High pressure casing access cover

• US 8,061,972 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dresser-Rand Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Dresser-Rand Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Maier, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kershteyn; Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/409,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20100247299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 415/118, 415/201
• US Class Current: 415/118
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 13/12 attached by wedging action by means of screw-thread, interrupted screw-thread, bayonet closure, or the like

Abstract

A closure device for a compressor having at least one access opening, wherein the closure device includes a plug portion disposeable at least partially within and configured to substantially obstruct the at least one access opening, a head portion having a shoulder surface extending generally radially outwardly with respect to the plug portion, wherein the head portion is generally disposeable against an inner surface of the compressor and configured to maintain the plug portion disposed within the at least one access opening during compressor operation, and a retainer member having a bracket engageable with an outer surface of the compressor and a threaded rod extending between the bracket and the plug portion, wherein the retainer member is configured to retain the plug portion disposed within the at least one access opening.

Claims

1. A closure device for an access opening of a compressor casing, comprising:

a cylindrical plug at least partially disposable within the access opening, the compressor casing having an outer surface disposed radially outward from an inner surface, the access opening extending between the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the plug is configured to substantially obstruct the access opening;

a shoulder extending radially outward from the cylindrical plug, wherein the shoulder is at least partially disposable against the inner surface of the compressor casing, such that pressure within the compressor casing forces the shoulder into contact with the inner surface to retain the plug at least partially disposed within the access opening; and

a sealing member disposed circumferentially about the plug and configured to substantially prevent fluid flow between the plug and the access opening, wherein the compressor casing comprises first and second casing sections, and wherein the access opening is disposed generally adjacent to an interface between the first and second casing sections.

2. The closure device of claim 1, wherein the access opening comprises a main bore section and a counterbore section.

3. The closure device of claim 2, wherein the main bore section is sized to receive the plug, and wherein the counterbore section is sized to receive at least a portion of the shoulder.

4. The closure device of claim 1, wherein at least one of an end of the plug and an end of the shoulder includes a radius of curvature.

5. The closure device of claim 1, further comprising a retainer configured to retain the plug disposed within the access opening.