Clamp Assembly For Pressure Vessel

Abstract

A clamp assembly is provided suitable for use with a two part pressure vessel, employing an integral bracket affixed thereto. The clamp is adapted to positively seat at the parting line between the two parts of such vessel. The bracket structure includes two flat members disposed on top of one another with the upper member slidably connected to the lower member and the lower member affixed to the clamp. The top bracket member is provided with a flange which engages a band that is suitably fastened about the periphery of the top portion of the pressure vessel. When it is desired to separate both halves of the vessel, the clamp is released and is urged to laterally move within a prescribed distance as governed by a pair of slots in the top bracket member.

Description

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use in conjunction with a pressure vessel. More particularly, the present apparatus is directed to a clamp arrangement capable of positively sealing the upper and lower portions respectively of a pressure vessel.

It is most desirable when using in-line pressure vessels to at times separate the lower portion from the head, especially for cleaning purposes. This situation arises when it is desired to remove a spent filter bag from the interior of the vessel by separating the two major parts. For safety and efficiency a positive fit as between the upper and lower portions of the vessel is necessary, especially when operating at pressures where there may be some question as to the security of the upper and lower regions of the vessel.

In order to cope with the conditions suggested above, a number of different approaches have been employed in the utilization of different types of devices for securing such vessel members. For example, it has been suggested to employ a series of spring loaded fastening clamps which are adapted to engage the lip or flange portion of the cover of the vessel at a number of discrete points about the periphery of such vessel. However, with this mode of fastening, a number of problems arise, for example, in the event it is desired to separate the lower portion of the vessel from a head portion which is mounted in-line, one would go about releasing such clamps, each individually. However, as the clamps are successively released, an uneven and unduly high amount of pressure results on the clamps that are still to be released. Furthermore, a severe safety problem can arise in the event the operator neglects to release the safety valve prior to unlatching the clamps and the possibility of injury is great. Another problem arises insofar as the ability of an operator to release such clamps while fixedly holding the unsecured lower portion of the vessel. It becomes quite apparent that a serious problem of manipulation arises with possible injury to the operator being present.

When fabricating the vessel together with various clamps which are positioned about the periphery of such vessel body, a loss of concentricity can occur. As a result, there arises a serious question as to the problem of positively sealing the upper and lower portion respectively, of the vessel. In addition, should one or more clamps fail during operation, the ability of the remaining clamp or clamps to contain the vessel body in place with the top is seriously questioned.

It follows that a secure and positive clamping arrangement and positive positioning of the upper and lower portions of a pressure vessel respectively in order to insure positive sealing is quite essential.

A principal feature of the present invention contemplates a clamp assembly for securing the upper and lower portions of a pressure vessel including: a sectional closure means attached at several points to form a unitary structure, fastening means disposed at the open ends of said closure means adapted to adjustably fasten said closure means, a circular band concentric with respect to said closure means and in cooperative relationship therewith, fastening means associated with said circular band adapted to fixedly adjust said band with respect to said closure means, and bracket means integral with said closure means being provided with slidable means to enable said closure means a controlled amount of lateral movement.

The bracket means is affixed to said closure means at a point about the periphery thereof, said bracket means including a top member and a bottom member, said bottom member being affixed to said closure means and said top member being slidably attached thereto, and additionally affixed to said circular band, and adjustable means disposed within said bracket means to control the length of travel of said top and bottom members with respect to one another.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a clamping arrangement free from the defects of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a clamping arrangement adaptable for use with a pressure vessel having an upper and lower portion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping arrangement adapted to be fixedly mounted on the periphery of said vessel to enable positive closure as between the upper and lower portions of such vessel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping structure adapted to be positioned about the periphery of the point of contact as between the upper and lower portions of a pressure vessel, capable of being easily released to enable separation of the upper and lower portions of said vessel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clamping arrangement including an integral guide structure to enable the clamp to freely disengage the peripheral surfaces of the vessel while at the same time being retained in position on the head by a suitable circumferential band.

Still another object is to permit the whole clamping arrangement to be removed for cleaning or replacement if necessary at a minor expense.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become relatively apparent after studying the appended claims, specification, and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention affixed in the closed position to the pressure vessel assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamp shown in FIG. 1 in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a partial section of a top view illustrating the bracket attachment to the clamp.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 showing the attachment of the bracket to the clamp and its relationship to the vessel shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to FIG. 1 there is provided a clamp 1 which is adapted to fit about the periphery of the vessel at the point of juncture between the top portion 2 and the body portion of the vessel 3. This clamp is a sectional clamp which is provided with a series of inter-connecting sections for an example, three in number, A, B, and C in this particular instance, which are held at respective pivot points 4,5. The clamp adjustment with respect to the joint to which it is applied can be made by properly positioning of the entire clamp around the periphery of the vessel. The clamp is secured (by means of band 13) at Y by a screw (bolt) or other suitable means. To tighten the seal by means of the clamp 1, a clamp retaining arrangement is employed which consists of a long pin 6 having a T-shaped end 9 extending from a handle 7 and is adapted to be inserted into and through a pair of guide members 8 which secured the T-shaped end 9.

The actual clamping of the top of the vessel 2 to the body 3 is achieved by firstly positioning the clamp around the periphery and then tightening the pin 6 through the turning of a handle 7 which has a threaded portion adapted to take up on the pin, thereby causing the member 8 to tend to come closer together as additional torque is applied through handle 7. Ultimately, a sufficient amount of torque is applied to the point where the clamp is positively positioned on the vessel and has positively sealed the top 2 to the bottom 3. For purposes of enabling the clamp when opened to remain positioned on the body of the vessel freeing the operator to remove the body 3 for cleaning purposes, there is provided a bracket 8. In FIG. 2, the bracket 8 is shown fastened to the body of the clamp 1 through a suitable means such as (a second) bracket 9 welded to clamp 1. Bracket 8 in turn consists of two basic parts: a flat angular portion 9 which is attached to the clamp 1 as well as a portion 10 which is disposed on top of portion 9 and slidably connected thereto via slots 11.

The top portion 10, in turn, has an end upright member 12 and extends such that it can be positively held in place on top of the vessel 2 through a suitable means such as a circular band 13. The band 13, in turn, is provided with a locking arrangement 14 such that by ordinary fastening means, i.e., a nut and bolt arrangement, the band 13 is positioned around the periphery of the top of the vessel 2, and in turn positions the upper portion of the bracket 8 with respect to the clamp 1. Once the clamp 1 is in position, and the bracket 8 is held in place, the vessel operates in its normal mode.

The slots 11 in FIG. 3 indicate how a lateral movement of the bracket 8 enables the clamp to dislodge itself from the periphery of the vessel. This enables the body 3 shown in FIG. 2 to be removed without spilling and facilitates removal of the spent bag. By virtue of band 13 holding the member 12 of the bracket 10 in place, the clamp does not fall to the ground once it is in the opened position, in this connection reference is made to FIG. 2. The amount of lateral movement of the clamp with respect to the vessel when such clamp is in the open position can be best seen from FIG. 3 where the slots are elongated in an amount equal to the lateral movement of the clamp in the opened position. Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 3 that the pivotal arrangement of the clamp is intended to move about such pivot points as 5 and 4, in this case pivot point 4.

FIG. 4 more clearly illustrates by means of a sectional view the relationship of the bracket 8 as it is held in position with respect to the top of the vessel and the body of the vessel. Once the elongated pin 6 is released through proper easing of the closing force through the turns on handle 7, it is then possible to actually dislodge the top and bottom of the vessel without any fear of the clamp falling away. As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 8 is provided with a slot 11 enabling it to laterally move the clamp 1 with respect to the top and yet permit the clamp to move freely from the periphery of the vessel and to disengage same thereby enabling the top and bottom of the vessel to be separated. When used in-line, the vessel is held in place at the inlet and outlet means (not shown) and it is quite obvious that the operator is free to use both hands in separating the top and bottom of the vessel while in no manner being concerned with the clamp falling apart and subsequently falling to the ground.

It is furthermore quite obvious that the extent of lateral movement of the clamp as determined by the slots 11 is variable and can be altered in accordance with the surrounding piping and environmental requirements which may vary from condition to condition. The clamp can be suitably tightened without in any manner affecting the ability of the bracket 8 to be laterally moved, since such movement is determined by the amount of play available through slot 11.

Obviously, the actual attachment of the slidable bracket 8 to the clamp is, by means of a band secured to the vessel, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, the aforementioned approach is thought to be quite suitable in view of the fact that any actual fastening to the body of the vessel and top respectively, for example, as by welding, can in some measure introduce variables, i.e., distortion of the true configuration, which can impede sealing of the top and body portion of the vessel. Consequently, it is suggested that the aforementioned use of a band 13 through an appropriate tightening arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is an important feature of the inventive design. In addition, it is quite apparent that the use of a nut and bolt 15 the means for enabling the upper surface 10 to slide on the bracket 8 can be suitably altered as well. In this particular instance, the nut and bolt was deemed to be a simple expedient.

The aforementioned structure has been found to be quite advantageous for its intended application, particularly suitable in terms of cost of manufacture, efficiency, as well as ease of operation. In all cases, experimental testing has indicated the aforementioned to provide positive closure while at the same time enabling the operator to easily and readily remove the body of the vessel from the top by simply releasing the clamp through a suitable rotational force supplied through handle 7.

It will be understood that certain changes may be made in the construction or arrangement of the method and apparatus which is disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp assembly for securing the abutting ends of the upper and lower portions of a pressure vessel comprising, in combination, closure means having at least two curved sections pivotally attached to each other to form a unitary structure having a pair of mating open ends; fastening means attached to the open ends of said closure means adapted to adjustably fasten said closure means about the pressure vessel adjacent the abutting ends of the upper and lower portions; a circular band concentrically disposed with respect to said closure means and in cooperative relationship therewith for attachment to the upper portion of said pressure vessel; fastening means associated with said circular band adapted to fixedly adjust said band on said upper portion of the pressure vessel; and adjustable bracket means fixedly attached to said closure means and to said circular band and adapted to permit the lateral movement of said closure means with respect to said band.

2. A clamp assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bracket means includes a top member attached to said circular band at point along the outer periphery of said band; a bottom member affixed to said closure means and slidably attached to said top member; and adjustable means connecting said top member and said bottom member to control the extent of lateral movement of said bracket members with respect to one another.

3. A clamp assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circular band when attached to said upper portion of the pressure vessel, together with the bracket means, retains the closure means in place after the fastening means attached to said closure means is released.

4. A clamp assembly in accordance with claim 2, in which the top member of said bracket means includes an upstanding flange fixedly attached to said circular band; the bottom member of said bracket means includes a downwardly extending flange fixedly attached to said closure means; said top member and said bottom member each including at least one slot of predetermined length in at least partial alignment with one another; and said top member and bottom member are slidably secured by fastening means engaging said slots and permitting lateral movement of one member with respect to the other.