U.S. patent number 3,647,108 [Application Number 05/000,022] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-07 for closure for pressure vessels.
Invention is credited to Norman H. Kemp.
United States Patent |
3,647,108 |
Kemp |
March 7, 1972 |
CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS
Abstract
A closure for pressure vessels including a resilient seal ring
having an outer lip and an inwardly turned flange angularly
disposed to the outer lip whereby pressure within the vessel is
exerted through an opening in the seal ring to urge the seal ring
into positive sealing relation with the vessel around an opening in
the vessel. The closure member has a seal ring receptacle having a
plurality of anchor members secured thereto, said anchor members
having surfaces engageable with slip rings to urge the slip rings
into gripping engagement with a portion of the vessel.
Inventors: |
Kemp; Norman H. (Dallas,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
21689536 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/000,022 |
Filed: |
January 2, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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729966 |
May 17, 1968 |
3498493 |
|
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494061 |
Oct 8, 1965 |
3387738 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/240; 138/90;
166/118; 220/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16J
13/12 (20130101); F17C 13/06 (20130101); F17C
2205/0308 (20130101); F17C 2223/035 (20130101); F17C
2223/036 (20130101); F17C 2205/0311 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16J
13/12 (20060101); F17C 13/06 (20060101); F17C
13/00 (20060101); F16J 13/00 (20060101); B65d
053/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/46,55 ;138/90
;166/118 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This is a continuation-in-part of my copending Patent application
Ser. No. 729,966, filed May 17, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,493,
entitled "Closure for Pressure Vessels," which is a
continuation-in-part of Patent application Ser. No. 494,061, filed
Oct. 8, 1965, entitled "Closure Seal," now U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,738.
Claims
Having described my invention I claim:
1. Means for sealing about a passage in a vessel comprising, a seal
ring receptacle, said receptacle having an annular skirt portion; a
seal ring assembly slidably disposed in the receptacle, said seal
ring assembly having an aperture extending therethrough and having
surfaces thereon arranged to be urged into sealing engagement with
an inner surface of the skirt portion of the seal ring receptacle
and with an outer surface of the vessel; spaced anchor members
depending from said skirt portion; interengaging gripping means
connectable between the anchor members and the vessel arranged to
grippingly engage the outer wall of the vessel whereby fluid
pressure in the vessel urges the seal ring assembly into sealing
engagement relative to the outer wall of the vessel about the
passage and with the skirt of the receptacle, and causes the
interengaging means to grip the outer wall of the vessel.
2. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of
support means insertable into the passage in the vessel, said
support means being positioned to prevent deformation of the wall
of the vessel gripped by the gripping means.
3. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the anchor members
have tapered surfaces on the inner ends thereof; and wherein the
interengaging gripping means comprises, slipring segments
positionable about a portion of the vessel, said segments having
tapered surfaces thereon slidably engageable with the tapered
surfaces on the anchor members.
4. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of means
between the receptacle and the seal ring assembly to urge the seal
ring assembly toward a surface about the passage.
5. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the means to urge
the seal ring assembly toward a surface about the passage comprises
a stem movable through an aperture in the receptacle; and with the
addition of means to secure the stem to the seal ring assembly.
6. The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the seal ring
assembly comprises, an outer lip arranged to be urged by fluid
pressure in the receptacle into sealing engagement with an inner
surface of the receptacle; and an inturned flange angularly
disposed with reference to the outer lip.
7. The combination called for in claim 3 with the addition of
abrasive means on the inner side of the slipring segments
engageable with an outer wall of the vessel.
8. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein the abrasive means
comprises teeth formed on at least one of the slipring
segments.
9. The combination called for in claim 7 wherein the abrasive means
comprises abrasive material secured to at least one of the slipring
segments.
10. The combination called for in claim 3 with the addition of
means secured to the anchor members to prevent deformation of said
anchor members.
11. An article of manufacture comprising, an annular stiffener
ring; an annular shoulder on the outer periphery of the stiffener
ring; a resilient piston carried by the stiffener ring, said
resilient piston including an outwardly projecting annular lip and
an inwardly projecting flange; a backup member carried by the
piston; and means to secure the backup member relative to the
piston.
12. The combination called for in claim 11 with the addition of
resilient seal means on the stiffener ring in spaced relation from
the piston.
13. The combination called for in claim 12 wherein the seal means
is a gasket.
14. The combination called for in claim 11 wherein the stiffener
ring has an opening extending through a central portion
thereof.
15. A method of pressure testing a vessel having at least one
opening formed therein comprising the steps of, positioning a cover
having a piston slidably disposed therein over the opening in the
vessel; securing the cover relative to the vessel; and delivering
pressurized fluid through the cover to pressurize the inside of the
vessel and to force the piston into sealing engagement with an
outer surface of the vessel about the opening.
16. The method called for in claim 15 with the addition of the step
of inserting a support member in the opening prior to positioning
the cover over the opening to prevent deformation of walls of the
vessel; and wherein the step of securing the cover relative to the
vessel comprises gripping outer surfaces of the vessel at positions
substantially corresponding to positions which the inner surfaces
are engaged by the support member.
17. Means for closing an opening in a pressure vessel comprising, a
segmented slipring assembly positionable to frictionally engage a
portion of the pressure vessel; seal means positionable adjacent
the opening in the pressure vessel, said seal means having a
passage extending therethrough; a receptacle positionable about the
seal ring assembly; and anchor means secured relative to the
receptacle and engageable with the slipring assembly such that
internal fluid pressure in the pressure vessel urges the seal ring
assembly into sealing engagement with surfaces of the pressure
vessel around the opening therein, and simultaneously urges the
receptacle away from the pressure vessel to cause the slipring
assembly to frictionally engage a portion of the pressure
vessel.
18. The combination called for in claim 17 with the addition of
means positionable relative to the pressure vessel opening to
prevent deformation of the pressure vessel opening by forces
exerted thereon by the slipring assembly.
19. The combination called for in claim 18 wherein the means
positionable relative to the pressure vessel opening comprises a
tubular member.
20. Means for sealing about a passage in a vessel comprising, a
receptacle having an annular skirt portion; an annular stiffener
ring made of nonresilient material slidably disposed in the
receptacle and having an annular recessed area about one end
thereof, providing an outwardly extending shoulder about the other
end thereof; a resilient piston carried by the ring, said resilient
piston including an upwardly projected annular lip substantially
coextensive with the outer surface of the shoulder, said ring and
piston having apertures extending therethrough; spaced anchor
members depending from said skirt portion; interengaging gripping
means connectable between the anchor members and the vessel
arranged to grippingly engage the wall of the vessel such that
fluid pressure in the vessel urges the ring and piston into sealing
engagement relative to the wall of the vessel about the passage and
with the skirt of the receptacle, and causes the interengaging
means to grip the wall of the vessel.
21. The combination called for in claim 20 wherein the resilient
piston is mounted on the inner end of the stiffener ring.
22. A method of sealing an opening in a vessel having a passage
formed thereinto comprising the steps of, inserting a rigid support
member through the passage in the vessel to engage an inner wall of
the vessel; positioning seal means about the opening in the vessel;
gripping an outer wall of the vessel at a location substantially
coinciding with the location at which the rigid support member
engages the inner wall of the vessel to secure the seal means
relative to the vessel; and applying fluid pressure substantially
equal to pressure in the vessel for urging the seal means into
sealing engagement with outer surfaces of the vessel adjacent the
opening.
23. Apparatus for sealing about a passage comprising, a receptacle
having an annular skirt portion; a piston slidably disposed in the
skirt portion of the receptacle, said piston having an aperture
extending therethrough, said piston further having a deformable lip
adapted to be urged into sealing engagement with the skirt portion
of the receptacle and a deformable flange movable into sealing
engagement with a surface adjacent the passage; spaced anchor
members depending from said skirt portion; means secured to the
anchor members to limit lateral movement thereof; and means secured
to the anchor members for translating force tending to move the
receptacle away from the passage to force tending to limit movement
of the receptacle relative to surfaces adjacent the passage.
Description
The apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned applications offers
significant improvements over sealing apparatus heretofore
developed. The apparatus disclosed therein generally relates to a
seal ring made of resilient material having an outer lip and
inwardly extending flange angularly disposed with reference to the
outer lip such that the seal ring, which is slidably disposed in a
receptacle having an annular skirt, may be positioned about an
opening. Fluid pressure exerted through the opening urges the
flange of the seal ring downwardly to seal about the opening, while
urging the annular lip outwardly to seal against the skirt of the
receptacle.
Pressure vessels, such as tanks and pipe lines for storing and
transporting liquids and gases under pressure must meet certain
standards, as specified by regulatory authorities and users as to
internal pressure as to which they can be subject without rupturing
or leaking, inasmuch as many of the liquids and gases stored and
transported therein are of volatile, noxious, flamable, and
explosive character. Such internal pressure tests, often made in
pressure ranges to double the desired working pressure of the
vessel, must be carried out by the manufacturer as a safety
precaution, to comply with the rules of regulatory authorities and
to meet the requirements of carriers and users.
Prior to development of the invention described in the
aforementioned patents, difficulty had been encountered in carrying
out such testing operations due to the difficulty of properly
sealing the opening or openings in the tank, pipe, or other
container during such testing operations and in carrying out
inspection tests to see that the prescribed standards were
maintained after installation.
The apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned patents is very
effective for sealing openings in pressure vessels, such as tanks
and pipes. However, under certain operating conditions difficulty
has been experienced in securing the seal ring receptacle or cover
relative to the pressure vessel, particularly in sealing vessels
having straight cylindrical openings without flanged ends, such as
smooth pipe.
Difficulty has been experienced in translating the force exerted by
pressure in the pipe against the receptacle, tending to move the
receptacle longitudinally away from the pipe into a force exerted
transversely of the pipe to frictionally engage the surface of the
pipe to secure the receptacle relative to the pipe. Certain
gripping apparatus which effectively translates the longitudinally
directed force to a transversely directed force have resulted in
bending or crushing the end of the pipe, particularly in testing of
relatively thin gauge tubular members.
The problems encountered in carrying out periodic inspection of
pressure vessels are so similar to those encountered in testing
that the description will be directed primarily to testing
operations. However, it should be noted that the use of the
embodiments of the closure and seal hereinafter described is not
restricted to testing operations.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
I have developed and improved closure for pressure vessels
comprising the combination of a seal ring receptacle having a seal
ring assembly slidably disposed therein which employs anchor
members having inclined surfaces on the lower ends thereof to
translate longitudinal forces into transversely directed forces to
urge slip rings into frictional engagement with sides of a conduit
or standpipe.
The seal ring assembly comprises an annular stiffener or retainer
ring having an annular shoulder on the outer periphery thereof,
allowing the retainer ring to wobble or tilt relative to the
receptacle in which it is slidably disposed. A resilient piston, or
seal ring, is secured to the retainer ring, said seal ring having
an annular lip adapted to be urged into sealing relation with the
inside walls of the skirt of the receptacle in which the retainer
ring and piston are slidably disposed. The retainer ring also has
resilient seal means secured thereto, in spaced apart relation from
the seal ring, said seal means being adapted to be urged into
sealing relation with the surface of the pressure vessel about the
openings to be sealed.
A plurality of anchor members, having downwardly converging
surfaces on lower portions thereof, are disposed in sliding
relation with slip ring segments having complementary inclined
surfaces such that forces exerted through the anchor members
longitudinally of a portion of the vessel are translated into
transverse forces urging the slip ring segments into frictional
engagement with the outer walls of the vessel. The surfaces of the
slip ring which are in engagement with the outer walls of the
conduit have a high coefficient of static friction.
Suitable supporting apparatus is positioned inside the vessel to
prevent bending or deformation of the wall of the vessel as a
result of the forces exerted on the outer surface thereof by the
slip rings.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved closure for pressure vessels wherein a seal is
applied over and about an opening in a pressure vessel, or other
container, wherein the seal is actuated and uniformly applied by
injecting pressure into the pressure vessel, container or conduit
to positively close the opening, and wherein the greater the
injected the pressure, the tighter the seal is applied.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure
for pressure vessels which provides means for sealing about an
opening in a pressure vessel, conduit or container, which may be
easily and quickly applied over and about the opening, and which
may be easily and quickly removed therefrom.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved closure
for pressure vessels which provides means for sealing over and
about an opening in a pressure vessel or container to be tested
which is adaptable and conformable to different types of openings,
i.e., openings through an extension or standpipe secured about the
opening of a tank or openings through the wall of a pressure
vessel.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved
closure for pressure vessels in which the seal has a lower surface
conformable to the surface about the opening and arranged to close
bolt holes provided through the wall of the tank about the opening
or through a flange provided about the opening.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved
closure for pressure vessels adapted to grippingly engage the walls
of pressure vessel to detachably secure the closure relative to the
vessel.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
closure for pressure vessels which provides means to resist forces
tending to crush the vessel exerted by gripper means employed to
connect the closure member to the vessel.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of
sealing an opening in a tubular member comprising the steps of
reinforcing the walls of the tubular member, and grippingly
securing a closure member relative to the walls of the tubular
member.
Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent
upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and
by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Drawings of two preferred embodiments of the invention are annexed
hereto so that the invention may be better and more fully
understood, in which:
FIG. I is a top plan view of the closure apparatus;
FIG. II is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
II--II of FIG. I;
FIG. III is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
III--III of FIG. II;
FIG. IV is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
IV--IV of FIG. II;
FIG. V is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. II
illustrating a modified form of the invention; and
FIG. VI is a fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus employed
in a pressure testing operation.
Numeral references are employed to designate like parts throughout
the various figures of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. I and II of the drawing, the numeral 1
designates an inlet connection of a pressure vessel, pipe, conduit,
tubular member, or other container, having a passage 2 formed
therein.
Such inlet connection is normally provided on pressure vessels used
for storing and dispensing liquefied petroleum gas, such as butane
or propane, and sometimes includes an annular flange (not shown)
about the upper end thereof through which are provided spaced
stud-receiving holes for attachment to a corresponding flange on a
control head (not shown) mounted above same. Such control head
normally provides a mounting for dispensing outlet, control valves,
a pressure gauge, safety valve and other control devices normally
required for connecting with such equipment. Other connections
besides a control head could be attached to the inlet connection 1
such as a conduit having a corresponding connector thereon.
It will be further understood that such type of inlet connection is
merely for illustration purposes and that the invention described
and claimed herein can be employed with different types and shapes
of tank outlets.
The closure apparatus, generally designated by the numeral 4, is
positioned to engage and seal against the surface 6 of inlet
connection 1 around passage 2 which extends therethrough.
A dome-shaped cover 8 forms a receptacle having a threaded passage
9 in the upper side thereof which is normally closed by a threaded
plug 10. The threaded passage 9 provides an opening for bleeding or
flushing air out of the tank or conduit before it is closed for
testing. After the pressure vessel is thus flushed out the plug 10
may be threaded in the passage 9 to provide a leakproof closure
during the testing operation. A suitable source of pressurized
fluid may be connected through passage 9 with the passage 2 if it
is deemed expedient to do so.
The domelike cover 8 includes an annular downwardly extending skirt
portion 8a which has formed on its inner side an annular recess 21
for receiving the seal ring assembly 16. Preferably the inner
surface 21a of the recess 21 is machined and finished to provide a
smooth surface for receiving the seal hereinafter described.
Furthermore, it will be noted that the width of recess 21 is
greater than the width of flange 18 of seal assembly 16 and greater
in width than the shoulder on the outer periphery of stiffener or
retainer ring 12, hereinafter more specifically described, so that
the seal assembly 16 can move up and down to act as a piston in
response to variations of pressure within the dome 8.
Seal ring assembly 16 comprises a stiffener ring 12, a resilient
piston or seal ring 14 carried by the stiffener ring 12, and
resilient seal means, such as gasket 20 carried by stiffener ring
12.
Stiffener ring 12 is preferably of rigid construction and has a
recess 22 formed in a lower portion thereof arranged to form a
shoulder 24 around the periphery of stiffener ring 12.
Stiffener ring 12 has a passage 26 formed in a central portion
thereof, said passage forming a fluid connection between the
passage 2 in inlet connection 1 and the inside of dome shaped cover
8 above piston assembly 16.
Suitable connection means, such as transversely extending member
28, having apertures 30 formed therein, is secured to seal ring
assembly 16 to which suitable means, such as stem 40, to urge the
seal ring assembly toward the surface 6 on inlet connection 1 may
be connected as hereinafter more fully explained.
The resilient piston or seal ring 14 is preferably made of
resilient material, such as neopreme or rubber compound, and
includes an upwardly extending annular lip 17 and flange 18 being
preferably, but not necessarily, disposed in right angular
relationship with reference to the outer surface 17a. The flange 18
is secured to stiffener ring 12 to provide reinforcement to prevent
undue extrusion of resilient material into passage 2 of inlet
connection 1 and through any openings which may be formed in or
around the surface 6 against which seal assembly 16 is urged. The
seal ring 14 might also be made of flexible, relatively pliable
metal or other material which would provide a seal, such as
aluminum, asbestos composition, Teflon, and the like.
To facilitate accomplishing a seal between the surface 6 on inlet
connection 1 and seal ring assembly 16, resilient seal means, such
as gasket 20 is secured to stiffener ring 12. The degree of
resiliency and thickness of the gasket 20 is, to some extent,
dependent upon the size and shape of surface 6 of inlet connection
1.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. II of the
drawing, the resilient piston 14 is secured to stiffener ring 12 by
threaded bolts 31 which extend through apertures in backup member
32 and through apertures in flange 18 of seal ring 14 to threadedly
engage threaded holes in stiffener ring 12.
A conventional bonnet 34 extends through and is rigidly connected
to, a central portion of dome 8. Bonnet 34 has a threaded bore 36
threadedly engaging threads 38 on the rising stem 40. Stem 40 has a
handwheel 42 at the upper end thereof whereby rotation of the
handwheel 42 rotates stem 40 thereby moving said stem axially
relative to dome 8.
Suitable packing material 44 is disposed about stem 40 to prevent
leakage therearound.
Stem 40 has a reduced portion 46 at the lower end thereof for
securing transversely extending member 28 thereto by washers 48 and
50 positioned on opposite sides of the central opening 52 in the
transversely extending member 28 and is secured thereto by a nut 54
which threadedly engages the outer end of stem 40. It will be noted
that a space 46a is provided between washers 48 and 50 and
transversely extending member 28, allowing seal ring assembly 16 to
move and float vertically toward and away from surface 6 on inlet
connection 1. When pressure is applied within passage 2 of inlet
connection 1, the seal ring assembly 16 acts like a piston and
moves toward surface 6 to form a positive seal therewith.
Stem 40 facilitates positioning seal ring assembly 16 and prevents
it from falling out while cover 8 is being placed over passage 2,
while the cap 4 is being transported, or while it is in
storage.
Stiffener ring 12, having a tapered or relieved recess portion 22
forming a shoulder 24 adjacent the upper edge thereof, allows
stiffener ring 12 and seal ring 14 to float freely to conform to
the configuration of the surface 6 of inlet connection 1, thereby
preventing sticking or wedging in the even seal ring assembly 16 is
tilted out of a plane perpendicular to the axis of the passage
2.
Recess 22 also compensates for slight deformation of retainer ring
12 when high pressure is applied thereto.
The outer surface 17a of lip 17 is preferably flat and closely
conforms to the inner surface 21a of the recess 21 provided on the
inner side of skirt 8a of cover 8.
Suitable means for securing the dome-shaped cover 8 to the inlet
connection 1 of a pressure vessel comprises means, such as anchor
members 60 and slipring segments 62, for translating force exerted
against the cover 8, tending to move said cover away from the
surface 6 of inlet connection 1, into a force directed transversely
of the longitudinal axis of the inlet connection 1 to grippingly
engage the outer surface of the inlet connection 1.
In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the
drawing, anchor members 60 comprise legs 60a, 60b, and 60c spaced
equidistantly about the periphery of receptacle 8. Preferably there
should be at least three such spaced legs welded or otherwise
rigidly attached to cover 8 to provide uniform sealing about the
passage 2. HOwever, such seal could be provided by two or more such
legs spaced thereabout.
Each leg 60a, 60b and 60c is secured to the skirt 8a of cover 8 and
extends downwardly therefrom. The lower end of each of said legs is
turned inwardly at its lower end to provide a hooklike member
64.
As best illustrated in FIGS. II and III of the drawing, hook
portions 64 on the lower ends of legs 60a, 60b, and 60c have
shaped, tapered, downwardly converging surfaces 66 formed
thereon.
Slipring assembly 62 is preferably formed in segments 62a, 62b, and
62c, the number of segments preferably corresponding to the number
of legs 60a, 60b, and 60c.
Each of the segments 62a, 62b, and 62c has outwardly extending lugs
68a and 68 b welded or otherwise rigidly secured to opposite ends
thereof, each of said lugs having an aperture 69 extending
therethrough. The slipring segments are secured together by the
connectors such as bolts 70 which extend through apertures 69 in
lugs 68a and 68b on the respective segments.
As best illustrated in FIGS. III AND IV of the drawings, spaces 71
are provided between the ends of the respective segments 62a, 62b
and 62c such that tightening of nuts 72 on threaded bolts 70 urges
the segments into gripping engagement with the outer surface of
inlet connection 1. It should be noted that connectors 70 do not
restrict movement of ring segments 62a, 62b and 62c inwardly.
Each of the segments 62a, 62b, and 62c has an inclined surface 76
on the back side thereof which is disposed in sliding relation with
inclined surface 66 on the lower ends of legs 60a, 60b and 60c.
Referring to FIG. II of the drawing, it should be readily apparent
that the inclination of surfaces 66 and 76 cause abrasive surfaces
75 on each of the segments 62a, 62b, and 62c to be urged into
gripping relation with inlet connection 1 when a force is applied
to cover 8, tending to separate said cover from inlet connection
1.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. II of the
drawing, the abrasive surface 75 is rough, having teeth 75a formed
therein.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. V of the
drawing, the abrasive surface 75 of slip ring segments 62a, 62b,
and 62c has an abrasive lining 75b bonded or otherwise secured
thereto which is urged into frictional engagement with inlet
connection 1.
When pressure inside cover 8 exerts a force tending to separate
said cover from inlet connection 1 a force equal and opposite to
that exerted by legs 60a, 60b and 60c upon slip ring segments 62a,
62b, and 62c is exerted outwardly on legs 60a, 60b, and 60c,
tending to bend them outwardly. Therefore, to prevent bending of
the legs 60a, 60b, and 60c outwardly, suitable means such as ring
80, is provided thereabout to prevent deformation of said legs.
Ring 80 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower ends of
legs 60a, 60b, and 60c.
From the foregoing it should be readily apparent that inclined
surface 66 on legs 60a, 60b, and 60c form a cup or socket having a
cross-sectional area which decreases downwardly for receiving a
substantially conical shaped slipring assembly 62.
High fluid pressure in passage 2 of inlet connection 1 and inside
cover 8 of the cover assembly causes force of appreciable magnitude
to be exerted through slipring assembly 62 against the walls of
inlet connection 1. In certain installations, it may be necessary
to install suitable support or reinforcing means, such as spreader
tube 82 to stiffen or reinforce the walls of tubular member 1.
While spreader tube 82 may be of any desired configuration, the
particular apparatus illustrated in FIG. II of the drawing has a
transversely extending member 84, having spaced apertures 85 formed
therein, to provide added rigidity to the tubular member 82 without
impeding fluid flow between passage 2 of tubular member 1 and the
inside of cover 8.
As best illustrated in FIG. VI of the drawing, the closure assembly
hereinbefore described may be employed to pressure test a segment
of pipe or other vessel 1' by securing a closure assembly 4 over
each opening therein. One end of conduit 90 is secured in threaded
passage 9 of one of the closure assemblies while threaded plug 10
is employed to close the threaded passage in other closure assembly
after the pipe 1' has bee purged. The other end of conduit 90 is
connected to a suitable source of pressurized fluid (not shown) for
delivering pressurized fluid through one of the covers 8 to the
inside of pipe 1'.
OPERATION
The operation and function of the device hereinbefore described is
as follows:
The walls of the vessel are reinforced, if necessary, by
positioning spreader 82 in passage 2.
To connect the closure assembly 4 to the inlet connection 1 of a
tubular member, nuts 72 on bolts 70 which secure slipring segments
62a, 62b, and 62c together are loosened to allow the abrasive
surfaces 75 on said sliprings to encircle and engage the outer wall
of tubular member 1. Nuts 72 are then tightened.
Hand wheel 42 is then rotated to urge seal ring assembly 16
downwardly into sealing engagement with surface 6 about passage 2
of tubular member 1. This establishes an initial seal and removes
slack between inclined surfaces 66 and 76 on legs 60a, 60b and 60c
and slip ring segments 62a, 62b, and 62c, respectively. It will be
noted that this operation is quickly, simply, and easily carried
out.
The plug 10 is then removed to flush air from the tank after the
injected pressure fluid is connected to the inside of tubular
member 1. The plug 10 is then replaced and the liquid or gas
pressure is applied to the interior of the tank or pressure vessel
to test same.
Such injected pressure acts upon the upper surface of seal ring 14
to force flange 18 against the upper surface of stiffener ring 12,
sealing therebetween while simultaneously urging stiffener ring 12
and seal means 20 into sealing engagement with surface 6 about
passage 2 in tubular member 1. The injected pressure also acts upon
the inner surface 17b of lip 17 to urge the outer surface 17a of
lip 17 into sealing engagement with the inner surface 21a of recess
21 formed in the skirt 8a of the cover 8 to press such surface into
sealing engagement.
The greater the pressure applied internally of the pressure vessel
1 the more positive and secure the seal is. It should also be noted
that the greater the pressure applied internally of the pressure
vessel the more positive the gripping action of seal ring segments
62a, 62b, and 62c. The seal about passage 2 in tubular member 1 is
uniformly applied along both the surface 6 and 21a to provide a
uniform seal without areas of leakage.
As hereinbefore pointed out, a source of pressurized fluid may be
connected through a suitable conduit 90, best illustrated in FIG.
VI, to deliver pressurized fluid to the inside of closure assembly
4 to seal opposite ends of the tubular member and to deliver
pressure to the inside thereof.
It should be readily apparent that other and further embodiments of
the invention may be resorted to without departing from the general
concept of my invention.
* * * * *