DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR A PRESSURE VESSEL

• US 3,623,627 A
• Filed: 08/22/1969
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan S. Bolton
• Original Assignee: Alan S. Bolton
• Inventors: Bolton, Alan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Application Number:
  US04/852,205
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 220/41,47 49/221
• US Class Current: 220/252
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 13/02 Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures F16J13/16, F16J13/22 take precedence

Abstract

Means for closing and sealing an opening in the wall of a pressure vessel, including a door member carried on tracks attached to the inside of the vessel wall. The door is movable along the tracks between an open position allowing access through the opening into the interior of the vessel, and a closed position blocking the opening. The opening is surrounded by a seal assembly which includes a grooved member on the inside surface of the vessel wall. When in the closed position, the door member is urged against the grooved member by cam members on the tracks. A flexible seal contained by the grooved member is thereafter urged into contact with the adjacent surfaces of the closed door to provide a pressuretight seal between the door member and the vessel wall.

Claims

1. For use with a pressure vessel having an opening in the vessel wall which provides access into the interior of the vessel, means for closing said opening comprising:

track means including a pair of spaced parallel track members located in the interior of the vessel adjacent to opposite sides of the opening, said track means further including cam members attached to said track members, said cam members having operating surfaces spaced laterally from and sloping relative to said track members;

seal means on the interior surface of the vessel wall surrounding said opening;

a door assembly carried by said track means for movement between an open position allowing access into the vessel through said opening, and a closed position blocking said opening, said door assembly including wheel members arranged to roll along said track members, said wheel members having laterally extending circular shoulders arranged to contact and roll along said operating surfaces, the positioning of said cam members being such that the contact between said operating surfaces and said shoulders will cause the door assembly to be pushed laterally away from said track members into engagement with said seal means when the door assembly is moved to the closed position; and

operating means on the exterior of the vessel for moving said door assembly between said open and closed positions.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam members are adjustably attached to said track members for selective positioning along the length thereof.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating means is comprised of at least one double-acting cylinder assembly made up of a cylinder containing a reciprocating piston with a piston rod extending therefrom, said assembly being pivotally attached to both said door assembly and the exterior surface oF the vessel wall.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by latch means for locking said piston rod relative to said cylinder when said door assembly is moved to the open position.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said piston rod is pivotally connected to said door assembly by means including a pin member extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder assembly, and wherein said latch means includes holding members pivotally mounted on said cylinder for movement between raised inoperative positions above the path travelled by said transverse pin member, and lowered operative positions across the said path, whereby when the door assembly is moved to the open position, said transverse pin member is engaged and held by said holding members until such time as the holding members are manually raised to their inoperative positions.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further characterized by means on said piston rod for contacting and depressing said holding members from their inoperative positions to their operative positions when said piston rod is extended to move said door assembly to the closed position.

7. Means for closing an opening in the wall of a pressure vessel comprising:

track means in the interior of the vessel adjacent to the opening in the vessel wall;

a door assembly carried by said track means;

operating means on the exterior of the vessel for moving said door assembly along said track means between an open position allowing access into the interior of the vessel through said opening and a closed position blocking said opening, said operating means including at least one double-acting cylinder assembly made up of a cylinder containing a reciprocating piston with a piston rod extending axially therefrom, said cylinder being pivotally mounted on the exterior surface of the vessel wall and said piston rod being pivotally attached to said door assembly by means including a pin member extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder assembly; and

latch means for locking said piston rod relative to said cylinder when the door assembly is moved to the open position, said latch means including holding members pivotally mounted on said cylinder for movement between raised inoperative positions above the path travelled by said transverse pin member, and lowered operative positions across said path, whereby when the door assembly is moved to the open position, said transverse pin member is engaged and held by said holding members until such time as the holding members are manually raised to their respective positions.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by means on said piston rod for contacting and depressing said holding members from their inoperative positions to their operative positions when said piston rod is extended to move said door assembly to the closed position.