US3698591A

US3698591A - Pressure chamber closure

Info

Publication number: US3698591A
Application number: US103664A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Morin; Edward H Lanphier
Original assignee: US Department of Navy
Current assignee: US Department of Navy
Priority date: 1971-01-04
Filing date: 1971-01-04
Publication date: 1972-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-17

Abstract

An access door for a pressure vessel wherein the door itself is the only moving part and the pressure difference between the interior of the chamber and ambient exterior pressure is the only sealing force is provided. The door is in the form of a disc or wafer made of metal or solid plastic material and holds in position a sealing ring having a peripheral groove for receiving one O ring and a groove on the surface facing the door for receiving a second O ring. The door is rolled manually by a substantially radially extending handle. The chamber is cut to receive the door laterally and recessed internally to permit the sealing ring to be moved axially into sealing position in the recess.

Description

United States Patent Morin et al.

l l Oct. 17, 1972 [54] PRESSURE CHAMBER CLOSURE 3,605,337 9/1971 Rodgers ..220/46 R [72] Inventors: Richard A. Morin, Snyder; Edward H. Lanphier, Eggertsville, both of W Henson wood Assistant Exammer-John J. Love Attorney-R. S. Sciascia, L. l. Shra o and C. E. [73] Assignee: The United States 0! America as vautrain, J g

represented by the Secretary of the w 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1971 An access door for a pressure vessel wherein the door [2l] Appl. No.: 103,664 itself is the only moving part and the pressure dif ference between the interior of the chamber and ambient exterior pressure is the only sealing force is pro- "220/46 g ggflga vided. The door is in the form of a disc or wafer made n I u of metal or solid plastic material and holds in position [5 8] held Search 42: gzgi d a sealing ring having a peripheral groove for receiving I one 0 ring and a groove on the surface facing the door for receiving a second 0 ring. The door is rolled [56] References Cited manually by a substantially radially extending handle. UNITED STATES PATENTS The chamber is cut to receive the door laterally and recessed Internally to permit the sealing ring to be 2 t moved axially into sealing position in the recess. no son e a 3.128.009 4/l964 Norton ..220/46 R 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEDucr I7 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 Fig. 5

OUT 45 lll III I I l I I I I I I I l l I I c I I I I I IIIIII Richard E.Morin INVENTORS Edward H. Lonphier Fig.6

PRESSURE CHAMBER CLOSURE The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention concerns a pressure sealing closure assembly and, more particularly, a closure wherein the door itself is the only member moved to permit ingress and egress.

Increased use of pressure vessels for both laboratory testing and indoctrination and deep-sea research emphasizes the need for greatly improved accessibility to such enclosures. Conventional negative or positive pressure vessels still include the cumbersome hinged doors of the past which are tedious to use and difficult to manufacture. A pressing need thus exists in the pressure chamber field for an access door which is simple to operate, easy to manufacture and has an absolute minimum of moving parts.

The present invention represents a completely novel approach to the problem of access means for high pressure vessels whether for use under positive or negative pressure. The invention provides a transversely opening circular door which is manually rolled along a track and, when inserted, provides a seat for a simple sealing ring requiring only two O-ring seals to effect a watertight and gastight closure. The sealing ring has substantially the same outer dimensions as the door, is inserted through the door access slot and is moved axially into sealing engagement in the door recess.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely simplified access door for pressure vessels.

It is another object of this invention to provide an access door for pressure vessels which may be operated manually or mechanically and which is applicable to both negative and positive pressure vessels.

A further object of this invention is to provide an access door for pressure vessels wherein the door itself is the only moving part and which requires only one other stru ctural member to provide the complete seal.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a model pressure vessel showing the closure means of the present invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the model of FIG. 1 with the door rolled to the open position;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the sealing ring included in the closure means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the sealing ring of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the pressure vessel model of FIG. 1 with the door and sealing ring removed; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the pressure vessel of FIG. 1 in use.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pressure vessel model 11 is shown having an axial chamber 12 formed therein and a recess 13 at one end for receiving a sealing ring 14 and a pressure door 15. These components may be made of steel, aluminum, plastic, etc., depending upon the intended environment, use, working pressure, etc. FIG. 2 shows the vessel in end elevation with door 15 rolled to the open position along a track 16 which also may serve as a support for one end of the pressure vessel. Sealing ring 14 has substantially the same circumference as pressure door 15 and is made to be received in close fit in one end of recess 13 which recess may extend laterally substantially midway into wall 17 of the pressure vessel. Sealing ring 14 has an inside diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of pressure vessel 11 and may have the same thickness as shown or have a reduced or increased thickness depending upon material, use, etc. Sealing ring 14 is provided with at least a pair of grooves to receive 0

rings

20 and 21 which form a seal with the abutting surfaces. The dimensions of sealing ring 14 must, however, permit it 'to be inserted through a common lateral opening 22 in the pressure vessel.

In the model illustrated, door 15 is provided with a T handle 24 to facilitate manual movement in and out of recess 13 in pressure vessel 11. The door has a slight depression 23 on the surface which abuts ring 14 to facilitate opening and closing across 0 ring 21.

In FIG. 2, a door 15 is in the open position in which position handle 24 has rotated to substantial contact with the end of track 16. The closed position of door 15 is indicated by the position of handle 24 in phantom lines at 26. This figure illustrates the extreme simplicity of the closure means. FIGS. 3 and 4 show sealing ring 14 in greater detail, illustrating in FIG. 3 a groove 36 to receive sealing ring 21 and in FIG. 4 a groove 37 to receive sealing ring 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates pressure vessel 11 with sealing ring 14 and door 15 removed. The depth of recess 13 in the wall of chamber 11 is indicated at 41 and, of course, may be varied in accordance with the materials used and the pressure limits expected to be encountered in the vessel.

FIG. 6 illustrates pressure vessel 11 sealed to the environment by sealing ring 14 and door 15 and, in addition, includes

conduits

44 and 45 with appropriate valves therein 46 and 47 for controlling the admission of gas under pressure via a passage 48 into chamber 12 as well as evacuating the chamber to form a negative pressure vessel. A gauge 49 is connected to conduit 50 which communicates with passage 48.

A close fit of the moving parts is obtained by the proper machining of recess 13, opening 22, sealing ring 14 and door 15. 0

rings

20 and 21 complete the com ponents necessary to provide a watertight and airtight closure. Track 16 preferably extends a distance transverse to vessel 1] sufficient to permit door 15 to be rolled clear of chamber 12, i.e., through an arc of substantially It will be appreciated that the primary function of handle 24 is to provide a lever advantageous for manual operation and that it may be replaced by other mechanical means such as a pad eye or grip ring which also would permit manual operation of the door. The grip means also would act to limit travel of the door either by abutting or reaching a position in close proximity to the end of track 25 when the door is open.

The operation of the vessel in FIG. 16 is as follows. With door 15 in the closed position, valve 46 is connected to a high pressure air source, not shown. Valve 47 then is closed and valve 46 opened, allowing pressure to rise in chamber 12 to the desired level as indicated on gauge 49. Valve 46 is then closed. To reduce the pressure in chamber 12, valve 47 is opened, allowing air to escape from the high pressure vessel. When gauge 49 reads zero, door 15 can be rolled clear of opening 22, permitting immediate access into chamber 12. it will be appreciated that with slight modification FIG. 6 could also illustrate an evacuated vessel in use.

It will thus be appreciated that the present invention provides an outward opening closure for either positive or negative pressure vessels which is operated by movement of only one moving part. By reducing the moving parts to one, an exceedingly more simple configuration and construction are permitted with collateral savings in bulk and weight. The closure of the present invention requires a minimum of maintenance which generally entails maintaining the surfaces of door 15, sealing ring 14 and recess 13 in proper condition and replacing the O-ring seals as necessary, all of which may be accomplished in a relatively very short interval. Such construction and maintenance afford a very great savings in cost over existing pressure vessel access means.

The closure means of the present invention has safety features not achieved or possible in conventional closure means, e.g., the door cannot be opened prematurely unless the pressure is so low as to permit the door to be moved in which case the remaining slight pressure will be released harmlessly. This safety feature is applicable to both positive and negative pressure vessels since pressure on either side of the rings will have the same sealing effect. Door 15 can be opened any amount desired and, when displaced laterally a distance equal to the diameter of chamber 12, is entirely clear of the chamber. When so displaced, the door is beyond opening 22 and can be vertically removed from vessel 11. Such removal is readily accomplished since door 15 is not bolted or otherwise attached, secured or connected to the pressure vessel. Since the door opens laterally in a straight line, no clear area is required in front of the closure such as is necessary to accommodate a hinged door.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, the pressure vessel could be other than circular in cross section but have a doorreceiving section which could accommodate circular recess 13. Also, the walls of the pressure vessel could be substantially reduced in thickness except in the area surrounding recess 13. What is claimed is: 1. A closure means for a pressure vessel comprising: a pressure vessel open at one end and forming a cylindrical axial chamber; a recess in said chamber adjacent said open end and adapted to receive in close fit a sealing ring and a circular door, said recess being circular in contour and extending radially into the walls of the chamber a selected distance commensurate with the chamber pressures to be encountered,

said recess extending axially along said chamber a distance sufficient to accommodate in close fit a sealing ring and a door,

the wall of said chamber having an opening whose major dimension is not greater than the diameter of said recess; a sealing ring adapted to be inserted through said opening and thereafter moved laterally into seating engagement in said recess, the interior surface of said sealing ring being substantially colinear with the interior surface of said chamber,

said sealing ring having at least one 0 ring on its peripheral surface and one 0 ring on one of its end surfaces;

a circular door adapted to be accommodated in said opening;

a track extending laterally from said chamber and tangent to the lower point of said recess; and a handle on said door for manual operation thereof so positioned around the periphery thereof that when in the closed position said handle is at the upper extremity of the opening and when open said handle is adjacent the remote end of said track.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said door is formed with a centrally disposed depression to facilitate movement across said remote 0 ring.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said depression extends substantially into said door to provide storage space for material to -be used in said chamber.

4. The method of providing access to a pressure vessel using a single moving member comprising the steps of:

inserting a sealing ring into the wall of said vessel through an opening therein transverse to the longitudinal axis of said vessel;

seating said sealing ring by axial movement thereof into a circumferential recess in the chamber wall adjoining the opening through which the sealing ring was inserted; and

inserting a door having substantially the same peripheral dimensions as said sealing ring through the opening and into said circumferential recess; said sealing ring having peripheral sealing means for sealing the interface between the vessel and the sealing ring and sealing means on its face adjacent the door for sealing that interface.

5. A closure means for a pressure vessel comprising:

an elongate pressure vessel open at one end and having a recess in the wall adjacent said open end for accommodating a transversely oriented closure means;

said closure means including a sealing ring whose interior surface is substantially colinear with the interior surface of said vessel,

said closure means further including a door having a peripheral contour substantially identical to the contour of said sealing ring, said recess adapted to receive said sealing ring and said door in close fitting relationship;

an opening in the lateral wall of said pressure vessel communicating with the end of said recess adjacent an end of said pressure vessel, said sealing ring inserted first through said opening, said door inserted through said opening to form a seal against said sealing ring; and

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said grip means is a handle so positioned that when the door is closed the handle is at the upper extremity of said opening and when the door is open the handle is ad- 5 jacent the remote end of said track.

cluding grip means on the peripheral surface of said to door which is exposed when the door is seated in said recess to assist in manually rolling said door along said support means in opening and closing thereof.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said door is formed with a centrally disposed depression to facilitate movement across said end surface 0 ring.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said depression extends substantially into said door to provide storage space for material to be used in said vessel.

* i i III

Claims

1. A closure means for a pressure vessel comprising: a pressure vessel open at one end and forming a cylindrical axial chamber; a recess in said chamber adjacent said open end and adapted to receive in close fit a sealing ring and a circular door, said recess being circular in contour and extending radially into the walls of the chamber a selected distance commensurate with the chamber pressures to be encountered, said recess extending axially along said chamber a distance sufficient to accommodate in close fit a sealing ring and a door, the wall of said chamber having an opening whose major dimension is not greater than the diameter of said recess; a sealing ring adapted to be inserted through said opening and thereafter moved laterally into seating engagement in said recess, the interior surface of said sealing ring being substantially colinear with the interior surface of said chamber, said sealing ring having at least one O ring on its peripheral surface and one O ring on one of its end surfaces; a circular door adapted to be accommodated in said opening; a track extending laterally from said chamber and tangent to the lower point of said recess; and a handle on said door for manual operation thereof so positioned around the periphery thereof that when in the closed position said handle is at the upper extremity of the opening anD when open said handle is adjacent the remote end of said track.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said door is formed with a centrally disposed depression to facilitate movement across said remote O ring.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said depression extends substantially into said door to provide storage space for material to be used in said chamber.

4. The method of providing access to a pressure vessel using a single moving member comprising the steps of: inserting a sealing ring into the wall of said vessel through an opening therein transverse to the longitudinal axis of said vessel; seating said sealing ring by axial movement thereof into a circumferential recess in the chamber wall adjoining the opening through which the sealing ring was inserted; and inserting a door having substantially the same peripheral dimensions as said sealing ring through the opening and into said circumferential recess; said sealing ring having peripheral sealing means for sealing the interface between the vessel and the sealing ring and sealing means on its face adjacent the door for sealing that interface.

5. A closure means for a pressure vessel comprising: an elongate pressure vessel open at one end and having a recess in the wall adjacent said open end for accommodating a transversely oriented closure means; said closure means including a sealing ring whose interior surface is substantially colinear with the interior surface of said vessel, said closure means further including a door having a peripheral contour substantially identical to the contour of said sealing ring, said recess adapted to receive said sealing ring and said door in close fitting relationship; an opening in the lateral wall of said pressure vessel communicating with the end of said recess adjacent an end of said pressure vessel, said sealing ring inserted first through said opening, said door inserted through said opening to form a seal against said sealing ring; and means extending laterally from said opening for supporting said door on its peripheral surface.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein said sealing ring alone provides the seal for said vessel, said sealing ring having at least one O ring in its peripheral surface for sealing the side wall of the pressure vessel and at least one O ring in its end surface adjacent said door for sealing said opening.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 and further including grip means on the peripheral surface of said door which is exposed when the door is seated in said recess to assist in manually rolling said door along said support means in opening and closing thereof.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said grip means is a handle so positioned that when the door is closed the handle is at the upper extremity of said opening and when the door is open the handle is adjacent the remote end of said track.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein said door is formed with a centrally disposed depression to facilitate movement across said end surface O ring.