Receptacles – Closures – Having means for securing or retaining closure in its closed...
Patent
1995-04-21
1997-08-19
Shoap, Allan N.
Receptacles
Closures
Having means for securing or retaining closure in its closed...
220326, 29225671, B65D 4524
Patent
active
056578920
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pressure vessels and, in particular, to closures for pressure vessels. Pressure vessels of different sizes and strengths depending on the amounts treated therein and on the pressures utilized during process, are utilized in the chemical and other process technology industries in a variety of applications. Accordingly, the closures for such process vessels must be adapted to satisfy a variety of conditions.
2. Description of Prior Art
Closures for pressure vessels having a collar which can be connected to the pressure vessel and a cap, a seal disposed in the area where the cap and the collar contact each other, and a plurality of clamping elements for generating a surface pressure between the collar and the cap are known. These known closures are mostly relatively complicated welded structures which, although they have been dimensioned and calculated beforehand, must later on be checked during extensive tests, even though the type per se has been accepted. In addition, closures of this type require long processing times which result in high manufacturing costs.
In most cases, the caps of such closures, if they are pivotably hinged on the collar, are provided with a hinge mounted on welded-on brackets, which, when the cap is opened, hit the wall of the vessel, which may lead to deformations.
The clamping elements by which the cap is pushed closed, usually are lever systems which are fixed in place, welded on the collar and pivotably attached and are expensive and cannot be changed. The number of the clamping elements cannot be changed, even if the cap is exchanged. In most cases, the entire closure must be replaced, provided this is possible at all.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a closure for pressure vessels of the type described hereinabove which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned.
This object is attained by closure for pressure vessels comprising a collar which can be connected to the pressure vessel, a cap, a seal disposed in the area where the cap and the collar contact each other and a plurality of clamping elements for generating a surface pressure between the collar and the cap. The collar comprises an integral sealing flange having an upper flat sealing surface and a lower circumferential annular bead having at least a partially circular cross section. A plurality of C-shaped clamps are displaceably, releasably and form-fittingly secured on said lower circumferential annular bead, thereby constituting clamping elements. In an operational state, the clamping elements press on an edge portion of the cap resting on the flange of the collar. Because the cap and the collar are separate structures, and because the plurality of clamping elements which engage the collar are displaceable and removable, different caps of different thickness with a differing number of clamping elements can be installed. Variation of the cap is also possible where the collar is a ring which can be welded to the pressure vessel.
However, the collar can also be embodied as a ring which can be screwed on the vessel. In this case the vessel is provided with a flange on which the collar is exchangeably fastened. In this way, it is possible to provide a certain amount of variation in the collar diameters.
Because every cap is designed for a specific pressure and therefore, must have the correct number of clamping elements for engaging the correct places, the cap of the closure in accordance with one embodiment of this invention comprises an edge portion forming a circumferential positioning groove which, in an operational state, is engaged by an interlocking, centered, annular bar projecting beyond the sealing surface of the sealing flange of the collar. This embodiment also prevents pinching and destruction of seals as is known to occur during closing of known closures for pressure vessels.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of this invention, the annular bar is disposed on the flan
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Bolli Heinz
Wyss Markus
Hylton Robin A.
Shoap Allan N.
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