GB924106A - A high pressure vessel comprising a punch - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0924106/III/1> A high pressure vessel comprises a chamber defining with at least one inwardly movable punch, a pressure space, the punch being formed with an axis of symmetry running through the chamber and comprising two parts engaging over a contact surface and is characterized in that the contact surface is an arched non-developable surface, e.g. a substantially spherical surface, and in that the centre of curvature of the arched surface substantially coincides with the axis of symmetry of the punch and is situated on the side of the contact surface turned towards the chamber. The punch may be divided into several parts, adjacent contacting surfaces of which are spherically curved and whose centres of curvature substantially coincide; the parts of the punch may be made of different materials. The high pressure vessel in Fig. 3 comprises a cylindrical space 25 limited by a pipe 26 and two punches 30 and 31. In addition to pipe 26 the radial walls comprise cylindrical parts 27 and 28 and a partially conical part 29 which is supported by movable casing 50, parts 27, 28 and 29 being concentric with 26. Punch 30 consists of conical parts 32 and 33 and cylindrical part 34, contact surfaces 37 and 38 being spherical and concentric and having their centres of curvature on the axis of symmetry of the punch. Movable punch 31 has conical parts 39, 40 and 41 and externally cylindrical parts 42 and 43, all the contact surfaces being concentric and spherical. When punch 31 is moved upwards, supporting body 51 supports the punch. Punch 30 is surrounded by an electrically insulating material 54, e.g., mica or paper, to enable electric current to be led into the pressure space 25 via bolt 55 and the current is led off through punch 31. In space 25 the current may be conducted by a metal thread or spiral enclosed in the material to be treated, the thread being in contact with parts 34 and 43 of punches 30 and 31. Alternatively, both punches may be movable, also the arched surface may be ellipsoidal or paraboloidal.