LOCKING DEVICE FOR THE LID OF A PRESSURE VESSEL

• US 3,856,338 A
• Filed: 04/18/1973
• Issued: 12/24/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erik Borje Johnsson
• Original Assignee: Erik Borje Johnsson
• Inventors: Johnsson, Erik Borje
• Primary Examiner(s): Frazier, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aschenbrenner, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US05/352,224
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 292/256,256.6,256.65,201,227
• US Class Current: 292/256
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 13/08 attached by one or more members actuated to project behind a part or parts of the frame similar constructions for doors or windows E05C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 13/06 Sealing-plugs for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/20 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/212 With expanding or contracting means

Abstract

A remote controlled locking device comprising a plurality of support legs which are to be applied between a shoulder on a pressure vessel and a shoulder on the lid, which rests on a collar in the vessel. Each leg is pivotably fitted on a support plate, which is movable towards the edge of the lid. A hydraulic slide is arranged to move vertically close to the leg. The slide is connected by means of a link arm to the leg in order to pivot this to and from engagement with the shoulder The slide is connected by means of a spring loaded link arm to the plate to move this towards the edge of the lid so that a wedge on the slide can engage the plate to tighten up the leg.

Claims

1. Locking device for the lid of a pressure vessel, comprising a plurality of support legs (10) arranged along the circumference of the lid (25), a shoulder (25a) on the lid for the lower end of the support legs and a shoulder (27) on the pressure vessel (28) for the upper end of the support legs, characterised in that the lower end of the support leg is pivotably fitted on a support plate (8), that the support plate (8) is movable perpendicularly to the circumference of the lid, that a hydraulically or pneumatically driven slide (4) is arranged to be movable substantially vertically close to the support leg (10), that the slide (4) is connected by means of a link arm to the support leg (10) in order to pivot this to engage or disengage with the shoulder (27) on the pressure vessel, that by means of a spring load link arm (18) the slide is connected to the support plate (8) to move the support plate perpendicularly outwards towards the circumference of the lid to tighten up the support leg and to permit a wedge (7) to be applied against the support plate, and that the wedge (7) is arranged to be moved by the slide (4) into engagement with the support plate (8) to force this into a position where the support leg (10) is tightly clamped between the pressure vessel and the lid and to lock the support plate in this position.

2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that a support ring (3) is applied loosely on the peripheral shoulder (25a) of the lid (25).

3. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the slide (4) is permanently connected to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (1), the piston rod (2) of which is fitted against the ring (3).

4. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the slide (4) is arranged to run along the piston rod (2).

5. Locking device according to claim 1, in which a toroid seal (23) is arranged between the lid (25) and a sealing seat on the vessel (29) so that the toroid seal (23) has an outer ring flange clamped against the sealing seat by means of a plurality of yokes, characterised in that the toroid seal (23) has an inner ring flange (24) applied between the ring (3) and the shoulder (25a) of the lid (25), so that the ring flange (24) is clamped to sealing engagement against the lid (25) when the locking device is applied.

6. Locking device according to claim 4, characterised in that the ring (3), together with the locking devices, can be lifted from the lid (25) in order to allow convenient manipulation of a seal (23) below the ring (3).

7. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support plate (8) is controlled by a guide strip (9) arranged perpendicular to the circumference of the lid, on the ring (3).

8. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that a yoke (28) which is applied against the slide (4) and the lid (25) after the lid has been clamped, is arranged on the lid (25) to stop the slide (4) from being unintentionally lifted.

9. Locking device according to claim 2, characterised in that the cylinders (1) are parallel-connected to a source of pressure medium so that all the support legs (10) are applied with the same pressure.

10. Locking device according to claim 1, characterised in that the oblique surface of the wedge (7) is provided with a replaceable layer (7a).