Closure apparatus for pipes and vessels
First Claim
1. Apparatus for joining together first and second elements, comprising first and second elements each including a circumferential flange having a roller-bearing surface, a ring member adapted to be placed about said circumferential flanges, two sets of rollers disposed on the interior surface of said ring member, one set of said rollers adapted to engage the bearing surface of the flange of one of said elements and the second set of rollers adapted to engage the bearing surface of the flange of said second element, at least one of said flanges having openings therein through which said rollers may pass, and means attached to said ring member and to one of said elements to rotate said ring member and to cause said rollers to move circumferentially on said bearing surfaces, whereby said ring member may be selectively moved between a locked position wherein said flanges are joined and an unlocked position wherein one of said sets of rollers is aligned with said openings in said flange to permit said flanges to be separated.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A closure apparatus for pipes, vessels and the like includes a ring member which extends around the perimeter of a pair of flanges. The ring member includes a plurality of rollers that engage the nonmating sides of the flanges and impart a closing force thereon. The ring is rotatable between a locked position wherein the flanges are pressurized to an unlocked position wherein the rollers align with slots extending around the periphery of one or both of the flanges, whereby the flanges can be pulled apart.
65 Citations
7 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for joining together first and second elements, comprising first and second elements each including a circumferential flange having a roller-bearing surface, a ring member adapted to be placed about said circumferential flanges, two sets of rollers disposed on the interior surface of said ring member, one set of said rollers adapted to engage the bearing surface of the flange of one of said elements and the second set of rollers adapted to engage the bearing surface of the flange of said second element, at least one of said flanges having openings therein through which said rollers may pass, and means attached to said ring member and to one of said elements to rotate said ring member and to cause said rollers to move circumferentially on said bearing surfaces, whereby said ring member may be selectively moved between a locked position wherein said flanges are joined and an unlocked position wherein one of said sets of rollers is aligned with said openings in said flange to permit said flanges to be separated.
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7. In a petroleum coke vessel, including a generally cylindrical drum body, a drum outlet and a removable drumhead at the drum outlet, the improvement comprising a ring support member attached to said coke drum outlet, said support member comprising a flange having a plurality of openings therein, a roller-bearing surface and a flange mating surface, said drumhead including a flange having a plurality of openings therein, a sloped roller-bearing contact surface and an upper flange mating surface, a locking ring having upper and lower sets of rollers extending radially inwardly therefrom, said upper set of rollers supported by said ring support member roller-bearing surface and said lower set of rollers engaging said drumhead flange sloped roller-bearing surface, and means attached to said locking ring member and said ring support member to rotate said locking ring member and to cause said rollers to move circumferentially on said bearing surfaces, whereby said locking ring may be selectively moved between a locked position wherein said ring support member and said drumhead are joined and an unlocked position in which one of said sets of rollers is aligned with said openings in one of said flanges to permit said ring support member and said drumhead to be separated.
Specification