Slidable cover for casing access port

• US 8,210,804 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dresser-Rand Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Dresser-Rand Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Maier, William C., Griffin, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kershteyn, Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/407,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100239419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 415/126, 415/201, 415/229, 415/230, 415/231
• US Class Current: 415/201
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/0215 Arrangements therefor, e.g. bleed or by-pass valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/441 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps

Abstract

A closure device for a casing having at least one access opening wherein the closure device includes a cover member movably disposed within an interior chamber of the casing so as to be slidably displaceable along or in the direction of a casing central axis between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the at least one access opening in the closed position.

Claims

1. A closure device for a casing having at least one access opening, comprising:

a cover member movably disposed within an interior chamber of the casing so as to be slidably displaceable in the direction of a casing central axis between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the at least one access opening in the closed position, wherein the cover member includes a body extending circumferentially about the casing central axis; and

a retainer body disposed within the interior chamber adjacent to the access opening and forming a central bore configured to receive the cover member such that at least a portion of the cover member is disposed within the central bore in both the open and closed positions.

2. The closure device as recited in claim 1, wherein the casing has a plurality of access openings spaced circumferentially about the casing central axis, the cover member being configured to extend substantially across all of the plurality of access openings in the closed position.

3. The closure device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the body has opposing axial ends with an outer circumferential surface extending axially between the opposing axial ends and having at least one groove extending radially inward from the outer circumferential surface; and

at least one sealing member is disposed in the at least one groove and configured to prevent fluid flow generally between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber of the casing.

4. The closure device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the body has opposing axial ends with an outer circumferential surface extending axially between the opposing axial ends;

the interior chamber of the casing has at least one groove substantially adjacent to the body and extending radially outward from body; and

at least one sealing member is disposed in the at least one groove and configured to prevent fluid flow generally between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber of the casing.

5. The closure device as recited in claim 1, wherein the casing has a shoulder surface facing generally away from the access opening and the retainer body has a contact surface disposed against the shoulder surface so as to prevent axial displacement of the retainer body in a direction generally toward the access opening.

6. The closure device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one connector configured to releasably retain the cover member disposed in the closed position.

7. The closure device as recited in claim 6, wherein the connector includes one of a bolt extending generally radially through the casing and the cover member, and a circumferential retainer ring disposed adjacent to an axial end of the cover member.

13. The casing assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the annular body has opposing axial ends and an outer circumferential surface extending axially between the opposing axial ends; and

the closure device further comprises a pair of generally annular sealing members each disposed in a separate groove either extending radially outward from the casing inner surface or radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the annular body, wherein each sealing member is configured to prevent fluid flow generally between the outer circumferential surface and the casing inner surface.

8. A compressor casing assembly comprising:

a casing having a central axis, an inner surface defining an interior chamber, an opposing outer surface, and at least one access opening extending generally radially between the casing inner and outer surfaces; and

a closure device including a cover member movably disposed within the interior chamber so as to be slidably displaceable generally along or in the direction of the central axis between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the access opening in the closed position, wherein the casing includes first and second casing sections, each of the first and second sections having an inner end, wherein the inner end of the first casing section is connected with the inner end of the second casing section, the first casing section including the at least one access opening and the cover member being disposed substantially within the second casing section in the open position and at least partially disposed within the first casing section in the closed position; and

a retainer body at least partially disposed within the second casing section and generally adjacent to the second casing section inner end, the retainer body defining a central bore configured to receive the cover member such that at least a portion of the cover member is disposed within the central bore in both the open and closed positions.

9. The casing assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first casing section has a shoulder surface facing generally away from the access opening and the retainer body is partially disposed within the first casing section and has a contact surface disposed against the shoulder surface of the first casing section so as to prevent axial displacement of the retainer body in a direction generally toward the access opening.

10. The casing assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the inner ends of the first and second casing sections are releasably connected so as to permit separation of the first and second casing sections.

11. The casing assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the cover member includes a generally annular body extending circumferentially about the central axis.

12. The casing assembly as recited claim 11, wherein the casing has a plurality of access openings spaced circumferentially about the central axis, the cover member being configured to extend substantially across the plurality of access openings in the closed position.

14. A closure device for a turbomachine casing having at least one access opening, comprising:

a retainer body disposed within an interior chamber of the casing and generally adjacent to the at least one access opening, wherein the retainer body defines a central bore; and

a cover member movably disposed within the central bore so as to be slidably displaceable along or in the direction of a casing central axis of the casing between an open and a closed position, the cover member being spaced at least partially axially from the at least one access opening in the open position so as to permit access to the interior chamber and generally extending across and substantially obstructing the at least one access opening in the closed position.

15. The closure device as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the cover member includes an annular body having opposing axial ends and an outer circumferential surface extending axially between the opposing axial ends; and

the closure device further comprises a pair of generally annular sealing members each disposed in a separate groove either extending radially outward from the interior chamber of the casing or radially inward from the outer circumferential surface of the annular body, wherein each sealing member is configured to prevent fluid flow generally between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber of the casing.

16. The closure device as recited in claim 14, wherein the casing has a shoulder surface facing generally away from the at least one access opening and the retainer body has a contact surface disposed against the shoulder surface so as to prevent axial displacement of the retainer body in a direction generally toward the at least one access opening.

17. The closure device as recited in claim 14, wherein the casing includes first and second casing sections, each section having an inner end connected with the inner end of the other casing section, the first casing section including the at least one access opening and the retainer body being at least partially disposed within the second casing section, wherein the cover member is disposed substantially within the second casing section in the open position and at least partially disposed within the first casing section in the closed position.