Patent US3640032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3640032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure vessels
Assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
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Filing: 1969-07-17
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A prestressed pressure vessel having an opening in one of its external surfaces to the interior thereof, and a removable closure member for closing the opening. The removable closure member includes an inner lid for engaging the one surface and an outer lid spaced from the pressure vessel by the inner lid and forming with the inner lid a fluidtight enclosure therebetween in which fluid under pressure can be supplied so as to move the inner and outer lids relative one another. At least one securing cable extends over the outer lid and is connected to the vessel at at least two points, and when fluid under pressure enters the fluidtight enclosure, tension on at least one cable is increased and is operatively transferred by the outer lid to the inner lid for urging the inner lid into tighter engagement with the portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Jubb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C13/00; G21C13/08; G21C13/093; G21C13/0933; G21C13/02; G21C13/032; G21C13/036; G21C13/06; G21C13/073; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A closure member for closing an opening in a pressure vessel, said closure member comprising: two relatively movable lids, one lid being an inner lid arranged to engage a portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening and to close the opening and the other lid being an outer lid spaced from the pressure vessel by said inner lid, said inner lid and said outer lid defining a fluidtight enclosure therebetween; means for securing the outer lid to the pressure vessel at at least two points, said securing means including at least one cable extending across said outer lid and operatively secured to the pressure vessel at the two points; and means for supplying high-pressure fluid to said fluidtight enclosure to move said outer lid and said inner lid relative to each other to increase tension in said at least one cable with such tension being operatively transferred from the cable by the outer lid to the inner lid to thereby urge the inner lid into tighter engagement with the portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A closure member for closing an opening in a pressure vessel, said closure member comprising: two relatively movable lids, one lid being an inner lid arranged to engage a portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening and to close the opening and the other lid being an outer lid spaced from the pressure vessel by said inner lid, said inner lid and said outer lid defining a fluidtight enclosure therebetween; means for securing the outer lid to the pressure vessel at at least two points, said securing means including at least one cable extending across said outer lid and operatively secured to the pressure vessel at the two points; and means for supplying high-pressure fluid to said fluidtight enclosure to move said outer lid and said inner lid relative to each other to increase tension in said at least one cable with such tension being operatively transferred from the cable by the outer lid to the inner lid to thereby urge the inner lid into tighter engagement with the portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A closure member as claimed in claim 1 in which said inner lid is steel and in which said outer lid is steel covered with a layer of concrete.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A closure member as claimed in claim 1 in which said securing means includes a plurality of cables extending across said outer lid, each of said cables being secured at its respective ends to said pressure vessel and all of said cables being arranged in reticulate form over said outer lid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A closure member as claimed in claim 1 in which said securing means includes a plurality of cables extending across said outer lid, each of said plurality of cables being secured at its opposite ends to said pressure vessel on substantially opposite sides of said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
In combination: a pressure vessel having an opening in one surface of the same, said pressure vessel having a plurality of prestressing cables extending through the same in a direction perpendicular to the one surface containing the opening, the prestressing cables surrounding the opening; and a closure member for closing said opening, said closure member including two relatively movable lids, one lid being an inner lid arranged to engage a portion of the one surface of the pressure vessel around the opening for closing the opening and the other lid being an outer lid spaced from the pressure vessel by said inner lid, said inner lid and said outer lid defining a fluidtight enclosure therebetween, means for securing the outer lid to the pressure vessel at at least two points, said securing means including at least one cable extending across said outer lid and secured at its ends to a pair of said prestressing cables which are disposed on substantially opposite sides of said opening, and means for supplying hiGh-pressure fluid to said fluidtight enclosure to move said outer lid and said inner lid relative to one another to increase tension in said at least one cable with such tension being operatively transferred from the cable by the outer lid to the inner lid for urging the inner lid into tighter engagement with the portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
232 words
In combination: a pressure vessel having an opening in one surface of the same, said pressure vessel having a plurality of prestressing cables extending through the same in a direction perpendicular to the one surface containing the opening, the prestressing cables surrounding the opening; and a closure member for closing said opening, said closure member including two relatively movable lids, one lid being an inner lid arranged to engage a portion of the one surface of the pressure vessel around the opening for closing the opening and the other lid being an outer lid spaced from the pressure vessel by said inner lid, said inner lid and said outer lid defining a fluidtight enclosure therebetween, means for securing the outer lid to the pressure vessel at at least two points, said securing means including at least one cable extending across said outer lid and secured at its ends to a pair of said prestressing cables which are disposed on substantially opposite sides of said opening, and means for supplying hiGh-pressure fluid to said fluidtight enclosure to move said outer lid and said inner lid relative to one another to increase tension in said at least one cable with such tension being operatively transferred from the cable by the outer lid to the inner lid for urging the inner lid into tighter engagement with the portion of the pressure vessel surrounding the opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outer lid is secured to said pressure vessel by a plurality of cables, each of said securing cables being secured between a pair of said prestressing cables which are disposed on substantially opposite sides of said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said securing means includes a plurality of securing cables passing over said outer lid, and wherein said plurality of securing cables are arranged in reticulate form over said outer lid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5 including means for maintaining tension in said at least one cable when high-pressure fluid is released from said fluidtight enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means include wedge members inserted between said inner lid and said outer lid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said pressure vessel is concrete and wherein said inner lid is steel and said outer lid is steel covered with a layer of concrete.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |