configuration wherein said flexure member is pressed tightly against said first body member, when said first area has said substantially higher pressure than said second area;
• a latch disposed on said first body member, said latch having a stem extending through said through-opening, said stem having a catch disposed adjacent said outer end of said through-opening and a foot disposed at said inner end of said through-opening, said latch being resiliently pivotable by said flexure member, about a pivot axis offset from said stem, from a uniform pressure position wherein said first body member is displaceable from said second body member and said said flexure member is in communication with said through-opening, to a differential pressure position wherein said catch retains said first body member against said second body member in pressure-tight relation and said foot seals said through-opening from said flexure member.

A pressure vessel for use with a heat source to heat a fluid within said pressure vessel from ambient pressure liquid to superambient pressure steam and to condense said steam within said pressure vessel to ambient pressure liquid, said pressure vessel comprising:

• a body having first and second body members, said first body member having a through-opening, said through-opening having inner and outer ends, said members being displaceable between an open position wherein said members are at least partially disengaged and a closed position wherein said members are closely engaged and define a pressure chamber for said fluid;
• a flexure member disposed adjacent said inner end of said through-opening, said flexure member, in the presence of said ambient pressure liquid, being disposed in an unexpanded configuration wherein said flexure member loosely engages said first body member, said flexure member, in the presence of said superambient pressure steam, being disposed in an expanded configuration wherein said flexure member presses tightly against said first body member;
• a latch mounted on said first body member, said latch having a stem extending through said through-opening, said stem having a catch disposed at said outer end of said through-opening and a foot disposed at said inner end of said through-opening, said latch being movable by said flexure member, relative to said first body member, from an uniform pressure position wherein said first body member is displaceable from said second body member and said said flexure member is in communication with said through-opening, to a differential pressure position wherein said catch retains said first body member against said second body member in pressure-tight relation and said foot seals said through-opening from said flexure member.