Receptacles – Closures – Having means for securing or retaining closure in its closed...
Patent
1995-05-17
1998-02-10
Garbe, Stephen P.
Receptacles
Closures
Having means for securing or retaining closure in its closed...
220562, 220DIG24, 220DIG20, 10537711, 10537701, 29225665, 292DIG11, B65D 4534
Patent
active
057159653
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sealing devices, and particularly to a device for sealing a hatch of the type provided in tankers, submarines, etc.
As is well known, such hatches are prone to leaking. For example, in road and rail tankers, the or each hatch provided at the top of the tanker comprises a compartment hatch cover which fits over the compartment manhole. The hatch cover is provided with a number of features including a pressure vacuum vent, a dip tube, and an inspection hatch. Although it will be apparent that leaks could occur at each of the features in the hatch cover, as well as the edge of the hatch cover itself, when there is an accident such as the tanker rolling over, such leaks even occur when the tanker is normally parked on an incline.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sealing device for a hatch which can be positioned around a leaking hatch to prevent, or at least reduce leakage.
Accordingly, the invention provides a sealing device for a hatch, the sealing device comprising a generally cylindrical member having an open end for fitting around the hatch, said member having its other end closed in a fluid-tight manner, and means for maintaining the cylindrical member in radial compression against a flange provided around the hatch to seal said cylindrical member to said flange.
The flange could be a flange on a wall supporting the hatch cover, or could be a separate flange attached, for example by welding, around the hatch.
In a preferred embodiment, the means for maintaining the cylindrical member in compression comprises a split band arranged around the cylindrical member and having means for pulling the two ends of the split band together so as to tighten the band around the cylindrical member. Preferably, the means for pulling the two ends together comprises a tongue attached to one of the ends and a lever rotatably mounted to the other of the ends and biased against the tongue, whereby, when the lever is rotated, the tongue is biased thus moving the one of the ends towards the other of the ends.
Preferably, the tongue slides within a guide in the other of the ends and is provided with a flange, through which extends a longitudinal member, biases against the flange and coupled to the lever at a point adjacent the rotational axis of the lever. The longitudinal member is preferably provided with means for adjusting the bias of the member.
In one embodiment, the open end of the member is provided with a lip around the rim thereof, the lip being adapted for fitting to a groove in the flange around the hatch.
In another embodiment, the open end of the member can be fitted over a flange having a ridge therearound for compressing over the ridge.
According to a second aspect, the invention provides a substantially cylindrical band for permanently attaching around a hatch in a surface of, for example, a road or rail tanker or a submarine, the cylindrical band having a flange to which the hatch sealing device as described above can be sealed.
The flange can be provided with a ridge or a groove to which the member described above can be sealed.
According to a third aspect, the invention provides a road or rail tanker having one or more cylindrical bands of the type described above permanently attached thereto. The sealing device includes an annular spacing assembly, said annular spacing assembly having an internal diameter sized to engage the outermost surface of the hatch and an external diameter sized to engage the innermost surface of the generally cylindrical member, wherein said assembly is compressible by the means for radially compressing the generally cylindrical member.
In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a flange comprising a substantially annular member for fitting around a hatch in a surface of, for example, a road or rail tanker or a submarine, the annular member having sealing means around the internal diameter thereof for sealing to an upstanding wall of the hatch and being compressible
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Anti-Spill Technology PTY. Limited
Garbe Stephen P.
Newhouse Nathan
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