Remotely operable vessel cover positioner
First Claim
1. A remotely operable vessel cover positioner in combination with a vessel for remotely connecting and disconnecting a vessel cover to and from the vessel wherein the vessel includes an opening, a mounting rim surrounding the opening and a cover having a perimeter sized to fit against the mounting rim to provide a closure over the vessel opening, comprising;
- a plurality of connector pins affixed to and extending outwardly from the vessel mounting rim;
initial cover positioning means supporting the cover for moving the cover to and from an initial position in which the cover is substantially adjacent to and aligned with the vessel mounting rim;
pin connection means having a first portion attached to the cover on a side of the cover opposite from the mounting rim, said first portion having openings therein into which the pins extend when the cover is moved into the inital position, and a second portion which is movable relative to the first portion for interlocking the pins extending into the openings in the first portion with the first portion and thereby locking the cover in the initial position;
final positioning means disposed substanatially between the cover and the pin connection means for moving the cover from the initial locked position into a desired final position against the vessel rim and for prestressing the connector pins interlocked with the pin connection means; and
final position lock means, disposed substantially adjacent the final positioning means between the cover and the pin connection means, movable relative to the cover from an initial position to a final locking position for locking the cover in the desired final position in which the connector pins are prestressed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This is an apparatus for attaching a removable cover to a large vessel. It is adaptable to existing vessels, especially those which have a mounting rim or flange. It uses multiple connector pins which are attached permanently to the vessel and which can be fastened to the cover assembly by a remote operation. It also uses fluid pressure to force the cover against the vessel opening, after which the cover is mechanically secured in place by a second remote operation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A remotely operable vessel cover positioner in combination with a vessel for remotely connecting and disconnecting a vessel cover to and from the vessel wherein the vessel includes an opening, a mounting rim surrounding the opening and a cover having a perimeter sized to fit against the mounting rim to provide a closure over the vessel opening, comprising;
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a plurality of connector pins affixed to and extending outwardly from the vessel mounting rim; initial cover positioning means supporting the cover for moving the cover to and from an initial position in which the cover is substantially adjacent to and aligned with the vessel mounting rim; pin connection means having a first portion attached to the cover on a side of the cover opposite from the mounting rim, said first portion having openings therein into which the pins extend when the cover is moved into the inital position, and a second portion which is movable relative to the first portion for interlocking the pins extending into the openings in the first portion with the first portion and thereby locking the cover in the initial position; final positioning means disposed substanatially between the cover and the pin connection means for moving the cover from the initial locked position into a desired final position against the vessel rim and for prestressing the connector pins interlocked with the pin connection means; and final position lock means, disposed substantially adjacent the final positioning means between the cover and the pin connection means, movable relative to the cover from an initial position to a final locking position for locking the cover in the desired final position in which the connector pins are prestressed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A remotely operable vessel cover positioner for remotely connecting and disconnecting a vessel cover from a vessel, comprising:
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a vessel having a circular opening surrounded by a circular mounting rim; a circular vessel cover having a perimeter sized to fit against the mounting rim; a cart capable of moving the vessel cover to and from an initial position substantially adjacent to the vessel mounting rim; a force ring attached to the cover near the perimeter of the cover with the cover being between the force ring and the mounting rim and having a perimeter with a plurality of opening extending therethrough; ramps formed at the perimeter of the cover on a side of the cover adjacent the force ring; a plurality of connector pins attached to and extending outwardly from the vessel mounting rim in circumferential spacing around the mounting rim;
each of the connector pins extending through an opening of the plurality of openings extending through the force ring when the cover is moved to the initial position;a lock ring rotatably attached to the force ring, with the force ring between the lock ring and the cover, for rotation relative to the connector pins to lock the connector pins extending through the openings in the force ring to the force ring to restrain the cover in the initial position; a force actuator disposed between a portion of the force ring and portion of the cover, for expanding under fluid pressure to react against the force ring and place the locked connector pins in a prestressed condition and to press the cover against the vessel opening; and a ramp ring rotatably supported by the force ring alongside the force actuator between the portion of the force ring and the portion of the cover, the ramp ring being flat on a side next to the force ring and having a series of ramps on a side next to the cover, wherein each of the ramps on the ramp ring is positioned so as to match a ramp of the ramps on the cover by rotation of the ramp ring relative to the cover to hold the cover against the vessel opening. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification