US3537611A

US3537611A - Closure device for containers subjected to high internal pressures

Info

Publication number: US3537611A
Application number: US797450A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heinz Lohrengel
Original assignee: Uhde GmbH
Current assignee: ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG
Priority date: 1968-02-08
Filing date: 1969-02-07
Publication date: 1970-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-03
Also published as: CH482961A; GB1261812A; FR2001589A1; BE728124A; NL6901973A

Description

O i United States Patent [1 13,537,611

[72] Inventor Heinz Lohre ngel I [56] References Cited 1 w gs Germ"! UNITED STATES PATENTS g y 1969 3,315,836 4/1967 Boon 220/46 Patented Nov. 3,1970 3,386,612 6ll 968 Krrkwood et al. 220/44 [73] Assignee Friedrich Uhde Gmbil Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Dortmund, Germany Attorney-Malcolm W. Fraser a corporation of Germany 32 P 'or't Feb. 8 1968 t t n I y c ABSTRACT: A safety closure for containers subjected to high [31] p 1,675,350 i internal pressures and of particular use for the isostatic 1 method of shaping pulverulent materials. The closure plug, having an enlarged central recess, fits into the container and i by means of cams on the closure plug and tappets on the conl tainer, a bayonet type connection is provided, the container wall at the upper end being extended outwardly to provide a [54] E ES space to accommodatethe joint parts. The lower end of the 6 Chin a Dnwin n s closure plug which fits inside of the container is provided with a 8 a plurality of sealing rings, the lowermost of which is of [52] US. Cl. 220/40, elastomeric material, which is pressure responsive for sealing 220/46 i contact with the container walls. Fluid activated means is pro- [511 IIILCI- 865d 41/06 1 vided for vertically actuating the cover plug with respect to [50] Field oISearch....... 220/40, 46, the container andpower means is employed for rotating the 55(p) cover plug to lock and unlock it to the container.

Patented Nov. 3, 1,970 3,537,611

Shoot or 8 FIG! INVEN'I'OR HEINZ LOHRENGEL ATTORNEY arelimitedinzh inecessarytoinsertquite com cetedtp 11 CLOSUREDENICEFQR:CONEIPMNEBSzSiJMEQ-TED so Hwil -lltllmltNhLQltE SUR S tCKGROUND E'IHB N EN IQN The factthntiprcssinszmethodsenrrled-euteulwuyu morainestatically. in l which the bodies QIQBMQI-OULOFJL pulyerulent starting material areunlformlytcompretaed on all sides in a pressure chambertunderahighpressurm regulresrthe -use of well sealed receptacleaf -inwhose pressurelchamber a, fluid is.

brought'to-the required yapplied pressureglnthis connection, it

is understood inythe followingby .fluidtquite generaily the pres- .sure producing mediummay.bearliquidpra-gas,

From the isgstatic pressure technique, high speed closures a e k O .-=Whose locki tse eeal nspo tion sc n uc ed as bayoneuclosure, so, that apluralityt of=interrupted threads disposed-on its .gpenipher enters upon docking. into engagement. Withvd likewiseintereuptedtthreadr member ,in the con tamer-wall. t I

High "spee clesuresa know in hich fot e -i s is produced bya tbflltfittending--;through a iboreywhich leads through thecontainerandthe threaded plugorstopper.

Then there are kXlOWnifllSO high speed .closures which have semicircular spirally disposed recesses en the :vessel aswell as onthe closure, and-in whieh tthe t I9 :the production of the.

force locking atli i lttlm helicalspringisintrojduced.

The disfldyantag'esofithe closure-mentionedyfirstzlic therein that on aecountofttheluniform distribution ofjthe loud n-very knee-lever ,deuice under.- influenee f hydraulic forces ,0!) the he ir sme ting is c mpresse an -:1 but sp ifica ion N 1',- hearsees i maybe held i su v s e v tghtabytmeans fthe kueeqleve'r arrangement and by the faet that the paoleing ,lies in the force locking. Furthermore upon failure :ofithe hydraulic system, the force locking is no longer-effective.

with a further Milt)!!! pressure container; the [upper rim flange of this container is equipped with rte-called tappets which are engaged in a bayonet-lock manner-by cor-responding camson the cover .(Qerman-taid out specification 'No. l ,23 l ,5'07); For the release ,oftthe ,eoyer; the latter is rotated for a half tappet eam division and then :llfted upwardly. whereby the cams slide through the intermediary spaces between the tappetsDThe v palclting is setin agroove inv the rim of the container. ,ln ithis'way indeed thetpacltittg is nolonger in the 'flux;of-ferce of;;th e closure and :it must; howeverpbe tractio mpl in a spring, in order to lice-the, requ red. lpressure ,of the p e s sa ng-rinsse l ns etracting n :th anneris not equal tothe ageduired high pressures.

summer part c es curios 1 *With he sa e y c osure f eentaiuer sso di s t vention, :tlie disadyantagespfthe known .deyices-are overcome becausethe receptacle fnclusiveloftrtsinternal space has in the area of the closure-an-increase in diameter.-lnthe internal space on the uppertendntappets projeet-in -forming one part with the inner wallet thereeetttaclel which. m y. e g g t e closure stopper by means of-correspondingly disposed cams, in'the mannergofadaayonet loekiThesealedelosure plug at the point of: theincrease in diameter 10f the inner chamber is set back toprovldc'an lnivard-shoulder and from there extends for an interval downwardly. tintotthe internal chamber, so, that a cylindrical chamber is domed-which receives the packing. 'In

this manner the closure after application of the pressure in the container may be slid slightly axially so that the plane surfacesof the tappets and, the cams are connected in force lock andaccordlnglythere results a subdivision locking and the settling functions.

The high apeedclosure according to the invention is par between the force is necessary solely for the tappets and cams. These advantages count as compared with known high speed closures in increased measure with :larger-closure diameters. A further advantage is imparted because even with high station times a secure locking is attained. Finally, the new closure can be produced at a very favorable cost.

The t tappet and cam ,connection may in this embodiment -rreeeivepressuresup to l0,00 ()kp/cm at temperatures up to ZSO Q'Thepa king or seal isfrontally subjected to the internahpressuretofthe-vessel, and-the sealing effect increases with increasing internal pressure. The closure is particularly adapted toanautomaticactuation, because for the sealing and lockingvof the container no expenditure of force and time is required.

According to a,further object of the invention, there is secured on the shoulder of the closure plug an elastic supportingring made of umetn'l of high resistance. on which are disposed several plastic deformable settling rings, to which a sealing hlng-lsattached made of an elaatomerlc material, extending downwardly ,to'the lowerend of the closure'plug. This seal vtar-packing has tbe'enfound particularly adapted to the :high pressures. The plastic deformable sealing rings form an intermediarymemberbetween the sealing and the force transferring functionsiiifhe assembly isreeeived with pressure by .meanseftheelastlc supporting ring which is of metal of high resistance and is disposed on the shoulder of the closure plug osstppper.

lnordertoloclttthe entire sealing device in the desired position, in accordance with the invention it is further provided that on the bottom surface of the closure plug, a ring is f secu red with a rimjflange directed upwardly, whereby the rim gflange projects int'oja groove or channel of the sealing ring made=df1elaSlQmeric material and locks and pretensions the sealingring.

For the simple and purposeful manipulation of the safety c'losure,-in accordance-with the invention, a fluid actuated lifting or'hoistingcylinder is provided fixed on a retractable arm ,fonraising andlowering the closure plug. With larger units, the lifting ,cylindcr may also be mounted on a slidable carriage. After the goods to be compressed have been filled into an elastic moldnnd hydraulic fluid has been introduced into the a receptacle, the closure fixed on the arm is swung over the opening of the-receptacle and hydraulically lowered. After being lowered, and indeed at the same time with hydraulic force, the closure plug ,is rotated'a half tappet and cam portion, thehydraulieflsystem is released and the receptacle is accordingly securely-closed, or sealed.

As was found .further, the closure plug may have a centrally larger recess, and this has the advantage that the work space vof the receptacle is enlarged up to 40 percent. Furthermore, there .is attained thereby a more favorable course of the flow .of*force. Finally,-in accordance with the invention, a bearing ring made out of a self lubricating material may be provided on the inner surface of the conical expansion or enlargement of the receptacle wall.

'BRlEFjDESCR-iPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a verticals'ection of a receptacle and plug according ,to the'invention;

H6. 2 is a .tdp-pertlpentiveview of the closure plug with the manipulating device,thc-plug being shown lifted and swung laterally; and t P16. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the receptacle and closure plug showing in detail the tappet and cam lock and packings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The sectional drawing according to FIG. 1 shows a receptacle 2, in which a plug 1 is inserted andlocked. The closure plug 1 has a central elongate recess or chamber 3, which at the upper end has a central bore 4 of smaller diameter for the ventilation or pressure release. By means of the recess 3, the work space of the receptacle is enlarged up to 40 percent. Furthermore, there is attained thereby a more favorable course of the flow force. The upper part of the closure plug 1 carries a conical expansion or enlargement 5 and an upper attachment flange 6. Formed on the peripheral'surface of the plug 1 is an annular row of cams 7, which have at the top a flat or smooth plane surface 8. The plug consists of steel and is forged out of one piece of blank material.

The receptacle 2 is likewise of steel, and forms with its cylindrical wall and its bottom wall 12 a pressure chamber 14. It is dimensioned for pressures up to 10,000 kp/cm and more and is forged from a single block. ln'order to receive the closure plug the receptacle 2 is conically expanded and the upper part 11 thereof is cylindrical. In the inner wall of the cylindrical part 11 are seated an annular row of tappets 13, which cooperate with the cams 7 in establishing a bayonet closure. The construction of the inner wall of the part 11 of the receptacle, the wall of the closure plug 1 as well as the tappets 13 and earns 7 is such that the tappets l3 lie with their lower flat surfaces on the flat surfaces 8 of the cams 7 and in addition that there remains a slight gap between the parts on the closure plug 1 and the parts on the receptacle 2. At the lower end and on the outside of the closure plug 1 is a shouldered recess 9 for receiving a packing 10.

The manipulating installation of the device is shown in FIG. 2. The receptacle 2 is inserted in a base or floor 19, of which FIG. 2 shows a fragment,.and in which appear the upper cylindrical portion and thetappets 13. On the floor 19 is fixed a post 20, on which an arm 21 is pivotally mounted. The arm 21 carries a hydraulic cylinder 22, in which moves a piston (not shown) on whose piston rod is suspended the closure plug 1. The closure plug is suitably connected through a spacer 24 with the hydraulic piston. The entire installation is manipulated hydraulically, for which purpose a series of pipe conduits 23 are provided. Above the closure plug 1 is disposed a gear segment or section 25. When in lowered position the plug 1 is rotated for a half tappet and cam section by a gear (not 'shown) engaging the gear segment 25. A guide and stop member 26 fixes the rotational movement of the locking and unlocking operation.

FIG. 3 shows on a larger scale the tappet and cam device and the packing. On the shoulder 9 of the closure plug 1 lies an elastic supporting ring 35 made of a metal of high resistance. It is carried out in such manner, that it is fitted with minimum play in the existing walls. From top to bottom there lie on this packing or sealing ring 35, two supporting rings 36 made of a plastic deformable material. Below the rings 36 is a packing 37 of elastomeric material.

The pressure in the interior space of the receptacle acts both on the closure plug 1 itself as well as on the seal or packing. The force taking effect on the closure plug 1 is absorbed in force locking through cams 7 and tappets 13 by the wall of the receptacle. In this flow of force lies no packing or seal. The packing or seal itself is subject at the same time to the internal pressure of the receptacle, which supports the packing 37 formed of elastomeric material against the two rings 36. The wedge shaped part of the elastomeric material 37 is pressed by means of liquid pressure with its lips against the inner wall of the receptacle and the outer wall of the plug A ventilation or pressure release bore 41 leads from the pressure chamber 14 to the outside to a screw coupled part 43, to which is connected a ventilation or pressure release pipe 42 by means of a pressure member 44 metallicaily sealed to the receptacle 2.

Iclaim: 1. A safety closure for cylindrical containers subjected to high internal pressures comprising:

a cylindrical container closed at its lower end and open at its upper end and having a pressure chamber; a cylindrical enlargement at the upper portion of said container; a circular row of inwardly projecting rigid tappets on the inner wall of said enlargement on the upper portion thereof; a cylindrical closure plug having a flanged head to abut against the upper end of said enlargement; a tubular extension on said head to project inside of said container for engagement at the lower end thereof with the walls of said pressure chamber;

said extension providing a chamber opening into said pressure chamber for enlarging the area of the latter;

a circular row of rigid cams on the outer wall ofsaid closure plug at the lower end portion whereby upon turning of said plug said cams are disposed beneath said tappets respectively for releasably securing said closure plug to said container;

at shouldered cylindrical recess at the lower end of said closure plug facing the wall of said pressure chamber; and

packing means in said recess providing a seal between the lower end of said closure plug and said pressure chamber.

2. A safety closure for cylindrical containers as claimed in claim 1, in which said packing means comprises an elastic metallic supporting ring abutting the shoulder of said recess, deformable plastic sealing rings adjacent said metallic supporting ring, and an elastomeric sealing ring disposed below said plastic rings.

3. A safety closure for cylindrical containers as claimed in claim 2, in which said elastomeric sealing ring has a wedgeshaped notch, a ring secured to the bottom end of said closure plug and an upwardly directed nose on said ring projecting into said wedge-shaped notch.

4. A safety closure for cylindrical containers as claimed in claim 1, comprising a supporting ring of self-lubricating material on the inner surface of said cylindrical enlargement for engagement by said cams.

5. A safety closure for cylindrical containers as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base apertured to receive said container, an upright support on said base, an arm pivoted to said support for horizontal swinging movements, a lifting device carried by said arm and including a fluid operated piston attachable to said closure plug for lowering and lifting same, and means for turning said device for locking and unlocking said closure plug relative to said container.

6. A safety closure for cylindrical containers as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base apertured to receive said container, a slidable carriage on said base, a lifting device on said carriage including a fluid-operated piston attachable to said closure plug for lowering and lifting same, and means for turning