Patent Application
20110297683
The present disclosure relates to a safety device for controlling release of pressurized fluid from a vessel of the type having an open end with a closure removable for open access to the contents of the vessel. Pressure vessels of this type are often employed for filtering fluid through filter elements disposed within the pressure vessel and which require periodic removal for cleaning or replacement of the filter. The vessel typically contains an inlet and outlet connected in line in a fluid system for passing fluid under pressure through the filter elements contained within the vessel. Such pressure vessels commonly employ a header or closure plate disposed over an open end of the pressure vessel and secured thereto by fasteners such as bolts or toggle clamps and sealed over the end of the pressure vessel by a seal such as an O-ring or gasket.
A leak in the closure or lid seal can permit undesired release of pressurized fluid and thus create a hazard to the user. Also, in the event the vessel is not completely de-pressurized before the operator initiates release of the fasteners or clamps a residual pressurized fluid escaping between the flange and the undersurface of the cover plate as the fasteners are released can create a hazardous condition for the operator.
Thus, it has been desired to provide a way or means of reducing the hazard of escaping fluid under high pressure from a pressure vessel from a seal leak or upon depressurizing for removal of the vessel closure or lid.
The present disclosure provides a solution to the problem of preventing hazardous escape of fluid under high pressure from a pressure vessel during operation in the event of seal failure; and, additionally upon the operator loosening of the fasteners of the pressure vessel closure or lid for removal thereof after opening a bleed valve for access to the interior of the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel closure or lid has a flange extending peripherally thereabout and at generally right angle to the lid for directing fluid escaping between the lid and the pressure vessel in a direction generally parallel to the wall of the pressure vessel as the fasteners retaining the lid are released by the user, and thus in a direction away from the operator or user.
The closure is secured by swing bolts pivoted on the vessel wall and engaging open cutouts or slots in the closure. Flow shields are provided on the swing bolts for redirecting fluid escaping at the slots and about the bolts for protecting the user from a blast of fluid under high pressure escaping in the region of the fasteners.
Referring to
The pressure vessel member 12 has a lid or closure indicated generally at 24 which has in the exemplary version illustrated in
The pressure vessel flange 16 has a plurality of radially outwardly extending circumferentially spaced lugs 30 provided thereon which have cross pins 32 with each pin having pivotally received thereon the eye portion of a swing bolt 34 which has the threaded portion thereof extending upwardly through the slots 28 in the flange 26 of the lid 24.
A cover plate indicated generally at 36 is received over the lid 24 and has a plurality of cutouts 38 formed thereon into each of which is received one of the swing bolts 34; and, lid or closure 24 is secured to the vessel 12 by a ringed nut 40 or alternatively a castellated nut threadedly engaging each of the swing bolts 34.
Referring to
However, it will be understood that the cutouts or slots 38 formed in the cover provide an open area for the blast of pressurized fluid to escape about the swing bolts 34 and through the cutouts 38.
In order to prevent blasts of pressurized fluid escaping outwardly through slots 38 and about the swing bolts 34, fluid flow or blast shields, indicated generally at 44, are disposed about each of the slots 38 and over the swing bolts 34. Shields 44 are configured, as will hereinafter be described, to be retained by the swing bolts and to function to direct flow escaping through slots 38 and about the swing bolts in a direction downwardly and away from the user or operator.
Referring particularly to
Referring to
Thus, when positioned over the slots 38 of the cover 36 and flush against the outer surface of the cover flange 42, each of the shields 44 covers one of the cutouts or slots 38 and one of the swing bolts 34 to prevent high pressure fluid escaping through the slots upon the user loosening the ringed nuts 40.
It will be understood that upon release of the pressure in the vessel by loosening of the ringed nuts 40, the user may then pivot the swing bolts 34 outwardly of the slots 38 and downwardly to release the cover and the closure 24 for removal.
Referring to
The present disclosure thus describes a technique for enabling the cover or lid of a pressure vessel to be retained by swing bolts for quick release and removal by the user or operator. In the event of a lid seal leak, or any residual pressure in the vessel after de-pressurization, the escape of the high pressure fluid in the region of the slots for the swing bolts is deflected by blast shields attached to the swing bolts for covering the slots in the closure or lid.
The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
