Pressure-retaining disk

An apparatus for sealingly closing an entry to a pressure vessel wherein said pressure vessel includes a sensor assembly, said assembly including a plurality of sensors at least partially inserted within the vessel through an opening, the apparatus comprising:

• a pressure-retaining disk having a plurality of sensor-receiving bores therethrough, said bores being interconnected by a passage, the passage in the disk being non-perpendicular to the bores which the passage connects, said bores and passage together forming a network, said sensors passing through the bores;
• and
• means for mounting the pressure-retaining disk to the vessel at the opening in the vessel.

The apparatus of 4 wherein the means for mounting the disk comprises:

• fastener means located at the opening to the vessel;
• and,
• a tubular body having an opening through which the plurality of sensors are introduced into the vessel, the tubular body being connecting between the disk and the fastener means.

An apparatus for introducing a plurality of sensors into a pressure vessel through an opening therein, said apparatus comprising:

• a pressure-retaining disk, said pressure-retaining disk having a plurality of bores therethrough, said bores being interconnected by a passage, the passage being non-perpendicular to the bores which the passage connects, said bores and passage together forming a network, said sensors passing through the bores;
• and
• means for mounting said disk to the vessel at the opening in the vessel such that pressure is retained.

A method of manufacturing a pressure-retaining disk comprising the steps of:

• positioning sensors through at least some bores of a multi-bored disk such that the sensors extend beyond the disk, said disk including a passage between bores, the passage being non-perpendicular to the bores which the passage connects;
• connecting the sensors to the disk.