Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J13/00—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
  • F16J13/24—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general with safety devices, e.g. to prevent opening prior to pressure release
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J13/00—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
  • F16J13/02—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures
  • F16J13/04—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures attached with a bridge member
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
  • F16J13/00—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
  • F16J13/02—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures
  • F16J13/06—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures attached only by clamps along the circumference
  • F16J13/065—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures attached only by clamps along the circumference the clamp comprising a ring encircling the flange
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
  • F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow in pipes or hoses
  • F16L55/115—Caps

Definitions

• This disclosure is in the field of pipeline and vessel closures like those used, for example, to provide access to a pig trap during launch and recovery operations.
• a pig trap includes a collar adapted to be attached to an end of a pipe, a door for opening and closing the end of the pipe, means for holding the door to the collar, and means for sealing the door to the collar when the door is held to the collar.
• the holding means may include segmented plates that expand inside the collar barrel or clamps that hold the door against the barrel.
• Embodiments of a closure for a cylindrical vessel includes at least one holding means configured to move the closure into a fully closed state, the holding means having a predetermined actuation force or torque to properly close the closure, the closure including one or both of the following failsafe failure detection features:
• a mechanical fuse having a predetermined load failure force below that of a load failure force of at least one component of the holding means and above that of the predetermined actuation force or torque;
• the holding means move between an unactuated or open position and an actuated or fully closed position.
• the holding means may include a pair of clamp rings arranged about a door of the closure so as to hold the door in a closed and sealed condition. The predetermined actuation force is above the weight of the clamp rings.
• FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a prior art closure with holding means properly closing the closure in a fully closed state.
• the holding means include a handle with a linkage connected to clamp rings.
• FIG. 2 is the prior art closure of FIG. 1, illustrating blockage or debris in a bottom portion of the closure prior to actuation of the holding means. None of the pins“P” that hold the closure together are designed as a weak link.
• FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a closure of this disclosure including a mechanical fuse capable of preventing a failure of at least one other component of the closure when there is blockage or debris or where excessive force is required to properly close the closure.
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section view of the mechanical fuse of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a rear isometric view of a prior art closure and illustrating a pressure warning lock. It may be possible to install the pressure warning lock without the holding means being properly closed.
• FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of an embodiment of a closure of this disclosure including a block that prevents the pressure warning lock from being inserted when the closure is not in a fully closed state.
• the block may be a bracket sized to at least partially cover the pressure warning lock hole when the holding means have not been fully actuated to properly close the closure.
• the block is illustrated to show the interference with the pressure warning lock, which cannot be inserted into the pressure warning lock hole, until the closure is fully closed and the block clears the pressure warning lock hole.
• FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the block of FIG. 6.
• FIG. 8 is a rear isometric view of an embodiment of a closure of this disclosure including a ratchet-style closing mechanism and a block.
• the block may include an extended plate that at least partially covers the pressure warning lock hole when the closure is not yet properly closed. The plate is illustrated to show the interference with the pressure warning lock.
• FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the block of FIG. 8.
• Embodiments of a closure include a mechanical fuse, a pressure warning lock block, or a combination of the mechanical fuse and the pressure warning lock block.
• the embodiments may be adapted to a closure the same or similar to that as disclosed in US 4,237,936 to Lollis et al. or US 4,515,287 to Baudoux et al ., the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
• a closure 10 includes at least one mechanical fuse 20 having a predetermined load failure force below that of a load failure force of at least one component of holding means 30 of the closure and above that of a force to provide a predetermined actuation force or torque to overcome the holding means 30.
• the mechanical fuse 20 includes a shear pin 21 or its equivalent.
• the holding means 30 may include one or more clamp rings 31.
• a handle 33 may be connected to the clamp rings 31 by corresponding lugs 35, at least one of which includes the mechanical fuse 20.
• the load failure force of the mechanical fuse 20 is above the predetermined actuation force of the holding means 30 to properly close the closure 10 into a fully closed position but below that of load failure force of another component of the holding means 30.
• the other component may be a welded component such as, but not limited to, the lugs 35.
• the predetermined actuation force may be a force to overcome the weight of the holding means 30.
• the holding means 30 may include a pair of clamp rings 31, the predetermined actuation force being above a weight of the pair of clamp rings 31.
• the mechanical fuse 20 may be located on a top end or portion 11 of the closure 10 so as to be visible to an operator. In some embodiments, the mechanical fuse 10 may be located on the top end 11 of the closure 10 in proximity to a pressure warning lock 17. Where the holding means 30 include clamp rings 31, a common pivot point 37 ( e.g . a pin or its equivalent) of the clamp rings 31 may be located toward a bottom end or portion 15 of the closure. When blockage or debris“B” in a bottom portion 15 of the closure 10 causes an increase in force to be applied to actuate the holding means 30 during closure (but still below the failure force of another component such as the common pivot point 37), the mechanical fuse 20 fails. The failed mechanical fuse 20 may be easily detectable and visible to an operator. The planned failure of the fuse 20 protects at least one other component of the closure from failing due to excessive force required to close the holding means 30.
• a common pivot point 37 e.g a pin or its equivalent
• a block 40 interferes with a pressure warning lock 17, thereby preventing insertion or installation of the lock 17 into the pressure warning lock hole 19 when the closure 10 is opened or not in a fully closed state.
• the block 40 may be sized so that when the closure 10 is in the fully closed state, the pressure warning lock 17 may be installed in the hole 19.
• the pressure warning lock 17 may include a pin 23.
• the holding means 30 may be actuated by a handle 33 or by a rachet-style closing mechanism 51 of a kind known in the art. See e.g. FIGS. 8 & 9. Referring now to FIGS.
• the block 40 includes a bracket 41 connected to a linkage 37 of the holding means 30.
• the block 40 includes at least one plate 43 that aligns the pressure warning lock 17 with the hole 19.
• the bracket 41 may include alignment means 39 for the pressure warning lock 17.
• the plate 43 is extended in length so that when the holding means 30 are opened or not fully closed, the plate 43 at least partially covers the pressure warning lock hole 19 and prevents the pressure warning lock 17 from being inserted into the hole 19.
• holding means 30 includes one or more clamp rings 31.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Fuses (AREA)

Priority Applications (13)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=67263022

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (16)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2019
  • 2019-06-05 PL PL19739736.7T patent/PL3803162T3/pl unknown
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  • 2019-06-05 DK DK19739736.7T patent/DK3803162T3/da active
  • 2019-06-05 EP EP19739736.7A patent/EP3803162B1/en active Active
  • 2019-06-05 ES ES19739736T patent/ES2915529T3/es active Active
  • 2019-06-05 AU AU2019280681A patent/AU2019280681B2/en active Active
  • 2019-06-05 SG SG11202007855UA patent/SG11202007855UA/en unknown
  • 2019-06-05 WO PCT/US2019/035559 patent/WO2019236691A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-06-05 EP EP22159577.0A patent/EP4071386A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2019-06-05 PT PT197397367T patent/PT3803162T/pt unknown
  • 2019-06-05 US US16/432,144 patent/US11719341B2/en active Active
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• 2020
  • 2020-08-19 SA SA522440008A patent/SA522440008B1/ar unknown
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