Abstract:
A door for a pressurized vessel comprises a circular seat and lid. The seat has a plurality of locking receivers that are configured to receive a locking arm on the outer surface of the lid when the lid is positioned against the seat. The lid has a plurality of guides configured to direct the travel of the locking arms as the locking arms move toward and away from the locking receivers. A locking actuator is positioned on the outer surface of the lid and configured to cause each locking arm to extend through one of the guides and locking receivers so that a pressurized seal is maintained. An opening actuator is also coupled to the lid and to the pressurized vessel and is configured to conceal and expose the opening by positioning the lid against and away from the seat, respectively.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to pressurized vessels and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for a pressurized vessel door.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     At least one method of generating electricity involves burning coal to generate heat, which transforms water to steam that is then routed under pressure through the turbines that produce electrical energy. After hydroelectric dams, coal-fired power plants represent one of the oldest methods of generating electricity.  
         [0003]     The incineration of coal is not a perfectly efficient process, meaning that the effluent from the boiler where the coal is burned typically contains chemical agents that are harmful to people and the environment. Agents such as ozone (smog), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, NO x , such as nitrogen dioxide, lead, and particulate soot may be released into the environment through the coal-burning process. In recent years, governments have enacted laws to control and greatly reduce the amount of pollutants such as these that can be released into the environment.  
         [0004]     Because of these changes in environmental laws, some types of coal have become disfavored or even barred as fuel options, as the chemical compositions of these coals are such that their incineration actually results in a higher concentration of undesirable chemical agents. For example, some types of coals contain high sulfur content levels, thereby resulting in a much higher release concentration of chemical pollutants such as sulfur dioxide when burned in a coal incinerator. Thus, some of these types of coals cannot be used any more for at least this reason. So the economic effect on coal mining industries in locations where such undesirable coal is found can be and in some instances has been catastrophic. There is a need then for a process to make these types of fuel available again for combustion.  
         [0005]     Likewise, a similar issue exists with common garbage. Landfills throughout the world are filling at alarming rates with residential and commercial garbage. With exploding populations and decreasing landfill space, garbage disposal may soon reach crisis levels.  
         [0006]     Additionally, disposal of garbage presents a host of environmental issues as well. Even common household garbage may contain harmful liquid and solid chemicals that can damage the environment once deposited in a landfill. Much of today&#39;s garbage takes a great amount of time to degrade, and a substantial amount of garbage is not even biodegradable, which means that it will forever be in the landfill.  
         [0007]     As one solution to the ever increasing problem of garbage disposal, garbage incinerators have been developed to reduce the massive raw garbage to mere ashes for burial in a landfill. In theory, this concept solves at least the space issue with landfills, as garbage can be incinerated to a fraction of its original size. However, the same problem exists with garbage as with the coal discussed above, and perhaps even more so.  
         [0008]     Garbage can be comprised of practically anything, which when burned may actually be more harmful to man and the environment than prior to incineration. Many compositions, whether liquid or sold, release harmful pollutants when burned, thereby limiting the type of materials that may be incinerated at a landfill. But the process of separating materials for incineration is usually difficult and time consuming, which increases the costs of garbage incineration to the point that it is not cost efficient anymore as compared to simply burying materials in the landfill. Plus, human operators may commonly misidentify certain materials for incineration so that harmful materials are unintentionally incinerated, which still results in the release of toxic chemicals, gases, and pollutants into the environment.  
         [0009]     Solutions have arisen for treating coal, garbage, and other combustible materials prior to incineration so as to reduce the release of harmful agents during incineration. As one nonlimiting example, materials such as coal or garbage may be treated with chemical compounds under pressure. By mixing the compounds with the material under pressure, the material can be rendered combustible according to government restrictions.  
         [0010]     However, a problem exists with vessels that mix the chemical compounds with the materials. Loading and unloading material into the vessel and then maintaining high pressure during treatment creates a host of problems for the vessel&#39;s entry point. Thus, there is a heretofore unaddressed need for an apparatus and method for loading, unloading, and maintaining pressure within such vessels for the treatment of materials therein.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principals of the present invention. Moreover, the drawings like reference numerals that designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the pressurized vessel with the lid shown in an open position for receipt of material.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  with the lid shown in a closed position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a diagram of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  shown rotated into an inverted position such that the lid is shown in a bottom position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  with the lid on the pressurized vessel shown in an open position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  with the lid of the pressurized vessel shown in a closed and locked position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of the lid component of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  with the lid shown in a locked position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of the lid component of the pressurized vessel of  FIG. 1  with the lid shown in an unlocked position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of the lid of  FIG. 1  such that the locking arm has a tracking pin and the lid is configured with a track for guiding the tracking pin.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the locking arm of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a diagram  10  of a pressurized vessel for treating certain types of materials so that the subsequent incineration of those materials releases less undesirable components into the atmosphere, as described above. In  FIG. 1 , vessel  11  is a pressurized vessel configured to treat materials, such as coal or garbage, with agents introduced into the vessel. In one embodiment among others, the vessel  11  operates, once loaded, under high pressure so as to properly treat the loaded material.  
         [0022]     Vessel  11  is shown in  FIG. 1  with a lid  12  in an open position so that material  19  may be loaded into the vessel  11  for treatment prior to incineration (as a nonlimiting example). Lid  12  is opened by actuator  17  that moves lid  12  away from seat  14 , which is attached to pressurized vessel  11 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that lid  12  may be actuated away from seat  14  by a number of methods and/or devices; however, as nonlimiting examples, actuator  17  may be an hydraulic device or an electric motor.  
         [0023]     In at least one nonlimiting example, pressurized vessel  11  is constructed of metal, as are lid  12  and seat  14 . Moreover, one of ordinary skill would know that various types of metals may comprise vessel  11 , lid  12 , and seat  14 . As a nonlimiting example, lid  12  and seat  14  may be constructed of 516 grade steel.  
         [0024]     It is for at least the reason that lid  12  may be constructed of metal that actuator  17  may be configured as an hydraulic mover of lid  12 . Actuator  17  may be connected to pressurized vessel  11  by mounts  21  which may be bolted, welded, or fastened in another manner, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Regardless of the fastening method used to secure actuator  17  to pressurized vessel  11 , the result is that lid  12 , which is connected to actuator  17 , is secured so as to allow ease of movement in opening and closing operations.  
         [0025]     As indicated above, material  19  may be coal, garbage, or any other type of material that may be treated within pressurized vessel  11 . In fact, material  19  may be any substance that may be inserted in the opening within seat  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram  10  of the pressurized vessel  111  of  FIG. 1  with the lid  12  shown in a closed position. More specifically, actuator  17  may be controlled so as to rotate (or move) lid  12  from its position as shown in  FIG. 1  so that it is placed in contact with seat  14 . Actuator  17  may be configured so as to create a pressurized seal between lid  12  and seat  14  for a predetermined amount of time. However, a locking mechanism on lid  12 , as discussed in more detail below, secures lid  12  to seat  14  so as to maintain a pressurized seal between lid  12  and seat  14  enabling material  19 , once deposited within pressurized vessel  11 , to be treated. Although not shown in this drawing, one or more control lines may be coupled between actuator  17  and a user interface device for controlling the opening and closing of lid  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0027]     In at least one nonlimiting example, pressurized vessel  11  may be configured so as to rotate around an axis extending lengthwise through the center of vessel  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . The interior sections of pressurized vessel  11  may be configured with one or more baffles, so as to move material  19  throughout the length of pressurized vessel  11  when pressurized vessel  11  is rotated. Whenever it is desired to remove material  19  from pressurized vessel  11 , the pressurized vessel  11  may be configured so that the lid  12  and seat  14  are positioned at a bottom position of the pressurized vessel  11  for releasing any contents contained within pressurized vessel  11 . During rotation of pressurized vessel  11 , the seal between lid  12  and seat  14  is maintained at all times, regardless of the position of lid  12  and seat  14  around the exterior of pressurized vessel  11 . If lid  12  is actuated by actuator  17  to an open position, material  19  contained within pressurized vessel  11  may be directed so as to fall out by gravity from the interior compartment of pressurized vessel  11 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a top view diagram  10  of pressurized vessel  11  shown with lid  12  in an open position. ( FIG. 3  could also be a bottom view of pressurized vessel  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2B .) Irrespective of whether  FIG. 3  is considered a top or bottom view of pressurized vessel  11 , opening  23  inside seat  14  permits material  19  to pass into or out of pressurized vessel  11 , depending upon whether pressurized vessel  11  is configured for loading ( FIG. 1 ) or unloading ( FIG. 2A ).  
         [0029]     In  FIG. 3 , actuator  17  communicates movement to couplings  26  and arms  28  which are connected to lid  12 . As stated above, actuator  17  is connected to pressurized vessel  11  by mounts  21  which may be of any configuration so as to secure actuator  17  to pressurized vessel  11 , as one of ordinary skill in the art would know.  
         [0030]     As lid  12  is shown in an open position, the underside of lid  12  is visible, which is actually a portion of the interior of pressurized vessel  11  that comes into contact with material  19  and any other chemicals or solutions introduced into the interior portion of pressurized vessel  11 . In order to maintain the seal between lid  12  and seat  14 , one or more O-rings  29  or other sealing devices may be placed on lid  12  and/or on seat  14 , so that when lid  12  contacts seat  14 , a seal is created by O-ring  29  between lid  12  and seat  14 . O-ring  29  maintains pressure in vessel  11  when lid  12  is closed.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagram  10  of the pressurized vessel  11  of  FIG. 1  with lid  12  shown in a closed and locked position respective to seat  14 . In this diagram, actuator  17  may be controlled so as to move lid  12  into physical contact with seat  14 . More specifically, upon activation of actuator  17 , actuator  17  causes coupling  26  to rotate, which moves arms  28  radially around coupling  26 . Arms  28  are likewise connected to lid  12 , which rotates lid  12  from an open position to a seated position in contact with seat  14 .  
         [0032]     In this nonlimiting example of  FIG. 4 , locking device  33  is configured so that lid  12  is locked and in a sealed relation to seat  14 . It is when lid  12  and seat  14  are in physical contact that an equal seal is created by O-ring  29  ( FIG. 3 ) around the inner circumference of lid  12  so that pressure may be increased within pressurized vessel  11 . Stated another way, the sealing of lid  12  to seat  14  permits the pressure within pressurized vessel  11  to be increased so that any chemicals or other reagents inserted with material  19  within pressurized vessel  11  may react in a predetermined manner. Additionally, and as stated above, actuator  17  may actually be configured so as to maintain a predetermined seal rating between lid  12  and seat  14  until locking device  33  can be controlled so as to lock lid  12  to seat  14 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a close-up diagram of lid  12  and seat  14  with actuator  17  of  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5 , lid  12  is shown in a locked position respective to seat  14 . As stated above, actuator  17  may be controlled so that couplings  26  are rotated so as to move arms  28  radially around shaft  25 . In this radial movement of arms  28 , which are each connected to lid  12 , the result is that lid  12  is moved from an open position to a closed position in contact with seat  14 .  
         [0034]     When actuator  17  has placed lid  12  in contact with seat  14 , locking device  33  may be controlled so as to cause locking arms  41 ,  42 ,  43 , and  44  to be placed in contact with both lid  12  and seat  14 . More specifically, when locking device  33  is activated, locking bar  36  is moved in a manner that rotates connector  38  and locking coupler  39 , which is attached to locking arms  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44 . In this way, locking arms  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  are extended through guides  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 , and also locking dogs  61 ,  62 ,  63  and  64 , which are attached to seat  14 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , locking arm  41  extends through guide  51  which, in one nonlimiting example, is a metal arch secured to the top portion of lid  12  with an opening allowing locking arm  41  to pass therethrough. Locking dog  61  is a similar arch to guide  51 , but locking dog  61  is instead attached to seat  14 .  
         [0036]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , guide  53  is shown on lid  12  as an arch allowing locking arm  43  to pass through the opening  56  of guide  53 . Likewise, locking dog  63  is an integral part of seat  14 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , but it is configured so that locking arm  43  may extend through the opening  66  of locking dog  63 . Once locking device  33  causes locking arms  41 - 44  to be extended beyond locking dogs  61 - 64 , lid  12  is properly sealed to seat  14  so that the treatment process of material  19  may take place.  
         [0037]     As a nonlimiting example, locking device  33  may be an hydraulic cylinder. In another nonlimiting example, locking device  33  may be an electric device. One of ordinary skill in the art would know of other devices that may operate as locking device  33 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of the lid  12  and seat  14  of  FIG. 5 , but with lid  12  shown in an unlocked position respective to seat  14 . In this nonlimiting example, locking device  33  may be controlled so that locking arm  36  causes connector  38  and coupler  39  to rotate such that locking arms  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  are retracted from the openings within locking dogs  61 ,  62 ,  63  and  64 .  
         [0039]     In at least this nonlimiting example, locking arms  41 - 44  do not retract completely out of the opening (i.e., opening  56  in guide  53 ) of guides  51 - 54 , even though another nonlimiting example could be configured where they do. Instead, locking arms  41 - 44  retract to clear the openings of locking dogs  61 - 64  (i.e., opening  66  of locking dog  63 ). In this way, lid  12  may be opened as locking arms  41 - 44  are free and clear of locking dogs  61 - 64  on seat  14 .  
         [0040]     It should be understood, however, that the locking arms  41 - 44  are moved based upon the movement of locking device  33  and locking arm  36  that rotates connector  38  and coupler  39  about a center point on lid  12 . Stated another way, connector  38  moves the end of each locking arm at its connection point to connector  38  along an arc centered at or near lid  12 . Because locking arms  41 - 44  are coupled by bolts or other coupling means to the rotating device  39 , linear movement is essentially created respective to locking dogs  61 - 64  and guides  51 - 54  to allow for the locking and unlocking of lid  12  respective to seat  14 .  
         [0041]     One of ordinary skill in the art would know that the lid assembly  12  and seat  14  may be constructed of bolts, pins, or other locking, attaching and fastening devices so as to achieve the desired seals according to this disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art would also know that lid  12 , seat  14 , as well as the related components, such as rotating arm  28  may be constructed of any one of a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, etc.  
         [0042]     Locking arms  41 - 44  may be constructed with a pin or extrusion on the bottom side so as to track along the length of the locking arm into the opening of locking dogs  61 - 64 . More specifically and as an additional nonlimiting example, the top portion of lid  12  may contain one or more tracks so that locking arms  41 - 44  may be configured with one or more pins to travel within said tracks. The tracks in lid  12  may be fashioned in a manner to direct the travel of locking arms  41 - 44  for locking and unlocking operations, as described above.  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is an alternate embodiment diagram of lid  12  shown in  FIG. 1  with locking arm  43  having a pin and a track  77  positioned in the outer surface of base  71  of lid  12 . In this nonlimiting example, track  77  is configured extending from near the center of lid  12  to a point near or at the outer circumference of base  71 . As yet another nonlimiting example, track  77  may instead be fashioned in a base  71  in a portion of the linear direction between lid  12  center and the outer circumference. Nevertheless, irrespective of these nonlimiting examples, including a track in this manner assists in guiding locking arm  43  (as well as the other locking arms  41 ,  42 , and  44 ) through guides  51 - 54  and on through locking dogs  61 - 64  for locking (and also unlocking) lid  12  from seat  14 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of exemplary locking arm  43  shown with pin  74  that may be positioned in track  77  of  FIG. 7 . In this nonlimiting example, pin  74  extends a predetermined distance below the bottom surface of locking arm  43  so as to travel within track  77 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that pin  74  may be positioned at one or more locations along the length of locking arm  43 , and the position shown in  FIG. 8  is merely exemplary and not intended to be limiting upon this disclosure.  
         [0045]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.