Abstract: A sealing gasket for sealing a flange face, especially a flange face that may be sensitive to uneven application of pressure or that cannot be provided with any sort of flange retaining means comprising a sharp angle in the flange surface. The gasket includes at least a metal ring, a reinforced fluoropolymer sheet, an O ring and a fluoropolymer protective shield. The metal ring is defined by inside and outside circumferences, by widely separated outwardly directed parallel surfaces that in turn define maximum thickness of the ring, by narrowly separated parallel surfaces defining opposing depressed portions in the ring and by opposing shoulders. Each of the widely separated parallel surfaces is covered by at least one reinforced fluoropolymer sheet having inside and outside surfaces positioned so that the inside surface of the sheet faces and covers at least one of the widely separated parallel surfaces and so that the outside surface faces outwardly. The gasket includes at least two O rings.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of closing and sealing chemical reactor vessels, which are relatively less susceptible to contaminant build-up and more easily maintained in such a state.The chemical reactor vessel comprises a vessel body and a separable head attached thereto wherein the means for attaching and sealing said head to said body comprises; a seal means, a flange means, a shield means and an attachment means.The seal means functions, in compression, to prevent leakage of fluids into and from said chemical reactor vessel. The flange means functions to impose compressive loads to the seal means to cause the seal means to prevent leakage of fluids into and from the chemical reactor vessel.

Abstract: A vessel including an emptying means which comprises a valve housing means integral with and fixed to the vessel; a valve body means removably mounted to the valve housing means; a means for sealing the valve body means to the valve housing means; and a valve means which functions to commence and halt the flow of materials from the vessel through the valve housing means and through the valve body means. The valve body means functions to hold, align and contain the valve means. The means for sealing also functions to inhibit and prevent the accumulation and retention of contamination from materials flowing from the vessel through the valve housing means and the valve body means past and in direct contact with the means for sealing. The invention also ensures that the egress point from the vessel is maintained at about the same temperature as that of the interior of the vessel. Suitable valve means include poppet valve means, flush valve means, ram valve means and ball valve means.

Abstract: A vessel including an emptying means which comprises a valve housing means integral with and fixed to the vessel; a valve body means removably mounted to the valve housing means; a means for sealing the valve body means to the valve housing means; and a valve means which functions to commence and halt the flow of materials from the vessel through the valve housing means and through the valve body means. The valve body means functioning to hold, align and contain the valve means.The means for sealing also functions to inhibit and prevent the accumulation and retention of contamination from materials flowing from the vessel through the valve housing means and the valve body means past and in direct contact with the means for sealing.