Referring more particularly to the drawings, the repair apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in
The repair apparatus 10 can be employed on a wide variety of types of devices. In the illustrative example hereof, the specific device is a container or cylinder 20 which can be visualized as fabricated of steel and containing chlorine gas. More specifically, it is a cylinder containing chlorine gas maintained therewithin under a predetermined pressure and weighing about one hundred fifty pounds (150 lbs.). The pressurized cylinder 20 has a dome shaped or hemispherical upper end portion 21 having an outer surface 22. The pressurized cylinder has an opposite, substantially flat, lower end portion 23 upon which the pressurized cylinder is adapted to be rested in upright relation. The pressurized cylinder has a cylindrical wall 24 extending between the upper end portion and the lower end portion and elongated along a longitudinal axis of reference 25.
It will be understood that the pressurized cylinder 20 has an internal chamber containing the pressurized chlorine gas. A steel cylindrical valve mount 30 is mounted on the outer surface 22 of the hemispherical upper end portion 21 extending longitudinally therefrom along the longitudinal axis of reference 25 and concentric thereto, as shown in
Referring more particularly to
The repair apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in
A securing shaft, or bolt, 70 is mounted, as by welding, on and centrally of the cross member 65 extending therefrom normal to the cross member a predetermined distance to a distal end portion 71. The securing bolt is circumscribed by male screw threads 72 extended thereabout the full length of the securing bolt.
The housing 51 has a containment vessel 80 with a cylindrical outer surface 81 and a cylindrical inner surface 82. The inner surface of the containment vessel bounds, or encloses, an interior chamber 83. The containment vessel has an anterior end portion 84 and an opposite posterior end portion 85.
The anterior end portion 84 forms an annulus 90 bounding a circular opening 91. An annular seal or gasket 92 is mounted on the annulus 90 of the anterior end portion, as best shown in
The posterior end portion 85 of the containment vessel 80 has an end wall 100 forming an integral portion of the containment vessel. A central passage 101 extends through the end wall concentric to the periphery of the end wall. A seal, or gasket, 102 is adapted to be mounted, as will hereinafter be described, on the end wall 100 in alignment with the central passage, as shown in
A female coupling 110 is mounted on and extends laterally from the containment vessel 80, as best shown in
The valve assembly 113 has a valve body or housing 120 which mounts the male coupling 114. The valve housing has a control handle 121 which can be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to open or, alternatively, to close the valve assembly to the passage of a gas, liquid or the like therethrough. A male coupling 122 is mounted on and extends axially from the valve housing. The male coupling is circumscribed by male screw threads 123. A nozzle 124 is mounted on the screw threads of the male coupling 122. The nozzle has a hose mount 125 extending axially therefrom. Thus, when the control handle 121 of the valve housing 120 is set in the open position, communication is established from the interior chamber 83 of the containment vessel 80 to the atmosphere, but for a hose attached to the hose mount 125.
The operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.
The pressurized cylinder 20, before use, is in the form shown in
However, before such normal usage is begun, typically as a safety precaution the pressurized cylinder is examined for any damage, leakage, or the like. For example, damage to the valve assembly 33 may have taken place. Thus, it may be determined that the pressurized cylinder is not in condition for immediate usage. Where an anomaly exists, such as where the valve assembly 33, or some portion thereof, is leaking chlorine gas for any of the reasons heretofore set forth, this condition must be repaired before the pressurized cylinder can be used. Such repair by conventional means requires the efforts of several people and is otherwise less than satisfactory for all of the reasons heretofore set forth.
Apparatus 10 of the present invention requires that only one person perform the repair. This can be accomplished rapidly and without the hazards attendant to the use of conventional methods. In the case of the apparatus of the present invention, it will be understood that the protective housing 36 has been removed so that the pressurized cylinder 20 is as shown in
The securing assembly 50 is then positioned so that internal female screw threads 62 of the securing ring 60 engage the male screw threads 31 of the valve mount 30. The securing ring 60 is threaded downwardly on the valve mount preferably until the securing assembly reaches the position shown in
The housing 51, or more precisely the containment vessel 80 thereof, is then promptly moved into the position shown in
Immediately prior to so positioning the containment vessel 80 as described, a flow of chorine gas from the pressurized cylinder 20 is reestablished. If the valve assembly 33 has been left in place on the pressurized cylinder, the control handle 35 is operated to open the valve assembly thereby releasing chlorine gas from the pressurized cylinder. Where the valve assembly 33 has been removed, as where it was too damaged safely to use, the cap or plug which has been used temporarily to seal the pressurized cylinder is removed. This establishes a flow of chlorine gas from the pressurized cylinder. The containment vessel 80 is then immediately forced downwardly into the position shown in
The gasket 102 is then placed in rested engagement with the end wall 100 about the distal end portion 71 of the securing bolt 70. The securing nut 103 is screwthreadably attached to the screw threads 72 of the distal end portion and tightened into a position bearing downwardly on the gasket 102 and end wall 100. This causes the gasket 92, or more specifically, the engagement shoulder 93 thereof to be forced downwardly on to the outer surface 22 forming a fluid, or gas, tight seal therewith.
The containment vessel 80 is thereby locked in place forming the seal with the outer surface 22. It will be understood that the specific contents of the pressurized cylinder, the pressure thereof, the environment of usage, the degree of hazard presented by the contents of the pressurized cylinder as well as other considerations will have a bearing upon the specific details of how the apparatus of the present invention is used. These details of usage, for example, include the speed with which the containment vessel 80 is placed in the described position, the amount of downforce placed upon the containment vessel, and thereby the engagement shoulder 93 thereof, and still other details.
The containment vessel 80 is thereby rendered operable to prevent the leakage of the contents of the pressurized cylinder 20 therebeyond. The valve assembly 113, or more specifically the control handle 121 thereof, is operable to control the passage of the contents of the pressurized cylinder into the interior chamber 83 of the containment vessel and therefrom into the hose for usage at the water treatment plant, or other work environment.
Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited dependably to repair devices which have conventionally been difficult, if not impossible, to repair; is operable to alleviate a hazardous condition such as where the contents of the device are, for example, flammable, explosive, toxic, or the like; possesses particular utility in repairing containers in which the contents thereof are under pressure; can be operated both safely and rapidly to achieve its operational objectives; and is otherwise entirely successful in use.
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.