Patent US3764037A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3764037A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure sealing means for pressure vessels and method
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
•
Filing: 1971-07-02
•
Granted: 1973-10-09
•
Expires: 1991-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A hollow metal expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface with spaced apart sealing means thereon adapted to pressure seal with a peripheral joint of two members, such as a vessel and cover therefor, positioned therearound with the interface of the joint located between the spaced apart sealing means. A conduit communicates with the ring interior for supplying a fluid thereto and another conduit withdraws the fluid. Sealing is effected by circulating a hot fluid through the ring to cause it to expand. The ring is released from sealing engagement by circulating a cold fluid through the ring to shrink it.
Inventors
- 👤 Rothrock E Weyman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D53/00; B65D53/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A joint structure comprising: a first member having an opening provided with an annular end face and an inner peripheral surface extending inwardly and angularly from the mouth of said opening; a second member having an annular end face and an inner peripheral surface extending angularly therefrom; said end faces having mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second members and spans the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A joint structure comprising: a first member having an opening provided with an annular end face and an inner peripheral surface extending inwardly and angularly from the mouth of said opening; a second member having an annular end face and an inner peripheral surface extending angularly therefrom; said end faces having mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second members and spans the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A joint structure according to claim 1 in which the outer peripheral surface of the expansion ring has a sealing ring in contact with the inner peripheral surface of each member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A joint structure according to claim 1 in which the conduit means comprises a first conduit for feeding a stream of cooling or heating fluid to the expansion ring, and a second conduit for removing the stream of cooling or heating fluid therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A joint structure according to claim 3 in which the first and second conduits extend through the first member or the second member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A joint structure according to claim 3 in which the first and second conduits extend between the end faces of the first and second members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A joint structure according to claim 1 in which the first and second members each have only one open end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
A joint structure comprising: a vessel having an opening defined by a rim with an inner peripheral surface extending inwardly from said opening; a cover, for the vessel opening, with a recess space therein having an inner peripheral surface; said vessel opening rim and cover having end faces with mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the rim and cover and spans the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
A joint structure comprising: a vessel having an opening defined by a rim with an inner peripheral surface extending inwardly from said opening; a cover, for the vessel opening, with a recess space therein having an inner peripheral surface; said vessel opening rim and cover having end faces with mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the rim and cover and spans the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
A joint structure comprising: a vessel having an open end with an inner peripheral surface; a domed cover, for the vessel opening, having a rim with an inner peripheral surface; said vessel open end and cover rim having end faces with mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the vessel open end and the cover rim and spanning the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A joint structure comprising: a vessel having an open end with an inner peripheral surface; a domed cover, for the vessel opening, having a rim with an inner peripheral surface; said vessel open end and cover rim having end faces with mutually mating configurations positioned opposite each other in close proximity and releasably secured together; a hollow thermally expandable metallic expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface which is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the vessel open end and the cover rim and spanning the distance between the end faces thereof; and first and second conduit means communicating with the expansion ring interior for supplying to said ring interior a cooling or heating fluid and removing the same therefrom, whereby said expansion ring can be thermally expanded to effect a seal or contracted to break a seal by supplying a heating fluid or a cooling fluid to said ring interior.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hollow interior expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface with spaced apart sealing means thereon adapted to pressure seal with a peripheral joint of two members positioned therearound with the interface of the joint located between the spaced apart sealing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hollow interior expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface with spaced apart sealing means thereon adapted to pressure seal with a peripheral joint of two members positioned therearound with the interface of the joint located between the spaced apart sealing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An expansion ring according to claim 9 having at least one conduit which communicates with the ring interior for supplying a circulating fluid thereto and another conduit which communicates with the ring interior for withdrawing a circulating fluid therefrom.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of joining and sealing a first member having an opening with an inner peripheral surface to a second member having an inner peripheral surface, the first and second members having end faces, with mutually mating configurations, positioned opposite each other in close proximity, which comprises: placing a hollow metal expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second members and spanning the distance between the end faces thereof; releasably securing the end faces of the two members together; and circulating a hot fluid through the expansion ring to cause it to expand into sealing engagement with the inner peripheral surfaces of the two members.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
117 words
The method of joining and sealing a first member having an opening with an inner peripheral surface to a second member having an inner peripheral surface, the first and second members having end faces, with mutually mating configurations, positioned opposite each other in close proximity, which comprises: placing a hollow metal expansion ring having an outer peripheral surface in close proximity to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second members and spanning the distance between the end faces thereof; releasably securing the end faces of the two members together; and circulating a hot fluid through the expansion ring to cause it to expand into sealing engagement with the inner peripheral surfaces of the two members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 in which the outer peripheral surface of the expansion ring has a sealing ring in contact with the inner peripheral surface of each member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |