Pressure vessel safety lock apparatus

A locking device for restricting access to a hatch of a pressure vessel, comprising:

• a first portion and a second portion coupled to each other and configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein in said closed configuration said first portion and said second portion are arranged to prevent levers of cam locks used to lock the hatch from being moved into an unlocked position, so as to prevent the hatch of a pressure vessel from being opened;
• a pressure-responsive locking member comprising a cylinder assembly having a body portion and a reciprocating cylinder rod that is extendable from a retracted position to an extended position;
• a latch plate pivotally mounted to said first portion and configurable between an unlatched position and a latched position;
• wherein said latched position of said latch plate is arranged to retain said first and second portions in said closed configuration;
• wherein said pressure-responsive locking member fluidly communicates with an outlet port of the pressure vessel;
• and
• wherein said pressure-responsive locking member is arranged to automatically extend the cylinder rod to couple said latch plate to said first portion or said second portion to retain said first and second portions in said closed configuration by preventing said latch plate from changing to an unlatched position when the pressure inside of the pressure vessel rises above a predetermined threshold.

A locking device mountable to a hatch of a pressure vessel, comprising:

• a first half portion and a second half portion mounted to each other at rearward ends and configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein in said closed configuration said first half portion and said second half portion are arranged to prevent the hatch of a pressure vessel from being opened;
• a latch plate pivotally mounted to said first half portion and configurable between an unlatched position and a latched position;
• wherein said latched position of said latch plate is arranged to retain said first and second half portions in said closed configuration;
• a pressure-responsive locking member mounted to said latch plate and comprising a cylinder assembly having a body portion and a reciprocating cylinder rod that is extendable from a retracted position to an extended position;
• wherein said first and second half portions are pivotally mounted to each other at the rearward ends and are arranged to encircle the hatch of the pressure vessel in said closed configuration;
• an elongate tethering member extending from a forward end of said first half portion to a forward end of said second half portion, said forward ends of said first and second half portions being opposite said pivotally mounted rearwards ends of said first and second half portions;
• wherein said pressure-responsive locking member fluidly communicates with an outlet port of the pressure vessel;
• and
• wherein said pressure-responsive locking member is arranged to automatically extend the cylinder rod to couple said latch plate to said first portion or said second portion to retain said first and second half portions in said closed configuration by preventing said latch plate from changing to an unlatched position when the pressure inside of the pressure vessel is above a predetermined threshold.