Patent Description:
This invention relates to locking mechanisms for vessels, such as pressure or vacuum vessels, for use particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, in swimming pool and spa equipment.

Vessels used in swimming pool and spa equipment, such as pumps, include a lid or other component that couples with the body of the vessel to contain a fluid within the vessel. The vessel also includes a seal to try to prevent leakage from the interface of the lid and the body. Traditional seals, particularly face seals that only seal in one direction, often leak, and the pump is prone to "spitting" or "burping" water when the pump is turned off, decompressing the seal enough to allow water to escape. Radial seals that seal in more than one direction pose their own challenges, as it is difficult to assemble the lid into the sealed position and, once sealed, it is difficult to remove the lid from the sealed position when the lid is under suction. Existing designs utilizing a radial seal include handles, so that a user can grasp the handles and forcefully pull the lid upwards out of the sealed position.

Such vessels are e.g. known from <CIT>, which discloses a liquid filter including a housing and a rotatable lid for covering an opening in the housing The housing incorporates an inlet port and an outlet port for the filter. The lid is secured to the housing by rotating movement in which cam followers carried by the lid engage cam members carried by the housing to cause the lid to be cammed downwardly upon the housing. As the lid is drawn down onto the housing, an annular seal carried by the lid engages the inner surface of the housing to form a seal between the lid and the housing, covering a side opening in the housing.

Further, <CIT> discloses seal for a closure assembly that includes a seal ring; and a carrier being coupled to the seal ring, extending circumferentially and radially outwardly of the seal ring to a radially outer periphery, and having a circumferentially extending pocket in the radially outer periphery adapted to release a vacuum pressure.

A seal member for creating an adequate sealing engagement between two bodies is known from <CIT>. The seal member may have a closed loop shape, a plurality of engagement surfaces and a plurality of lobes formed on the engagement surfaces. The lobes may contact a sealing surface on a body to aid in creating an adequate seal between two bodies.

The present invention provides improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pool and spa equipment. These improved locking mechanisms provide a better, more reliable seal between the lid and the body of the vessel, and include features that make sealing and unsealing the vessel easier and more automatic. More specifically, the locking mechanisms include features that allow the lid to move into its sealed position when a locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel, and that allow the 1id to release from its sealed position when the locking ring is rotated relative to the vessel in the opposite direction. These features eliminate the need for a user to apply additional, upward force (e.g., force in addition to those associated with rotating the locking ring relative to the body) to physically separate the lid from the vessel when the locking ring moves from the locked to the unlocked position and the lid is under suction that pulls the lid down onto the body of the vessel. Thus, when the locking ring rotates to unlock the vessel and release the seal, not only does the seal decompress, but the lid also automatically disengages from the body to allow for easier removal. In other words, the improved locking mechanisms allow for control of the lid in both the upwards and downwards directions, instead of just the downwards direction where a user pushes the lid onto the body to lock it.

These improved locking mechanisms can be used on any vessel where it is desirable to contain fluid within the vessel, such as pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, including, but not limited to, standalone suction side strainers, pumps with integrated suction side strainers, filters, chlorinators, chemical feeders, etc. Moreover, these improved locking mechanisms allow for easier installation even when used with a radial seal.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the invention to provide improved locking mechanisms for vessels requiring a seal to contain a fluid within the vessel.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide improved locking mechanisms that provide a better seal for a vessel within a body of water such as a swimming pool or spa.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that include features that allow the vessel to be easily sealed and unsealed, even when the vessel includes a radial seal.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that allow a vessel to seal properly in all operating conditions, including when the vessel is transitioning between a state of vacuum and a state of pressure, as well as between a state of pressure and a state of vacuum.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide locking mechanisms that allow a vessel requiring a seal to be easily assembled, easily disassembled, and easily serviced.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide features that aid in assembly of pressure and vacuum/suction vessels by equalizing pressure between the vessels and the atmosphere.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

The present invention provides improved locking mechanisms for vessels, including both pressure and vacuum/suction vessels, used in swimming pools and spas. Although the figures and the following description describe an exemplary locking mechanism of a standalone suction side pump strainer, the disclosed locking mechanisms are not limited to use with pumps with standalone suction side strainers and can be used with other vessels such as pumps with integrated suction side strainers, filters, chlorinators, chemical feeders, etc..

Illustrated in <FIG> is an exemplary standalone suction side strainer pump vessel <NUM> with an embodiment of the improved locking mechanism. The vessel <NUM> includes a lid <NUM> that assembles with a locking ring <NUM>. In some cases, the lid <NUM> can be assembled with the locking ring <NUM> by inserting the lid <NUM> into the locking ring <NUM> from the underside and at an angle, and then snapping it into position. The lid <NUM>/locking ring <NUM> assembly couples with the body <NUM> and the locking ring <NUM> can rotated between an unlocked and a locked position. When the locking ring <NUM> is in the unlocked position, the vessel <NUM> is in an unsealed configuration and when the locking ring <NUM> is in the locked position, the vessel <NUM> is in a sealed configuration.

When the locking ring <NUM> is in the locked position, the lid <NUM> compresses a seal <NUM>, which may be a radial seal such as an O-ring as illustrated in <FIG>, to prevent fluid (e.g., water) contained in the body <NUM> from leaking out of the body <NUM>, thus sealing the vessel <NUM>. Seals with other cross sections may be used, such as, but not limited to, seals with an X-shaped cross section. The body <NUM> of the vessel <NUM> can optionally include a chamfer <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, to aid in assembly as the lid <NUM> is installed with the body <NUM>. The chamfer <NUM> also helps move the seal <NUM> out of position when disassembling the lid <NUM> from the body <NUM> to unseal the vessel <NUM> from its sealed configuration.

As shown in <FIG>, the vessel <NUM> is configured so rotation of the locking ring <NUM> relative to the body <NUM> (e.g., rotation by less than a complete turn such as, but not limited to, an eighth turn or a quarter turn) moves the locking ring <NUM> between its unlocked position (<FIG>) and its locked position (<FIG>), in turn sealing the vessel <NUM> (<FIG>) or unsealing the vessel (<FIG>). The locking ring <NUM> may optionally include one or more handles <NUM> to facilitate with rotating the locking ring <NUM> relative to the body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the handles are omitted and a separate tool may be used to rotate the locking ring <NUM> relative to the body <NUM>. More specifically, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in <FIG>, the assembly can be configured so the vessel <NUM> is in the unsealed configuration when the handles <NUM> are at an approximately <NUM> degree angle relative to horizontal, and in its sealed configuration when the handles <NUM> are turned so they are at an approximately <NUM> degree angle with respect to horizontal. As shown in <FIG>, the lid <NUM> and/or the locking ring <NUM> may include markings or other indicia to assist a user in assembling and disassembling the lid <NUM> and moving the locking ring <NUM> between its locked and unlocked positions to seal and unseal the vessel <NUM>.

The locking ring <NUM> includes features configured to interface (e.g., thread) with corresponding features of the body <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates how the body <NUM> includes double cam features (in the form of double-ramps <NUM>). The embodiment illustrated and described includes four sets of double-ramps <NUM>, but more or fewer double-ramps can be included as desired, which need not be the same as one another (e.g., a first ramp may be longer than the second ramp in each set or otherwise have different dimensions, one set of double-ramps <NUM> may be different from another set of double-ramps <NUM>, etc.). In some cases, as illustrated, a ramp in a set of the double-ramps <NUM> can be horizontally offset from the other ramp in the set to facilitate the beginning of threading the corresponding feature (e.g., a ramp <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>) of the locking ring <NUM> into a channel <NUM> defined in each set of double-ramps <NUM>. As illustrated, the ramps of the double-ramps <NUM> can be arranged at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal, such as, but not limited to, at an angle between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees from horizontal, for example between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees from horizontal.

The channel <NUM> defined by each set of double-ramps <NUM> is designed to receive the corresponding feature (e.g., the locking ring ramp <NUM>) of the locking ring <NUM>. The double-ramps <NUM> of the body <NUM> and the locking ring ramp <NUM> cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel <NUM> when the locking ring <NUM> is turned in a first direction and moved to the locked position, and to unseal the vessel <NUM> when the locking ring <NUM> is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position. The locking ring ramps <NUM> transmit to the body <NUM> the pressure load applied by the user in rotating the locking ring <NUM>. More specifically, the locking ring ramps <NUM> act as a cam follower when received within the channel <NUM> of the double-ramps <NUM> of the body <NUM>, and are dimensioned to withstand the high load transmission when the vessel <NUM> is pressurized (e.g., during pressure testing of the body <NUM>).

The channels <NUM> of the double-ramps <NUM> guide the locking ring <NUM> (via the locking ring ramps <NUM>) as it is rotated between the unlocked position and the locked position. The channels <NUM> also help pull the lid <NUM> down into the sealed, locked position when the locking ring <NUM> is rotated in the first direction and help push it out of the sealed position when the locking ring <NUM> is rotated in the second, opposite direction. More specifically, referring to <FIG>, each locking ring ramp <NUM> of the locking ring <NUM> includes an upper surface <NUM> and a lower surface <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> of the locking ring ramp <NUM> serves as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface <NUM> of the channel <NUM> (e.g., the lower surface of the upper ramp of the double-ramp <NUM>; see <FIG>) when the locking ring <NUM> is rotated into its locked position to seal the vessel <NUM>. The lower surface <NUM> of the locking ring ramp <NUM> serves as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface <NUM> (e.g., the upper surface of the lower ramp of the double-ramp <NUM>; see <FIG>) to release the seal and unseal the vessel <NUM>. In this way, the double-ramp arrangement defining the channel <NUM> provides two functional surfaces, one of which is used for tightening the vessel <NUM> to seal it by rotating the locking ring <NUM> relative to the body <NUM> in the first direction into the locked position, and the second of which is used for loosening the vessel <NUM> and unsealing it by rotating the locking ring <NUM> relative to the body <NUM> in the second, opposite direction into the unlocked position.

In other embodiments, the locking ring <NUM> may include the double-ramps <NUM> and the body <NUM> may include ramp(s) <NUM> that interface with each of the double-ramps <NUM> of the locking ring <NUM>. In other words, the locking features of the locking ring <NUM> and the body <NUM> may be swapped such that the double-ramps <NUM> are included on one of the locking ring <NUM> and the body <NUM>, and the ramp <NUM> is included on the other of the locking ring <NUM> and the body <NUM>. The body <NUM> and the locking ring <NUM> also optionally include corresponding locking features. Referring to <FIG>, each channel <NUM> of the body <NUM> may include a channel interference locking feature <NUM> (such as a bump) that cooperates with a corresponding locking ring interference locking feature <NUM> (such as bump; see <FIG>) of the locking ring ramp <NUM>. More specifically, when sealing or unsealing the vessel <NUM>, the locking ring interference locking feature <NUM> will slide past the channel interference locking feature <NUM> to ensure the locking ring <NUM> does not inadvertently rotate into the unsealed position (e.g., due to vibration). In some cases, the corresponding interference locking features are configured to give a tactile and/or audible indication the locking ring <NUM> has rotated to into the locked position to seal the vessel <NUM>. This feedback can be a "click" that can be felt and/or heard so a user knows the lid <NUM> has been installed correctly on the body <NUM> and the vessel <NUM> is sealed and ready for use.

As shown in <FIG>, the locking ring <NUM> includes a lower surface <NUM> that engages with an upper surface <NUM> of the lid <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is assembled with the body <NUM>. This engagement transmits the rotational movement of the locking ring <NUM> as it moves to its locked position to a directional force downward that pushes the lid <NUM> against the seal <NUM>, compressing the seal <NUM> and sealing the vessel <NUM>.

Moreover, the lid <NUM> and the locking ring <NUM> include features that facilitate lifting of the lid <NUM> off of the body <NUM> when a user disassembles the lid <NUM> from the body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the locking ring <NUM> includes an upper surface <NUM> that serves as a secondary engagement surface to push against the lid <NUM> to automatically lift the lid <NUM> out of the sealed configuration without requiring a user to forcefully pull upwards to release the seal <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the lid <NUM> includes one or more lifting features <NUM> against which the upper surface <NUM> of the locking ring <NUM> engages as the locking ring <NUM> rotates from its locked position to its unlocked position, causing the lid <NUM> to lift out of its sealed position and disassemble from the body <NUM> and unseal the vessel <NUM>. Engagement of the upper surface <NUM> of the locking ring <NUM> against the lifting features <NUM> of the lid <NUM> is sufficient to overcome the forces associated with the radial seal <NUM> and lift the lid <NUM> out of the sealed position without requiring a user to supply upward force (e.g., a user need not supply additional forces beyond the rotational force transmitted by the locking ring <NUM> as it rotates). The lifting features <NUM> may be integrated into (or integral with) the lid <NUM>, although they need not be. For example, one or more separate components (e.g., a ring) may interact with the lid <NUM> to serve as the lifting feature(s) and provide a surface against which the locking ring <NUM> engages. The separate component(s) could be fastened or otherwise coupled to the lid <NUM>. In some cases, the separate component(s) could be coupled with the lid <NUM> to "sandwich" around or otherwise engage with the lid <NUM>.

The locking ring <NUM> may further include one or more cutouts <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. If more than one cutout <NUM> is used, the cutouts <NUM> may all be the same, or may have different dimensions/profiles. The embodiment illustrated in <FIG> includes two full cutouts <NUM> and one partial cutout <NUM>. The cutouts <NUM> are dimensioned so the lid <NUM> can be assembled within the locking ring <NUM> with only a small amount of force, and capture the lid <NUM> so it remains in position relative to the locking ring <NUM> in use. In other words, the cutouts <NUM> help ensure the lid <NUM> does not fall out of the locking ring <NUM> when the lid <NUM> is removed from the body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, as illustrated throughout the Figures, the vessel includes a pressure/vacuum release port <NUM> that can be used to relieve pressure and/or vacuum when assembling or disassembling the lid <NUM> with the body <NUM> (e.g., when unsealing/sealing the vessel <NUM> by rotating the locking ring <NUM> between its unlocked and locked positions). Moreover, the pressure/vacuum release port <NUM> can be used to install a pressure gauge or an automatic pressure relief valve or the like, as needed. The pressure/vacuum release port <NUM> can also allow service access to the body <NUM> while the lid <NUM> is assembled with the body <NUM>. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in <FIG>, the assembly can be configured so the port <NUM> is located on the lid <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the body <NUM> can include one or more drain ports to assist with drainage in case water enters the channels <NUM>.

A collection of exemplary embodiments are provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as "Illustrations" providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

Illustration A. A vessel having a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel.

Illustration B. A locking mechanism for a vessel requiring a seal, the locking mechanism including a plurality of ramps of a locking ring and a plurality of double-ramps of a body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps of the locking ring and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel.

Illustration C. A locking mechanism for a vessel requiring a seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination, the locking mechanism including features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features of the lid engage with the features of the locking ring and the features of the locking ring engage with the features of the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel.

Illustration D. A vessel having a radial seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel also comprising a lid, a locking ring, and a body, wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid such that the lid automatically lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from an unlocked position to a locked position to seal the vessel.

Illustration E. A vessel having a radial seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel also comprising a lid, a locking ring, and a body, wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid such that the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from an unlocked position to a locked position to seal the vessel without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration F. A vessel and/or a locking mechanism including any of the aspects identified in any of the previous illustrations or combination of illustrations A-E.

Illustration G. Methods for using the vessel and/or the locking mechanism in any of the previous illustrations or combinations of illustrations A-F.

Illustration H. A vessel for swimming pool equipment of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the vessel comprises a radial seal and a locking ring, wherein rotation of the locking ring less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel.

Illustration I. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps on one of a locking ring or the body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps on the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves from its unlocked position to its locked position.

Illustration J. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp that is horizontally offset from the upper ramp.

Illustration K. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

Illustration L. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the plurality of double-ramps and the plurality of ramps cooperate in a thread-like fashion to seal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a first direction into the locked position, and to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is turned in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration M. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the plurality of ramps transmit to the body a pressure load generated by rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration N. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein: the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction to the locked position to seal the vessel; and the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration O. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein at least one channel defined in the plurality of double-ramps comprises a channel interface locking feature that cooperates with a corresponding interference feature of one of the plurality of ramps.

Illustration P. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a locking mechanism that comprises: features on a lid; features on a locking ring; and features on the body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring rotates between the unlocked and locked positions.

Illustration Q. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel further comprising: a lid; and a locking ring; and wherein an upper surface of the locking ring cooperates with lifting features of the lid to cause the lid to lift off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body to from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Illustration R. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the lid lifts off the body when the locking ring is rotated relative to the body from the locked position into the unlocked position without requiring additional force beyond rotational forces generated by the rotation of the locking ring.

Illustration S. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the body comprises a chamfer that helps move the radial seal out of position when disassembling a lid from the body to unseal the vessel as the locking ring moves from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Illustration T. The vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a lid and wherein the locking ring comprises a lower surface that engages an upper surface of the lid to transfer rotational movement of the locking ring into a directional force downward that pushes the lid against the radial seal.

Illustration U. A locking mechanism for a vessel for swimming pool equipment requiring a seal of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps of one of either a locking ring or a body of the vessel, and a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel, wherein a channel is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps to receive one of the plurality of ramps and to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its unlocked and locked positions.

Illustration V. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising features on a lid, features on a locking ring, and features on a body of the vessel, wherein the features on the lid engage with the features on the locking ring and the features on the locking ring engage with the features on the body to facilitate sealing and unsealing of the vessel as the locking ring moves between its locked and unlocked positions.

Illustration W. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein a first double-ramp of the plurality of double-ramps comprises an upper ramp and a lower ramp, wherein the upper ramp is horizontally offset from the lower ramp and wherein the upper ramp and the lower ramp are each orientated at a non-zero angle relative to horizontal.

Illustration X. The locking mechanism for the vessel of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein each of the plurality of ramps comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein: the upper surface functions as a locking surface that engages with an installation engagement surface of the channel when the locking ring is rotated in a first direction into its locked position to seal the vessel; and the lower surface functions as an unlocking surface that engages with a removal engagement surface of the channel to unseal the vessel when the locking ring is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction into the unlocked position.

Illustration Y. A method of sealing a vessel for swimming pool equipment of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the method comprising: rotating a locking ring of the vessel in a first direction less than a full turn relative to a body of the vessel to move the locking ring from an unlocked position to a locked position and to seal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes each of a plurality of ramps of one of the locking ring or the body of the vessel to be received in a channel defined in one of a plurality of double-ramps of the other of the locking ring or the body of the vessel.

Illustration Z. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the first direction causes an upper surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with an installation engagement surface of the channel.

Illustration AA. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising rotating the locking ring in a second direction opposite the first direction to move the locking ring from the locked position to the unlocked position and unseal the vessel, wherein the rotation of the locking ring in the second direction causes a lower surface of each of the plurality of ramps to engage with a removal engagement surface of the channel.

Illustration AB. The vessel of any preceding illustrations or combination of illustrations, the vessel further comprising a lid with a pressure/vacuum release port.

These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations and combinations within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A vessel (<NUM>) for swimming pool equipment, the vessel (<NUM>) comprising a radial seal (<NUM>) and a locking ring (<NUM>), wherein rotation of the locking ring (<NUM>) less than a full turn relative to a body (<NUM>) of the vessel (<NUM>) between a locked position and an unlocked position seals and unseals the vessel (<NUM>), the vessel (<NUM>) further comprising a locking mechanism comprising a plurality of ramps (<NUM>) of one of a locking ring (<NUM>) or the body (<NUM>) of the vessel (<NUM>), and a plurality of double-ramps (<NUM>) of the other of the locking ring (<NUM>) or the body (<NUM>) of the vessel (<NUM>), wherein a channel (<NUM>) is defined in each of the plurality of double-ramps (<NUM>) to receive one of the plurality of ramps (<NUM>) and to facilitate sealing of the vessel (<NUM>) as the locking ring (<NUM>) moves from its unlocked position to its locked position,
characterized in that the plurality of double-ramps comprises at least a first set of double-ramps (<NUM>) and a second set of double-ramps (<NUM>), wherein the first set of double-ramps (<NUM>) comprises a characteristic different from the second set of double-ramps (<NUM>).