Protective shield for pressure vessels

Claim 2

A protective shield for a pressure vessel, comprising: a ductile means for absorbing kinetic energy released if the pressure vessel fails by a portion of the pressure vessel breaking-off and tending to fly-away from the pressure vessel; said ductile means undergoing substantial deformation, but not breaking, when loaded by the portion of the pressure vessel tending to fly-away when the pressure vessel fails; and means for attaching said ductile means to said pressure vessel so that if said pressure vessel fails, said ductile means will be loaded by said portion of the pressure vessel breaking-off and tending to fly-away; said ductile means comprising a ductile arcuate segment of a strap, and said means for attaching said ductile means to said pressure vessel comprising a pair of rings, attached about opposite ends of the pressure vessel, and a pair of straight segments of said strap, each straight strap segment being connected to one of said rings and to an end of said ductile arcuate segment of said strap.

Claim 3

The protective shield of claim 1 wherein said substantial deformation of said ductile means comprises a change in length of about 20 to 80%.

Claim 4

The protective shield of claim 2 wherein said substantial deformation of said ductile means comprises a change in length of about 30 to 50%.

Claim 5

The protective shield of claim 1 wherein said ductile means has an ultimate tensile stength of about 37 to 45 kg/mm 2 , a yield strength of about 20 to 24 kg/mm 2 and an elongation of 20 to 27%.

Claim 6

The protective shield of claim 4 wherein said ductile means is selected from the group of ductile materials consisting of mild steel, copper and aluminum.

Claim 7

The protective shield of claim 5 wherein said ductile means is mild steel.

Claim 8

The protective shield of claim 1 wherein said ductile means comprises a plurality of ductile, arcuate segments of a ductile strap; and said means for attaching said ductile means to said pressure vessel comprises ductile, straight segments at each end of said strap, connected to one of said rings; said strap having a plurality of straight metal strap segments alternating with said plurality of ductile, arcuate segments.

Claim 9

The protective shield of claim 1 wherein said pair of straight segments of said strap are connected to the outer surfaces of said rings and are spaced from the outer surface of the pressure vessel.

Claim 10

A protective shield for a pressure vessel, comprising: a plurality of elongated straps, extending along the axial length of the pressure vessel in circumferentially spaced apart relationship and made of a ductile material having an ultimate tensile strength of about 37 to 45 kg/mm 2 , a yield strength of about 20 to 24 kg/mm 2 and an elongation of about 20 to 27%; each of said elongated straps including a plurality of alternating, straight segments and arcuate segments along its length; said arcuate segments being adapted to undergo substantial deformation, but not to break, when loaded by a portion of the pressure vessel breaking-off and tending to fly-away in an axial direction from the pressure vessel; and a pair of rings attached to the axial ends of the pressure vessel; the ends of said elongated straps being straight segments, attached to said rings; whereby, if the pressure vessel fails by a portion thereof tending to fly-away in an axial direction, said elongated straps and said arcuate segments thereof will be loaded by the portion of the pressure vessel tending to fly-away.

Claim 11

A protective shield for a pressure vessel, comprising: a plurality of elongated straps, extending along the axial length of the pressure vessel in circumferentially spaced apart relationship and made of a ductile material having an ultimate tensile strength of about 37 to 45 kg/mm 2 , a yield strength of about 20 to 24 kg/mm 2 and an elongation of about 20 to 27%; each of said elongated straps including a plurality of alternating, straight segments and arcuate segments along its length; said arcuate segments being adapted to undergo substantial deformation, but not to break, when loaded by a portion of the pressure vessel breaking-off and tending to fly-away in an axial direction from the pressure vessel; and a pair of rings attached to the axial ends of the pressure vessel; the ends of said elongated straps being straight segments, attached to said rings; whereby, if the pressure vessel fails by a portion thereof tending to fly-away in an axial direction, said elongated straps and said arcuate segments thereof will be loaded by the portion of the pressure vessel tending to fly-away.

Claim 12

The protective shield of claim 9 wherein said substantial deformation of said arcuate segments comprises a change in length of about 20 to 80%.

Claim 13

The protective shield of claim 10 wherein said substantial deformation comprises a change in length of about 30 to 50%.

Claim 14

The protective shield of claim 10 wherein each arcuate segment encompasses an angle of about 130° to 160°.

Claim 15

The protective shield of claim 12 wherein each arcuate segment encompasses an angle of about 140°.

Claim 16

The protective shield of claim 12 wherein each arcuate segment is symmetrical.

Claim 17

The protective shield of claim 9 wherein said elongated straps are attached to the outer surfaces of said rings and are spaced from the outer surface of the pressure vessel.