Patent ID: 7829040

Claim:
A pressure vessel assembly for high temperature high pressure chemistry comprising: a cylindrical vessel defining an open mouth at one end; a circumferential vessel lip extending around and transversely from said mouth of said vessel, said vessel lip having respective inner and outer circumferential oblique surfaces; a seal cover for engaging and closing said vessel at said mouth, said seal cover having inner and outer circumferential oblique surfaces that respectively engage said oblique surfaces of said vessel lip; a circumferential pressure release channel defined by said seal cover at the junction of said oblique surfaces of said seal cover and said vessel lip; at least one pressure release opening in said seal cover in communication with said pressure release channel; and a retaining ring surrounding said seal cover at the position where said oblique surfaces of said vessel and said seal cover meet that radially urges said seal cover against said vessel lip and prevents distortion of said seal cover in directions radial to the long axis of the vessel.