Patent ID: 6206227
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B67D

Abstract:
A pressure vessel and closure assembly combination, said closure assembly comprising a concentric guide track having an upper concentric track and a lower concentric track, said upper track and said lower track each secured to the external surface of said pressure vessel, a concentric door configured to conform to the curvature of said pressure vessel, said concentric door having a top portion retained within said upper track by a plurality of upper door retaining guide rollers and a bottom portion retained within said lower track by a plurality of lower door retaining guide rollers, means for interlocking said concentric door to said pressure vessel, and an inflatable seal disposed within the void between the entire perimeter of said door and said pressure vessel when said door is closed and interlocked to said pressure vessel,wherein when said inflatable seal is inflated to fill the void between the entire perimeter of said concentric door and said pressure vessel, and said pressure vessel is pressurized, the resulting forces of pressurization against said top portion and said bottom portion of said concentric door are transferred to said pressure vessel by said upper door retaining guide rollers and said lower door retaining guide rollers.