US2636514A

US2636514A - Tank plug

Info

Publication number: US2636514A
Application number: US71962A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sterling C Woodward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-01-21
Filing date: 1949-01-21
Publication date: 1953-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-28

Description

April 1953 s. WOODWARD 2,636,514

TANK PLUG Filed Jan. 21, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 'llllllllll Q IN VEW TOR. I

' Wayward,

April 1953 v s. c. WOODWARD 2,636,514

TANK PLUG Filed Jan. 21 1949 F 5 Q; 473 g v 44? d9 niiiiiiiilmfl' 0 4/ 7% INVENTOR.

. v Woaagard Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to a new and useful tank plug and has reference more particularly to a tank plug for use in temporarily closing threaded openings in tanks, pipe lines, boilers and other vessels requiring hydrostatic or pneumatic internal pressure tests.

Ordinarily when a test is to be made on a tank or similar vessel threaded iron plugs, to which has been applied a sealing medium such as white or red lead, are screwed into all but one opening by the use of a wrench or similar tool. The remaining opening has a pressure line and gauge connected thereto for forcing a fluid under pressure into the tank to ascertain whether the seams and rivets will hold a preselected pressure. Frequently the plugs blow out, causing damage to the tank and sometimes injury to the workmen. Also considerable loss of valuable working time results from frozen plugs, entailing additional expense for their removal. All of these disadvantages are overcome by the use of the present tank plug and accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a tank plug for temporarily closing the openings in a tank or the like, which will not require the use of a sealing compound and wherein the plug will not freeze to the tank.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tank plug of simple construction and one that can be readily and easily applied or released entirely by hand so as not to require tools of any kind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank plug for use in testing tanks and the like which will form a primary seal around the opening into which the plug is threaded.

A more specific object is to provide a tank plug which will provide a primary seal around the opening into which the plug is threaded and also a secondary seal to prevent leakage of pressure along the stem of the device.

Another object is to provide a tank plug of the character described to which a hose or similar conduit means can be connected for direct communication with the interior of the vessel being tested and which can also be used to gradually relieve the pressure in the tank prior to actual removal of the device.

With these and various other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a tank in the region of a flanged opening showing the tank plug of the invention inserted and threaded in the opening and illustrating the arrangement of the several parts prior to scaling the opening;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the several parts of the tank plug in operative sealing relation with the flange of the threaded opening;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of tank plug coming within the invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 but showing the several parts of the tank plug in sealing relation with the flange of the threaded opening; and

Figure '7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 1--1 of Figure 5.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 5 indicates a wall of a tank, boiler or similar vessel having one or more openings leading to the interior of the tank. One of such openings is shown at 6 bordered by a flange I having the internal threads 8 on the wall of the opening.

The tank plug includes a sealing member 9 in the form of a disc or plate, the periphery of which may be knurled or otherwise roughened, if desired, and which has a diameter greater than the opening 6. On the under side or inner face of said disc or plate an annular groove Ill is formed to receive and hold the gasket H of rubber or other appropriate compressible material. An opening 12 is provided centrally of the disc 9 and said opening is surrounded by an annular seat 13, preferably V-shaped in cross section, and which seat is located in the outer end of the hub portion I 4 of said disc. The central opening I2 in the disc 9 receives the stem l5 and ac cordingly the disc is rotatably mounted on the stem and has slidahle movement to a limited extent with respect thereto. The stem 15 is integral with the screw plug or threaded member I 6 formed on the depending end of the stem, and said stem is additionally provided with a bore H extending from the inner face of the screw plug to the outer end of the stem. The screw plug 15 is preferably of such size that it overlaps the gasket H to a slight extent, or, in other words, the diameter of the gasket II is such that it will coact with the flange surrounding the threaded opening for sealing the opening as will be better understood as the description proceeds. One or more pressure relief openings l8 are located in the screw plug I 6 for gradually relieving the pressure from within the tank when the seal formed by the gasket H is released. 7

On the outer end of stem a knob or handle I9 is mounted, the same having a bore 26 which aligns with bore H to form a passageway from one end to the other of the screw plug, stern and knob assembly. The knob l9 includes a sleeve 2! having interfitting relation with the stem and which is secured to the stem by pins 22. The lower depending end of said sleeve 2| is fashioned into annular protrusion which may be angular er v shapec cross section, forming a valve element 23 for cooperation with seat us.

When the device is to be used merely as a closure, the passageway consisting of bores i7 and 29 and also the relief openings l8 'are eliminated but one tank plug of a set should be constructed as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in order to provide for the delivery to the tank of a pressure fluid for testing purposes and for the gradual release or the pressure fluid upon completion of the test. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the closure type of plug wherein the axial extending passageway and pressure relief openings have been ornitted. The knob it may have threads 24 or equivalent means at'the outer ens of the bore 28 for the connection or a hose, gauge, plug or the like, depending upon the particular manner in which the present tank plug is to be 'used.

In operation of the present device the screw plug It is screwed into a threaded opening such as E3 by grasping the knob l9 and rotating it in the proper direction; As the threaded screw plug enters the opening it has movement in an axial direction toward the flange I, and accordingly the disc or plate 9 and the gasket H are also moved toward the flange and which continues until the resilient gasket H contacts the outer face or shoulder 25 of the flange. Continued screwing in of the screw plug I8 will effect contact between the annular valve element 23 and the seat 53 provided therefor so that the interfittihg engagement which these parts have eiiectively seals the stern, preventing leakage of the pressure fluid along the stem. Further screwin oi the screw plug 16 will apply pressure to the disc or plates and thus to the resilient gasket H to force the gasket into sealing engagement e the name compressing it sufficiently to insure a tight seal, as shown in Figure 2. Upon completion oithe above operation a conduit is then connected to the device by means of the threads 25 for delivering a fluid to the tank or vessel being tested and which fluid is delivered through the passages 20 and H until the desired or preselected pressure is attained.

At the end of the test the tank plug can be removed by rotating knob H3 in a direction to screw the screw plug it outwardly and by performing this operation slowly the pressure fluid is allowed to gradually escape since the pressure on sealing gasket H gradually removed. It will be seen that the chamber within said gasket 1 l is in communicatien with the interior of the tank by ineans of openings 18. As soon as the tank pressure is reduced suiiiciently so that there is no further danger to the operator, the screw plug I8 is removed from its threaded opening and the same is ready for further use.

5 Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a type of tank plug wherein the passages ll and 28 and the relief openings 58 have been eliminated. Such a tank plug is used only to close and seal an opening and with respect to such a plug it will be understood that the tank pressure should be released or partially reduced at some other place, preferably by means of a plug such as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The wall 35, Figures 5 and 6, may comprise the wall of a boiler, tank, pipe or other vessel having any number of openings leading to the interior of the vessel. One of such openings is shown at 35 bordered by a flange 3'! having internal threads 38 on the wall of the opening. The device of the invention for closing and sealing such a threaded opening essentially includes a sealing member the form of a disc or plate, the periphery of which may be knurled or otherwise rough ned. It will be observed that the disc as has a diameter greater than the opening 36 and likewise the annular groove it on the unders'cle or inner of the disc also has a larger icter the. the opening for receiving and the gasket it of .ibber or other appropriate compressible material. The opening d2 centrally of the disc receives the stem 15 integral proiecting centrally from the screw plug 55. The annular seat E3; i -shaped in formation, is formed in the top surface of the hub portion it. The handle or knob 48 is provided with a depending sleeve El having interrelation with the projecting portion of the stern and being secured to said portion of the stem by the pin 52. Zlhe lower depending end of said sleeve 5! is fashioned into an annular protrusion which may be angular or V-shaped in cross section to form a valve element 53 for cooperation with seat G3.

The tank plug closure and seal of Figures 5 and 6 has operation which is similar in most respects to that as described with respect to the plug of Figures 1 and 2.

The screw plug 43, stern 15, and handle 49 are essentially one unit so that rotation of the handle ill will rotate the screw plug 66 to efiect threaded engagement with the Walls of the openin; This screwing of the plug it will result n axial movement of the unit toward the opening and accordingly the disc 38 and gasket ll vll have similar movement since the disc is ro- When the gasket 3! contacts the to contact with the protrusion o; The interengaging relation which these parts have with each other effectively seals the stern, preventing leakage pressure along the stem. As the screw plug lfi is threaded farther into the opening additional pressure is applied to gasket ll securely seating this gasket on flange whereby to provide a seal in surrounding relation with the opening.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an e ceedingly simple and effective tank plug is provio'ed for closing and sealing threaded openings in tanks and similar vessels and particularly where said vessels are submitted to hydrostatic or pneumatic internal pressure tests. The test plug of the invention can be easily and quickly applied or removed and an important advantage resides in the fact that said operations do not require tools or any kind nor does the screw plug require a sealing medium such as white lead customarily used with devices of this kind as heretofore constructed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 759,765, filed July 9, 1947, now abandoned, and entitled Test Plug Cap.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled. in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the sco e of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A test plug cap comprising a screw plug for threaded engagement with a flange surrounding an opening, a stem projecting from said screw plug, a disc carrying a gasket to engage the flat exposed face of the flange, said disc being loosely mounted on said stem whereby the latter may rotate while the disc remains stationary and also move longitudinally through the disc when the gasket initially contacts the flange, an annular valve seat in the outwardly disposed surface of the disc adjacent the joint between said disc and the stem, a knob provided with a sleeve secured to the outer end of the stem, and an annular valve plug on the inner end of said sleeve to engage said valve seat for sealing the joint between said disc and stem and cause said disc to move longitudinally with the stem for compressing the gasket.

2. The tes plug cap of claim 1 wherein a passage-way extends through the screw plug and stem axially of the latter.

STERLING C. WGODWARD.

References Qiterl in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'IENTS 2,358/i3 l Young Sept. 19, 1944