Patent Application
20100018012
This invention generally relates to a clamp, which may be particularly suited to secure a cover in a vessel.
Trays are typically used in gas-liquid contacting vessels, such as reactors, absorbers, strippers, and distillation columns. Often, trays are installed during initial construction of the vessel, or removed or installed during a downtime for, e.g., maintenance or refurbishing of the vessel. Bolts and nuts may be used to secure the tray within the vessel to a support ring positioned along an internal circumference of the vessel.
However, traditional bolts and nuts can suffer from several disadvantages. Particularly, installing a nut and bolt arrangement can require extensive time and labor for the securing of the nut along the entire length of the bolt. In addition, during such installation, excessive torque applied to the nut can damage the bolt by, e.g., stripping the threads. Moreover, galling can occur during hydroprocessing conditions, which may lead to the welding of the threaded high points of the nut and the bolt. In such an instance, bolts may have to be cut to remove trays.
Consequently, there is a desire to provide a new fastening arrangement for trays inside a vessel that overcomes these disadvantages.
One exemplary embodiment can be a clamp for securing a tray in a vessel. The clamp may include a jaw. Generally, the jaw has a first offset position with the tray unsecured, and a second aligned position with the tray secured in the vessel.
Another exemplary embodiment may be a method of clamping a member to an internal structure of a vessel. The method can include coupling a clamp to the member. Typically, the clamp includes a tensioned jaw and a mechanical fastener adapted for manipulation with a tool. Generally, the clamp has a first position disconnected with the internal structure and a second position engaged with the internal structure. The method can also include manipulating the mechanical fastener to move the jaw from the first position to the second position to engage the internal structure.
A further exemplary embodiment can be a vessel including an enclosure defining an interior volume, at least one internal structure, a tray, and a removable clamp securing the tray to the internal structure. Generally, the removable clamp has ajaw and a mechanical fastener. Typically, the jaw forms an aperture for receiving a mechanical fastener there-through, and the mechanical fastener is adapted to be manipulated with a tool to position the jaw in a first offset position and a second aligned position to clamp the tray to the internal structure.
The clamp as disclosed herein can provide a suitable mechanism for securing a tray within a vessel without solely relying on bolts and nuts, which have the deficiencies as described above. As such, the embodiment disclosed herein will facilitate the removal and installation of one or more trays during, e.g., a downtime for maintenance or equipment refurbishing. Particularly, during downtimes it is usually advantageous to proceed quickly due to the desire to restart the unit.
As used herein, the term “coupled” can mean two items, directly or indirectly, joined, fastened, associated, connected, or formed integrally together either by chemical or mechanical means, by processes including stamping, molding, or welding. What is more, two items can be coupled by the use of a third component such as a mechanical fastener, e.g. a screw, a nail, a staple, or a rivet; an adhesive; or a solder.
As used herein, the term “substantially crescent-shaped” generally means a ring with one circular sector removed. Generally the circular sector has an angle less than about 180°, preferably less than about 120°, and optimally less than about 90°.
As used herein, the term “manipulated” can mean directly or indirectly altering the position or orientation of an element, such as a mechanical fastener.
Various embodiments may be depicted in
Referring to
Generally, the vessel 100 forms an enclosure 120 surrounding an interior volume 140. The enclosure 120 can contain an internal structure 200, which can include a support ring 220 and one or more beams 230, and the one or more members 240, which are typically one or more trays 240. Usually, the one or more trays 240 form several openings of the same or, independently, different sizes for permitting the passage of fluid there-through, such as allowing liquid to flow downward and gas to rise upwards to facilitate mass transfer operations. Although one tray 240 is depicted, it should be understood that any number of trays may be included. The tray 240 can include other structures, such as bubble caps, tray valves, downcorners, and weirs to facilitate desired operations. Generally, one or more clamps 300 can secure the tray 240 to the support ring 220 or other internal structure 200 components, such as the one or more beams 230 that can underlie the tray 240. Typically, the support ring 220 encircles the interior volume 140 and is secured by any suitable means, such as welding, to the interior walls of the vessel 100. The beams 230 can also be coupled to the walls of the vessel 100, using any suitable means, such as welding.
Referring to
In addition, the clamp 300 can include the mechanical fastener 340, which in this preferred embodiment is a bolt 340. The bolt 340 can have a head 344, a shaft 346, and an end 348. Generally, the head 344 is coupled to the lower arm 324 using any suitable means, such as welds. The end 348 can be fashioned to be manipulated by a tool and can take any suitable shape such as cubed or beveled. Alternatively, the end 348 of the bolt 340 can be cylindrical and not have any beveled edge. In this preferred embodiment, the end 348 is square-shaped with a beveled edge. In addition, the clamp 300 can further include a nut 350, a washer 354, a spring 360, and a preloading member 370. Generally, the tray 240 forms an aperture 318 that can receive the bolt 340. The nut 350, the washer 354, and the spring 360 can be positioned on the shaft 346 on the bolt 340 above the tray 240 proximate to the end 348. Typically, the spring 360 can tension the jaw 310 to tightly secure the clamp 300 and tray 240 to the support ring 220.
Referring to
Manipulating the end 348 of the bolt 340 can rotate the end 330 of the jaw 310. When the jaw 310 is in a first position 314 offset and disconnected, the end 330 is abutting the preloading member 370 lowering the lower arm 324 of the jaw 310 to a first elevation 334 in a first position 314 offset and disconnected with the support ring 220. By manipulating the beveled end 348 of the mechanical fastener 340, the end 330 of the jaw 310 can be rotated. As a result, the spring 360 expands against the tray 240 and the washer 254, pushing the nut 350 upward along with the bolt 340. The jaw 310 can be in a second position 316 raised to a second elevation 336, aligned and engaged with the support ring 220 as depicted in
Referring to
The clamp 300 can include the jaw 310, the mechanical fastener or bolt 340, the nut 350, the washer 354, and the spring 360, as discussed above. The at least one spacer 390 can include a first spacer 392 and a second spacer 396. Each spacer 392 and 396 can be substantially prism-shaped except for a respective tapered side. Moreover, spacers 392 and 396 of various sizes can be utilized and may be smaller in relation to the other elements than as depicted. Only the spacer 396 is depicted with a tapered side 398, but it should be understood that both spacers 392 and 396 can have respective tapered sides. Although two spacers 392 and 396 are depicted, it should be understood that only one spacer 396 may be used, and each spacer 392 and 396 can have more than one tapered side 398. In some preferred embodiments, each spacer 392 and 396 can have tapered sides on opposing ends, e.g., the side opposing end 398. It is generally desirable to use at least two spacers 392 and 396 if the jaw 310 can be blocked by an obstacle, such as other equipment, within the vessel 100 to permit positioning the jaw 310 in either direction. The spacers 392 and 396 can be coupled to the tray 240 using any suitable means, and typically can be coupled to the tray 240 before clamping.
In operation, the jaw 310 can be in a first position 314, namely offset and disconnected with the support ring 220. In addition, the jaw 310 can be in a second position 316 aligned and engaged with the support ring 220. Rotating the end 348 either clockwise or counter-clockwise can rotate the end 330 of the upper arm 328, respectively, onto or off of one of the spacers 392 or 396. In this exemplary embodiment, the end 330 can be rotated onto or off of the spacer 396. Rotating the end 348 in the clockwise direction can cause the end 330 of the jaw 310 to dislodge from the spacer 396, slide down the tapered side 398, and hence raise and position the lower arm 324 into an engaged position 316 with the support ring 220. Particularly, the spring 360 can expand against the tray 240 and the washer 354 to raise the nut 350 and bolt 340. Thus, the spring 360 can tension the jaw 310 to allow the lower arm 324 to be raised when removed from the spacer 396. This tensioning can secure the tray 240 to the support ring 220. Generally, the end 330 does not touch the tray 240 in the second position 316 to engage the jaw 310 with the support ring 220. Particularly, a length of the upper arm 328 of the jaw 310 is less than the thickness of the support ring 220 or other structure 200 secured by the clamp 300. Rotating counter-clockwise can reverse these steps to release the jaw 310 from the support ring 220. Hence, this jaw 310 can more efficiently permit the installing and uninstalling of the tray 240 with the support ring 220.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
