Patent ID: 6223925
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: C10B,F15B,F16J,G21C,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A mechanism for selectively securing a cover to a flange of a pressure vessel, the cover and flange each having at least one opening therethrough, the respective openings being aligned when the cover is properly positioned facing the flange, the mechanism comprising:a stud extending through the opening of one of the flange and the cover, the stud having a stud head at one end and a piston head at the other end, the stud head being sized to fit longitudinally through the opening of the other of the flange and the cover;a selectively movable anchor plate disposed so that the other of the flange and the cover is disposed between the anchor plate and the one of the flange and the cover, the anchor plate having a hole through which the stud can extend when the cover is positioned facing the flange, the hole having (i) a wider portion through which the stud head can pass longitudinally and (ii) a narrower portion through which the stud head cannot pass longitudinally, the anchor plate being movable between a first position, in which the narrower portion of the hole is aligned with the openings of the cover and flange, and a second position, in which the wider portion of the hole is aligned with the openings of the cover and flange; anda cylinder in which the piston head is mounted so as to be slidable substantially normal to the one of the flange and the cover, the cylinder being mounted opposite to the cover and the flange from the anchor plate and including a mechanical stop that limits movement of the piston head relative to the cylinder in a direction toward the anchor plate,the cylinder being selectively movable relative to the anchor plate in a direction away from the anchor plate, when the anchor plate is in the first position and the piston head is against the mechanical stop, so as to draw the stud head against the anchor plate to clamp the cover and the flange together, andthe piston head being selectively movable away from the mechanical stop, when the anchor plate is in the second position, so as to retract the stud head into the opening of the other of the flange and the cover.