GB2134206A

GB2134206A - Closure for pipes or vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2134206A
Application number: GB08301908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denis Percy Swinney
Original assignee: SWINNEY ENG; Swinney Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: SWINNEY ENG; Swinney Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1983-01-24
Filing date: 1983-01-24
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8301908D0; GB2134206B

Abstract

A closure (2) for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel (1) has a centre piece rotated by a lever (5) and four locking members (3) each pivoted at one end on a respective eccentric (7) itself pivoted on the closure. The centre piece is connected to the eccentrics (7) by first links (6) which serve to rotate the eccentrics on angular movement of the lever (5). The rotation of the eccentrics (7) causes the said one ends of the locking members (3) to be moved into locking engagement with a locking recess (13). A plurality of second links (10) are connected one between each eccentric (7) and the other ends of the next adjacent locking members (3) to simultaneously move the other ends of the locking members (3) into locking engagement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure for pipes or vessels This invention relates to an improved closure for pipes or vessels.

In our prior British Patent Specification No. 1181757 there is disclosed a closure for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel adapted to co-operate with a circular groove or bead around the opening, the closure comprising a circular cover, an angularly displaceable member pivoted atthe centre of the cover, and at least two accurate locking members positioned around the periphery of the cover, each locking member being linked at one end to the angularly displaceable member and pivoted atthe otherend on the coveradjacentto the periphery of the cover, so that in operation when the closure is fitted to the container and the angularly displaceable member turned in the required direction relative to the cover, the locking members move into engagement with the grooveorbeadthereby locking the closure in position.

Whilst our present closure is perfectly satisfactory the locking arrangement is such thatthere is a gap at each pivot pointwhere the arcuate locking piece does not enterthe annular slot so thatthetotal engagement ofthe locking pieces is approximately70-75%. In orderto accept higher pressureswithoutmore unit load on the locking pieces we now propose to provide increased engagement, preferably more than 90% and almost 100%.

According to the present invention there is provided a closurefor an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel arranged to co-operate with locking means around the opening, the closure comprising a cover, an angularly displaceable member on the cover, a plurality of elongate locking members positioned around the periphery ofthe cover, and link means extending hetrveenthe angularly displaceable member and the locking members operable to move both ends of each locking member into a locking position upon appropri ateangularmovementofthe displaceable member.

In one embodimentthe link means may comprise two links for each locking member one link extending to one end ofthe locking member and the other link extending to the other end.

Alternativelythe link means may comprise a first linkfrom the angularly displaceable memberto an eccentric member which pivots on the closure and has a driving surface engaging a surface on one end of a first locking piece, and a second link pivoted on the eccentric member and an adjacentend of a second locking piece whereby the respective ends of the locking pieces are moved into their locking position.

The invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying d rawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a closure ofthe present invention with the locking members in the closed position; Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, but with the locking members in the open position; Figure 3 is across-sectional view ofA-A in Figures 1 and 2 showing the closure in the closed and open positions; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic enlarged sketch of one part of the locking mechanism in plan view.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic enlarged sketch of Figure 4 in section.

In the drawings a closure 2 for closing an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel 1 has four arcuate locking pieces 3 for locking the closure 2 in position. The locking pieces 3 are operable to engage in a recess 13 (Figure 3) to lockthe closure 2 on angular movement of a centre lever 5 to which the locking pieces 3 are connected by means of a link 6. Disposed at one end of each locking piece 3 is an eccentric member 7 which pivots on a pin 8fixed to the closure, and which has a depending driving portion 14 engaging within a circular opening 15 in the end of the locking piece 3.

The link 6 is pivoted to the eccentric member7 at 11 so that, on angular movement ofthe centre lever 5, the driving portion 14 ofthe eccentric member7 moves that end of the respective locking piece 3 into the locking recess 13.

The other end of a locking piece 3 is moved into the locking recess 13 by means of a link 10 pivotally connected at 16 and 12 between the eccentric member 7 of an adjacent locking piece 3 and the end ofthe locking piece 3 itself respectively.

The arrangement of the present invention ensures that, as the operating lever 5 is moved up to lockthe closure 2, both ends ofthe locking pieces 3 move into the locking recess 13 3 atthe same time. Moreover, by moving both ends at the same time and suitably configuring the ends of the locking pieces so that they lie closely together in the open position, almost 100% of the recess is occupied by the locking pieces 3: preferably there are now four locking pieces 3, the angle of engagement being about 3280with 80 spaces between adjacent locking pieces 3.

Although a locking recess 13 has been described it will be understood thatthe locking pieces may engage a locking bead on the inside ofthe opening the closure. Preferably the closure to the pipe or vessel includes a releasable bridge memberfor interconnection between the closure and the pipe or vessel arranged so that initially on disengagement of the, or each, locking member, the closure can only be partially opened into a position in which the bridge member may be released to allowthe closureto be completely opened. Also the closure may include a safety vent which is operably connected with the centre lever 5 to prevent release of the closure until the safety vent is opened. In this respect reference is directed to our prior U.K. Patent No. 1603814for further details.

CLAIMS (Filed on 11-1-84) 1. A closure for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel arranged to co-operate with locking means around the opening, the closure comprising a cover, an angularly displaceable memberon the cover, a plurality of elongate locking members positioned around the periphery of the cover, and link means extending between the angularly displaceable mem The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Closure for pipes or vessels This invention relates to an improved closure for pipes or vessels. In our prior British Patent Specification No. 1181757 there is disclosed a closure for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel adapted to co-operate with a circular groove or bead around the opening, the closure comprising a circular cover, an angularly displaceable member pivoted atthe centre of the cover, and at least two accurate locking members positioned around the periphery of the cover, each locking member being linked at one end to the angularly displaceable member and pivoted atthe otherend on the coveradjacentto the periphery of the cover, so that in operation when the closure is fitted to the container and the angularly displaceable member turned in the required direction relative to the cover, the locking members move into engagement with the grooveorbeadthereby locking the closure in position. Whilst our present closure is perfectly satisfactory the locking arrangement is such thatthere is a gap at each pivot pointwhere the arcuate locking piece does not enterthe annular slot so thatthetotal engagement ofthe locking pieces is approximately70-75%. In orderto accept higher pressureswithoutmore unit load on the locking pieces we now propose to provide increased engagement, preferably more than 90% and almost 100%. According to the present invention there is provided a closurefor an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel arranged to co-operate with locking means around the opening, the closure comprising a cover, an angularly displaceable member on the cover, a plurality of elongate locking members positioned around the periphery ofthe cover, and link means extending hetrveenthe angularly displaceable member and the locking members operable to move both ends of each locking member into a locking position upon appropri ateangularmovementofthe displaceable member. In one embodimentthe link means may comprise two links for each locking member one link extending to one end ofthe locking member and the other link extending to the other end. Alternativelythe link means may comprise a first linkfrom the angularly displaceable memberto an eccentric member which pivots on the closure and has a driving surface engaging a surface on one end of a first locking piece, and a second link pivoted on the eccentric member and an adjacentend of a second locking piece whereby the respective ends of the locking pieces are moved into their locking position. The invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying d rawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a closure ofthe present invention with the locking members in the closed position; Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, but with the locking members in the open position; Figure 3 is across-sectional view ofA-A in Figures 1 and 2 showing the closure in the closed and open positions; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic enlarged sketch of one part of the locking mechanism in plan view. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic enlarged sketch of Figure 4 in section. In the drawings a closure 2 for closing an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel 1 has four arcuate locking pieces 3 for locking the closure 2 in position. The locking pieces 3 are operable to engage in a recess 13 (Figure 3) to lockthe closure 2 on angular movement of a centre lever 5 to which the locking pieces 3 are connected by means of a link 6. Disposed at one end of each locking piece 3 is an eccentric member 7 which pivots on a pin 8fixed to the closure, and which has a depending driving portion 14 engaging within a circular opening 15 in the end of the locking piece 3. The link 6 is pivoted to the eccentric member7 at 11 so that, on angular movement ofthe centre lever 5, the driving portion 14 ofthe eccentric member7 moves that end of the respective locking piece 3 into the locking recess 13. The other end of a locking piece 3 is moved into the locking recess 13 by means of a link 10 pivotally connected at 16 and 12 between the eccentric member 7 of an adjacent locking piece 3 and the end ofthe locking piece 3 itself respectively. The arrangement of the present invention ensures that, as the operating lever 5 is moved up to lockthe closure 2, both ends ofthe locking pieces 3 move into the locking recess 13 3 atthe same time. Moreover, by moving both ends at the same time and suitably configuring the ends of the locking pieces so that they lie closely together in the open position, almost 100% of the recess is occupied by the locking pieces 3: preferably there are now four locking pieces 3, the angle of engagement being about 3280with 80 spaces between adjacent locking pieces 3. Although a locking recess 13 has been described it will be understood thatthe locking pieces may engage a locking bead on the inside ofthe opening the closure. Preferably the closure to the pipe or vessel includes a releasable bridge memberfor interconnection between the closure and the pipe or vessel arranged so that initially on disengagement of the, or each, locking member, the closure can only be partially opened into a position in which the bridge member may be released to allowthe closureto be completely opened. Also the closure may include a safety vent which is operably connected with the centre lever 5 to prevent release of the closure until the safety vent is opened. In this respect reference is directed to our prior U.K. Patent No. 1603814for further details. CLAIMS (Filed on 11-1-84)

1. A closure for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel arranged to co-operate with locking means around the opening, the closure comprising a cover, an angularly displaceable memberon the cover, a plurality of elongate locking members positioned around the periphery of the cover, and link means extending between the angularly displaceable mem The drawing(s) originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

ber and the locking members operable to move both ends of each locking member into a locking position upon appropriate angular movement of the displace able member.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the link means comprises a link connected to each end of each locking member and operative to move its respective end into a locking position.

3. A closure according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the link means comprisestwo links for each locking member, one link extending to one end ofthe locking member and the other link extending to the other end.

4. A closure according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the link means includes an eccentric for each locking member on which the locking member is pivoted, angular movement ofthe angularly displaceable member causing angular movement of the eccentric which moves the pivoted end ofthe respective locking member into a locking position.

5. A closure according to claim 1 or 2 or 4 wherein the link means comprises a first linkfrom the angularly displaceable memberto an eccentric member which pivots on the closure and a driving surface engaging a surface on one end of a first locking member, and a second link pivoted on the eccentric member and an adjacent end of a second locking memberwherebythe respective ends of the locking members are moved intotheirlocking position.

6. Aclosureaccordingto claim Swherein both ends of each locking member move into a locking position atthe same time.

7. A closure for an opening in a pressure pipe or vessel arranged to co-operate with an annular locking groove or bead around the opening, the closure comprising a cover, an angularly displaceable mem boron the cover, a plurality of elongate locking members positioned around the periphery ofthe cover, each pivoted at one end upon a respective eccentric itself pivoted upon the cover, a plurality of first links one extending from the angularly displace able memberto each eccentric, and a plurality of second links one extending to each of the other ends ofthe locking members the arrangement being such that, on angular movement ofthe displaceable memberto lockthe closure, the first links cause rotation ofthe respective eccentrics, the eccentrics move the respective one ends of the locking members into a locking position, and the second links move the other ends of the locking members into a locking position.

8. A closure according to claim 7 wherein the second links extend one from each eccentric to the other end of an adjacent locking member.

9. Aclosure according to any one of the preceding claims where the angle of engagement of the closure is more than 90%.

10. A closure according to any one of the preced ingclaimswhereintherearefourlocking members.

11. A closure substantially as hereinbefore de scribed with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.