Abstract:
A port arrangement is configured for accessing a demountable component in an interior of an apparatus or container. The port arrangement includes an inner port having a port tube and forming a releasable connection with an internal component. The port tube of the inner port is guided through an outer port that is to an outer jacket.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/DE2010/001351, filed on Nov. 18, 2010, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2010 007 498.5, filed on Feb. 9, 2010. The International Application was published in German on Aug. 18, 2011 as WO 2011/098057 A1 under PCT Article 21 (2). 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a port arrangement for access to a demountable component located in the interior of an apparatus or container, comprising a port connected with the internal component, whose port tube is guided through a port connected with the outer jacket. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Port arrangements can provide access to a separate space located in the interior of an apparatus or container. These applications usually exist in containers equipped with a heating or cooling jacket, when the access to the product or reaction space extends through the heating or cooling jacket. In Lueger, “Lexikon der Technik”, 1970, Vol. 16, for example, a port arrangement for the interior of a double-walled container is described, in which sealing between the outer container wall and the port tube extending through the same is effected by means of a stuffing box. In this way, a movement caused e.g. by thermal expansion is permitted between the inner and the outer apparatus wall. 
         [0004]    Another construction is illustrated in the drawing,  FIG. 1 . Here, the port  10  of the inner jacket  12  is concentrically guided through a second port  14  located flush in the outer jacket  13  of the container. The flanges of the ports  15 ,  16  are screwed to each other, so that the space between inner jacket and outer jacket is sealed. A compensator  17  provides for a mutual displacement of the inner jacket relative to the outer jacket due to thermal expansion. The port  10  is closed by a blind flange  18 . The blind flange  18  can also be provided with a cylindrical displacer, which in the mounted condition protrudes into the port  10  e.g. up to the inner jacket  12 , in order to prevent deposits in the port  10 . 
         [0005]    In the German Utility Model G 83 05 747.1 a lead-through is described, in which the inner port tube is equipped with a compensator and the outer port tube is divided in two, wherein the first part is welded to the inner jacket and the second part is welded to the outer jacket of the container and the two parts are connected via a bearing shell made of a material with low thermal conductivity. By means of this construction, a conduction of heat between inner and outer jacket of the container via this port tube should be avoided. 
         [0006]    In DE-AS 1 573 289 a temperature sensor arrangement is described, which should also be suitable as lead-through for other measuring purposes. The so-called temperature sensor is a rotationally symmetric, tubular rotary part which is equipped with a flange at its upper end and with a thread at its lower end. To use the same as a lead-through for e.g. measuring sensors, this part is introduced into a hole in the wall of the inner jacket from the interior of the inner jacket, with the threaded end first, and screwed to a nut. This screw connection at the same time serves for attachment of one end of a bellow to the wall of the inner jacket, whose other end is attached to the outer jacket, so that the temperature sensor and the bellow together form a lead-through into the internal component. It is disadvantageous in this arrangement that the temperature sensor must be introduced into the hole in the wall of the inner jacket from the inside of the internal component. In practice, however, the good accessibility of the mounting point necessary for this purpose, is not always ensured. 
         [0007]    A disadvantage of the constructions as described in  FIG. 1  and in G 83 05 747.1 consists in that they are exclusively suitable for internals firmly installed in the apparatus or container. For internals which should be removable from the apparatus, e.g. for inspection or repair, these ports are less suitable, since they must be cut off from the component to be removed, in order to provide for this procedure. Such cutting off, and also the subsequent reattachment of the port arrangement, requires a great effort. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In an embodiment, the present invention provides a port arrangement for accessing a demountable component in an interior of an apparatus or container. The port arrangement includes an inner port having a port tube and forming a releasable connection with an internal component. The port tube of the inner port is received through an outer port that is connected with an outer jacket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a port of an inner jacket that is concentrically guided through a second port located flush in the outer jacket of a container; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a port in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, which is connected with an inner jacket of a component via a conical sealing element; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows the jacket of an internal component, the outer jacket of a container, and an inner port which is guided through an outer port; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a construction variant in which the sealing element, by which the inner jacket is connected with the port, consists of one hemisphere and one shell half inserted into each other; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a construction variant which is particularly suitable when a high tightness of the sealing element is desired. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    An aspect of the present invention provides a port arrangement in which the port connected with the internal component can easily be separated from the same, and for mounting the same a good accessibility of the interior of the internal component is not absolutely necessary. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the present invention provides that that the port of the port arrangement connected with the internal component is mounted to the internal component with a releasable connection. 
         [0016]    The port arrangement can serve to introduce measurement and observation means into the internal component, but it can also be used for the supply and discharge of fluids. 
         [0017]    A preferred aspect of the invention is characterized in that the sealing element of the releasable connection consists of cones inserted into each other, and the force for pressing the parts of the sealing element into each other is generated by pretensioning an expansion compensator integrated in the tube of the inner or outer port. 
         [0018]    The cones can have a substantially round or square cross-section or the cross-section of an isosceles triangle. Another preferred aspect of the invention is characterized in that the sealing element of the releasable connection consists of one hemisphere and one shell half inserted into each other. 
         [0019]    In connections of this type, sealing surfaces are pressed onto each other and a force thereby is exerted by the outer jacket onto the inner jacket. To absorb this force, the internal component correspondingly must be firmly installed in the container or apparatus. 
         [0020]    The sealing surfaces of the sealing elements usually are coated with a sealing material. 
         [0021]    It is also possible that the sealing element of the releasable connection consists of a threaded screw connection. In this case, no force is required for pressing the parts of the sealing element on or in each other. 
         [0022]    The invention and a few embodiments of the invention will now be explained with reference to the following examples and drawings. 
         [0023]    All features described and/or illustrated form the subject-matter of the invention per se or in any combination. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a port  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, which is connected with the inner jacket  22  of a component via a conical sealing element  21 . The port  20  is concentrically guided to the outside through a port  24  connected with the outer jacket  23  of a container. The flanges  25 ,  26  of the ports are screwed to each other. The expansion compensator  27  is tensioned and the necessary pressing force for the conical sealing element  21  is generated. The port  20  is closed by a blind flange  28 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the jacket  32  of an internal component, the outer jacket  33  of a container, and the port  30  which is guided through the port  34 . The port  30  is connected with the jacket  32  via the conical sealing element  31 . The flange of the port  30  is directly connected with the blind flange  38  by screws  39 . By means of the screws  39  the port  30  is drawn against the blind flange  38 , whereby the compensator  37  is tensioned and the pressing force for the sealing element  31  is generated. This variant takes advantage of a good accessibility of the interior of the internal component for assembly of the inner port tube. It is particularly suitable when a high pressure exists in the internal component, as in this mounting direction the same supports pressing down the sealing surfaces of the sealing element  31 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a construction variant in which the sealing element  41 , by which the inner jacket  42  is connected with the port  40 , consists of one hemisphere and one shell half inserted into each other. This variant is preferred when lateral displacements between the port  40 ,  44  of the inner jacket  42  and of the outer jacket  43  must be expected. A slight bend in the tube of the port  40  is permitted by the compensator  47 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a construction variant which is particularly suitable when a high tightness of the sealing element  51  is required. The sealing element  51  consists of a threaded joint via which the inner jacket  52  is connected with the port  50 . The compensator  57  serves to permit minor lateral displacements of the port  50  relative to the port  54  of the outer jacket  53 . The port flanges  55 ,  56  are screwed to each other. The port  50  is closed by the blind flange  58 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.