Closure for a pressure vessel and method
AssigneeRobbins & Myers Energy Systems L.P.
InventorDouglas J. McGuire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure assembly 10 contains positive and/or vacuum pressure within a pressure vessel 16 having a neck 12. A circumferential locking member 22 supported on a door 20 locks the door to the neck, and is radially moveable between an open position and a closed position. A seal 26 between the neck and the door maintains fluid-tight integrity. A lever or other hand powered operator may be used for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position. The locking member may include locking segments interconnected to form the circumferential locking member.
Claims28
A closure for sealing with a pressure vessel, the closure comprising:
- a neck for attaching to the vessel, the neck having an access port and an interior profile for radially receiving a circumferential locking member when a door is in the closed position;
- the door sized to close off the access port in the neck;
- the circumferential locking member carried by the door for locking the door to the neck, locking member comprising a plurality of locking segments and a flexible circumferential band positioned within a slot opening to a radially inward surface of each locking segment, the locking member being radially moveable between a radially retracted open position and a radially expanded closed position;
- a seal for sealing between the neck and the door when the locking member is in the closed position;
- and
- an operator for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position.
A closure for sealing with a pressure vessel, the closure comprising:
- a neck for attaching to the vessel, the neck having an access port and an interior profile for radially receiving a locking member when a door is in the closed position;
- the door sized to close off the access port in the neck and fit within the neck when the door is closed;
- the locking member carried by the door for locking the door to the neck, the locking member including a plurality of locking segments each interconnected with a circumferential band angled at from 10° to 40° with respect to a centerline of the access port, the locking members being radially moveable with the circumferential band between an open position and a closed position;
- a seal for sealing between the neck and the door when the locking member is in the closed position;
- and
- an operator for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position.
A closure for sealing with a pressure vessel, the closure comprising:
- a neck for attaching to the vessel, the neck having an access port and an interior profile for radially receiving a locking member when a door is in the closed position;
- the door sized to close off the access port in the neck and fit within the neck when the door is closed;
- the locking member carried by the door for locking the door to the neck, the locking member including a plurality of locking segments each interconnected with a circumferential band angled with respect to a centerline of the access port, the locking members being radially moveable with the circumferential band between an open position and a closed position;
- a seal for sealing between the neck and the door when the locking member is in the closed position;
- and
- an operator for moving the locking member between the open position and the closed position;
- the seal comprising an elastomer seal formed by mating ends of an extruded seal material;
- and
- a back-up ring structurally independent of the seal material to support the elastomeric seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.