Abstract:
There is disclosed a flange or pressure vessel closure device and method for deheading a coke drum. The coke drum deheading device has an annular retaining element spring biased from a lower flange of a coke drum, and a plurality of hooks which extend from the retaining element to engage a cradle holding the bottom head against the flange. When it is desired to disengage the head from the flange, the hook retaining element is moved by a first set of cylinders toward the flange to release tension from the hooks so that they can be disengaged from the bottom head by pivoting them outwardly using a second set of cylinders or other hook pivoting means. The bottom head can then be disengaged from the flange, lowered and moved laterally away from the coke drum on a hydraulic table.
Abstract:
An inner lid is attached to a vacuum chamber, covering an inner region of the vacuum chamber. An outer lid, also attached to the vacuum chamber, covers the inner lid, leaving a region between the inner lid and the outer lid. A gas conduit allows gas to flow between the inner region of the vacuum chamber and the region between the inner lid and the outer lid. A filter is placed in or immediately outside the gas conduit to prevent particles from entering the inner region of the vacuum chamber from the region between the inner lid and the outer lid. Since the pressure is the same on the top and bottom of the inner lid, the inner lid does not flex and thus does not rub against the vacuum chamber when the vacuum chamber is pumped down or vented up.
Abstract:
A cap for sealing pressure vessels is disclosed. The present invention permits a nominal closure to be formed by hand tightening and a substantially higher force to be applied to a cap by a separate clamp mechanism, thereby forming a pressure seal. In certain preferred embodiments, means for providing a process flow through a hole in the seal and filtering means are also provided as part of the cap assembly. A preferred application of the cap of the present invention is for the sealing of sample vessels used for supercritical fluid extraction of compounds from a solid matrix for subsequent chemical analysis. Methods of supercritical fluid extraction are also disclosed. The present invention thus provides methods and apparatus whereby the placement of a sample into a pressurized system may be automated and monitored to ensure adequate seals have been created and maintained within such pressurized systems.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are described for opening, closing, and sealing the door of a sterilizer. The apparatus includes a clamping device for compressing a compressible gasket between the door and the chamber of the sterilizer, and the clamping device can provide variable clamping pressure. Further, the clamping device is self-locking and once in a clamped position it requires the positive application of hydraulic pressure to move it to an unclamped state. The apparatus also includes hydraulic mechanisms for opening and closing the door and raising and lowering the door against the face of the sterilizer. Each of these hydraulic mechanisms may be adjusted to vary the amount of force used to open and close the door or to raise and lower the door. In addition, the hydraulic mechanisms used for clamping the door, opening and closing the door, or raising and lowering the door are adapted so that they can be operated during a loss of electrical power.
Abstract:
A vacuum processing unit and apparatus comprises a buffer chamber that can be evacuated, a processing chamber that can be communicated with said buffer chamber a first sample carrier installed in said buffer chamber, a vacuum opening/closing device provided in the buffer chamber to correspond to the first sample carrier, a vacuum prechamber provided for the buffer chamber via the vacuum opening/closing device, a second sample carrier which carries the sample between the vacuum prechamber and the first sample carrier via the vacuum opening/closing device, and a third sample carrier which carries the sample between said first sample carrier and the processing chamber. The vacuum processing units can be connected in groups via vacuum opening/closing devices provided for the buffer chambers in locations corresponding to the end of the first sample carriers therein. The number of connected processing chambers can be freely changed to meet a change in the process or the manufacturing line.
Abstract:
An automatically openable lid for a receptacle structure has a safety device for preventing any accident in the presence of an obstacle in the range of opening and closing movements of the lid. The device includes a safety guard extending around a front surface of the lid and beyond a rear surface thereof. The guard is mounted on the lid in a semi-fixed manner such that the guard is normally kept immovable relative to the lid during the movement thereof and such that the guard is pivotally movable relative to the lid when the guard is hit by any obstacle during the movement of the lid. Responsive to the movement of the guard relative to the lid, a detecting means is operable to energize a brake for stopping the movement of the lid.
Abstract:
A door closing device for an autoclave or the like is disclosed. Planar slides are provided on the door in planes parallel and perpendicular to the access opening plane. The slides have first guideways and are displaceable in their planes parallel to the access opening plane. Lateral guide members to opposite sides of the door are freely displaceable in the first guideways. Second guideways are formed in two wall members fixed to the frame, facing and parallel to the slides. The first and second guideways have paths determined to constrain movement of the guide members and the door so that for engagement and disengagement with the access opening edge the door is displaceable at right angles to the access opening and when the door is at a distance from the access opening edge it is displaceable by translation parallel to the access opening plane.
Abstract:
A seal joining a vacuum vessel head to a shell includes a flange on the head and a flange on the shell with a seal ring interposed therebetween. Spacers transfer the weight of the head and the vacuum load in the vessel to the seal ring. A sealing skirt attaches to the head flange and to the seal ring.
Abstract:
Apparatus secures in its closed position the door of a chamber capable of maintaining pressure within the chamber. The present invention includes apparatus disposed on the chamber for cooperating to move the door to and from its closed position including at least two members, one of which is movable relative to the chamber. The door is in its closed position when the stationary member and the door are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. The movable member can be forced between the door and the stationary member to separate the door and the stationary member from each other by a predetermined distance. Further, the present invention includes apparatus for preventing the door from assuming its closed position until the movable member is forced between the door and the stationary member.
Abstract:
A vacuum chamber seal at the entry or exit end of a vacuum chamber comprises two rollers 15, 16 one 16 of which is rotatable, defining an air lock gap. A guide tube 18, spaced from the gap but within the chamber, is constructed and disposed to promote and acceleration of the air flowing past it towards the gap resulting in a pressure drop on the roller side of the guide tube and a pressure differential across a web of material passing over the guide tube 18 and through the gap. This differential urges the web into initimate contact with the rotatable roller 16 to prevent oscillation of the web entering the gap.