Pressure vessel skirt for accommodating thermal cycling

• US 8,905,260 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Houston Engineering Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Houston Engineering Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Samman, Mahmod
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US13/674,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 220/408, 220/581, 220/628, 220/630, 220/647, 220/648, 220/646, 220/639, 220/634, 220/636, 220/638, 220/633, 220/480
• US Class Current: 220/634
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00018 Construction aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 3/002 Component parts of these vessels not mentioned in B01J3/004, B01J3/006, B01J3/02 - B01J3/08; Measures taken in conjunction with the process to be carried out, e.g. safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/00 Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 1/04 Vertical retorts
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 12/00 Pressure vessels in general covers therefor F16J13/00; for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B01J, F17C, G21C

Abstract

A pressure vessel includes: a body comprising a cylindrical section; and a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint. The hip formed with or attached to the body and has a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg. The profile is oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body. The restraint fastens the hip and the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section; and

a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg to support the body by simply resting on a top of the leg,

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body, and

the restraint independently coupling the hip to an outer surface of the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling and to secure against toppling of the body.

2. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein a mid-wall diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than a mid-wall diameter of the leg upper portion.

3. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein a mid-wall diameter of the cylindrical section is less than a mid-wall diameter of the leg upper portion.

4. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein a mid-wall diameter of the cylindrical section is equal to a mid-wall diameter of the leg upper portion.

5. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the restraint comprises a pair of fasteners connected to the hip and the leg and a band connecting the fasteners.

6. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the restraint comprises a fastener connected to the leg and having a shaft portion extending through a keyhole formed through an outer wall of the hip.

7. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the restraint comprises:

a bracket welded to the leg, and

a fastener connected to the hip and having a shaft portion extending through a keyhole formed through an outer portion of the bracket.

8. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the hip and the leg are each rings.

9. The pressure vessel of claim 1, wherein the hip and the leg each comprise a plurality of ring segments.

10. The pressure vessel of claim 1, further comprising a bearing disposed between the hip and the leg.

11. The pressure vessel of claim 10, wherein the bearing comprises at least one of:

an abrasion resistant coating on the profile, and

an abrasion resistant coating on the top edge of the leg.

12. The pressure vessel of claim 10, wherein the bearing comprises a tip made from an abrasion resistant material and disposed in a groove formed in the top edge of the leg.

13. The pressure vessel of claim 10, wherein the bearing comprises a tip made from an abrasion resistant material and welded to the top edge of the leg.

14. The pressure vessel of claim 10, wherein the bearing comprises a cap made from an abrasion resistant material and disposed on the top edge of the leg.

15. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section; and

a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg,

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body, and

the restraint fastening the hip and the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling,

wherein a mid-wall diameter of the cylindrical section is equal to a mid-wall diameter of the leg upper portion.

16. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section; and

a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg,

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body, and

the restraint fastening the hip and the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling,

wherein the restraint comprises a fastener connected to the leg and having a shaft portion extending through a keyhole formed through an outer wall of the hip.

17. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section; and

a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg,

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body, and

the restraint fastening the hip and the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling,

wherein the restraint comprises;

a bracket welded to the leg, and

a fastener connected to the hip and having a shaft portion extending through a keyhole formed through an outer portion of the bracket.

18. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section;

a skirt comprising a hip, a leg, and a restraint;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg,

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body, and

the restraint fastening the hip and the leg while allowing limited movement between the hip and the leg to account for the thermal cycling; and

a bearing disposed between the hip and the leg.

19. A pressure vessel, comprising:

a body comprising a cylindrical section;

a skirt comprising a hip and a leg;

the hip formed with or attached to the body and having a profile for receiving an upper portion of the leg to support the body by simply resting on a top of the leg, and

the profile being oversized relative to the leg upper portion, thereby defining a radial clearance between the hip and the leg to account for thermal cycling of the body; and

a bearing disposed between the hip and the leg and comprising at least one of;

an abrasion resistant coating on the profile,

an abrasion resistant coating on the top of the leg,

a tip made from an abrasion resistant material and disposed in a groove formed in the top of the leg,

a tip made from an abrasion resistant material and welded to the top of the leg, and

a cap made from an abrasion resistant material and disposed on the top of the leg.