Manway cover balancing mechanism

Claim 2

A balancing mechanism for a cover for a manway defined by a portion of a pressurized vessel wall, wherein the cover is pivotally mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the manway by externally mounted hinge structure which includes a hinge pin coupling external first and second hinge brackets respectively on the cover and the portion of the pressurized vessel wall, said balancing mechanism comprising: torsion spring mechanism carried by the hinge structure and having first and second end structures, first coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with one of said end structures and with the first hinge bracket to cause said one end structure and the cover to move together, and second coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with the other of said end structures and with the second hinge bracket effectively to prevent movement of said other end structure in response to movement of the cover, said torsion spring mechanism being oriented so as to resiliently urge the cover toward the open position thereof.

Claim 3

The balancing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said torsion spring mechanism is disposed substantially coaxially with the hinge pin.

Claim 4

The balancing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first and second end structures are generally orthogonal.

Claim 5

The balancing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first coupling mechanism includes means engaging said one end structure so as to effectively prevent pivotal movement thereof relative to the first hinge bracket.

Claim 6

The balancing mechanism of claim 4, wherein said first coupling mechanism includes means connected to the first hinge bracket and defining an aperture through which said one end structure is slidably received.

Claim 7

The balancing mechanism of claim 1, and further comprising bushing means carried by the hinge pin and coaxially received through said torsion spring mechanism for supporting same.

Claim 8

The balancing mechanism of claim 6, wherein said bushing means includes retaining means for preventing axial displacement of said torsion spring mechanism relative to said bushing means.

Claim 9

The balancing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second coupling mechanism includes a bearing surface on the second hinge bracket engageable with said other end structure for preventing movement thereof.

Claim 10

A balancing mechanism for a cover for a manway defined by a portion of a pressurized vessel wall, wherein the cover is pivotally mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the manway by externally mounted hinge structure which includes a hinge pin coupling external first and second hinge brackets respectively on the cover and the portion of the pressurized vessel wall, said balancing mechanism comprising: a first torsion spring disposed coaxially with the hinge pin toward one end thereof outboard of the hinge brackets, a second torsion spring disposed coaxially with the hinge pin adjacent to the other end thereof outboard of the hinge brackets, each of said torsion springs having a cover end and a vessel wall end, first coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with said cover ends of said torsion springs and with the first hinge bracket to cause said cover ends and the cover to move together, and second coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with said vessel wall ends of said torsion springs and with the second hinge bracket effectively to prevent movement of said vessel wall ends in response to movement of the cover, said torsion springs being oriented so as to resiliently urge the cover toward the open position thereof.

Claim 11

A balancing mechanism for a cover for a manway defined by a portion of a pressurized vessel wall, wherein the cover is pivotally mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the manway by externally mounted hinge structure which includes a hinge pin coupling external first and second hinge brackets respectively on the cover and the portion of the pressurized vessel wall, said balancing mechanism comprising: a first torsion spring disposed coaxially with the hinge pin toward one end thereof outboard of the hinge brackets, a second torsion spring disposed coaxially with the hinge pin adjacent to the other end thereof outboard of the hinge brackets, each of said torsion springs having a cover end and a vessel wall end, first coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with said cover ends of said torsion springs and with the first hinge bracket to cause said cover ends and the cover to move together, and second coupling mechanism disposed externally of the manway and the cover and cooperating with said vessel wall ends of said torsion springs and with the second hinge bracket effectively to prevent movement of said vessel wall ends in response to movement of the cover, said torsion springs being oriented so as to resiliently urge the cover toward the open position thereof.

Claim 12

The balancing mechanism of claim 9, and further comprising first and second bushings respectively carried by the hinge pin adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and respectively coaxially received through said first and second torsion springs for supporting same.

Claim 13

The balancing mechanism of claim 10, wherein each of said bushings includes terminal flange means for preventing substantial axial displacement of said torsion springs relative to said bushings.

Claim 14

The balancing mechanism of claim 9, wherein each of said vessel wall ends is disposed substantially parallel to the hinge pin.

Claim 15

The balancing mechanism of claim 12, and further comprising a cylindrical sleeve coaxially receiving therein each of said vessel wall ends.

Claim 16

The balancing mechanism of claim 9, wherein each of said cover ends is disposed generally orthogonal to the hinge pin.

Claim 17

The balancing mechanism of claim 14, wherein said first coupling mechanism includes means fixed to the first hinge bracket and defining two apertures for respectively slidably receiving therethrough said cover ends of said torsion springs.