Pressure vessel

Claim 2

A pressure vessel comprising a tubular-shaped external wall, a liner positioned on and lining the inner surface of said external wall, a vessel positioned within said external wall and spaced inwardly from said liner forming a space therebetween, a drain connected to said vessel and extending through said liner and external wall, said drain comprising at least a double tube portion extending through said liner and external wall, said double tube portion comprising an internal tube connected at its inner end to said vessel and an external tube secured to said liner and external wall, said drain comprising a first straight section and a second straight section and said first and second sections arranged approximately at right angles to one another, said drain including a single tube connected to said internal and external tube exteriorly of said external wall, and said external tube being spaced outwardly from said inner tube and the clearance therebetween being of such a magnitude that the maximum movement can take place freely between said vessel and external wall and said vessel can move in any direction relative to said liner and external wall.

Claim 3

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said external wall is formed of concrete and said liner is formed of metal, said first straight section of said drain extends through said liner and external wall and said second straight section is located exteriorly of said external wall, said first straight section comprises a portion of said external tube which is secured to and extends outwardly from said liner and the portion of said internal tube which is secured to and extends in a straight line from said vessel, and in said first straight section said internal tube is spaced inwardly from said external tube forming an annular space therebetween, and said external tube is a pressure-resistant member.

Claim 4

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a flexible restrictor is located within and encIrcles said internal tube in the annular space between said external tube and internal tube in said first straight tube section, and said flexible restrictor is frusto-conical in shape and is seated at its end located more remote from said liner within the outer surface of said internal tube and its end closer to said liner is in contact with the inner surface of said external tube.

Claim 5

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a restrictor nozzle is positioned within and limits the flow passageway through said internal tube at its connection to said vessel, said restrictor nozzle extends axially through said internal tube in the range of the attachment of said external tube to said liner, and said restrictor nozzle arranged to limit the escape of fluid from said vessel in the event of rupture of said double tube portion or of said single tube extending downstream from said double tube portion.

Claim 6

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein an axially slidable ring is positioned within the space in said double tube portion extending through said external wall between said external tube and internal tube, said ring disposed in contact with said external tube and internal tube and located adjacent the attachment of said external tube to said liner, said ring arranged to limit leakage from the space between said vessel and liner in the event of any rupture in said external tube.

Claim 7

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a flexible restrictor is located within and encircles said internal tube in the annular space between said external tube and internal tube in said first straight tube section, said flexible restrictor is frusto-conical in shape and its end located more remote from said liner is seated within the outer surface of said internal tube and its end located closer to said liner is in contact with the inner surface of said external tube, a restrictor nozzle positioned within and limiting the flow passageway through said internal tube at its connection to said vessel, said restrictor nozzle extending axially through said internal tube in the range of the attachment of said external tube to said liner and upstream from the point at which said flexible restrictor is seated in the exterior surface of said internal tube, said restrictor nozzle arranged to limit the escape of fluid from said vessel in the event of rupture of said double tube portion or said single tube extending downstream from said double tube portion, an axially slidable ring positioned within the space in said double tube portion extending through said external wall between said external tube and internal tube, said ring disposed in contact with said external tube and internal tube and located adjacent the attachment of said external tube to said liner and in the range of said restrictor nozzle extending through said internal tube, and said ring arranged to limit leakage from the space between said vessel and liner in the event of any rupture in said external tube.

Claim 8

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said external wall is formed of concrete and said liner is formed of metal, said first straight section of said drain is located inwardly from said liner and external wall and said second straight section extends through said liner and external wall, said first straight section consists of the portion of said internal tube which is secured to and extends in a straight line from said vessel, and said second straight section consists of said external tube which is secured to and extends outwardly from said liner and a portion of said internal tube disposed at right angles to the portion of said internal tube which extends from said vessel, said external tube is a pressure-resistant member, and in said second straight section said external tube is spaced outwardly from said internal tube and forms an annular space therebetween.

Claim 9

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a flexible restrictor is located within and encircles said internal tUbe in the annular space between said external tube and internal tube in said second straight tube section, and said flexible restrictor is frusto-conical in shape and its end located more remote from said liner is seated within the outer surface of said internal tube and its end closer to said liner is in contact with the inner surface of said external tube.

Claim 10

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a restrictor nozzle is positioned within and limits the flow passageway through said internal tube in the range of said double tube portion where said external tube is secured to said liner and extends outwardly through said external wall, said restrictor nozzle located in said second straight section, and said restrictor nozzle extending axially through said internal tube and arranged to limit the escape of fluid from said vessel in the event of rupture of said double tube portion or of said single tube extending downstream from said double tube portion.

Claim 11

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein an axially slidable ring is positioned within the space in said double tube portion extending through said external wall between said external tube and internal tube, said ring disposed in contact with said external tube and internal tube and located adjacent the attachment of said external tube to said liner, said ring arranged to limit leakage from the space between said vessel and liner in the event of any rupture in said external tube.

Claim 12

A pressure vessel, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a flexible restrictor is located within and encircles said internal tube in the annular space between said external tube and internal tube in said second straight tube section, said flexible restrictor is frusto-conical in shape and its end located more remote from said liner is seated within the outer surface of said internal tube and its end closure to said liner is in contact with the inner surface of said external tube, a restrictor nozzle positioned within and limiting the flow passageway through said internal tube in said second straight tube section located in the range of said double tube portion where said external tube is secured to said liner and extends outwardly through said external wall, said restrictor nozzle is arranged to limit the escape of fluid from said vessel in the event of rupture of said double tube portion or of said single tube extending downstream from said double tube portion, an axially slidable ring positioned within the space in said double tube portion extending through said external wall between said external tube and internal tube, said ring disposed in contact with said external tube and internal tube and located adjacent the attachment of said external tube to said liner and in the range of said restrictor nozzle, and said ring arranged to limit leakage from the space between said vessel and liner in the event of any rupture in said external tube.