Abstract: A processing plant involving the heat treatment of materials which are in finely divided state is provided with explosion relief means afforded by a door pivotally mounted across an opening in the wall of the plant. A lip of the door engages a resilient seal extending around the periphery of the opening, and the door is held in a closed position by a rupturable element which breaks when the pressure within the plant rises above a predetermined pressure to allow the door to open. There is additionally provided, extending across the door, an elongate tension member which is operative, subsequent to initial opening movement of the door, to apply a force to cause the door to return to its closed position, to minimise the subsequent drawing into the plant through the opening of air.

Abstract: A pressure cooker particularly adapted for use as a pressure fryer. The cooker's tank is electrically heated by a novel electrical resistance heater and heat reflector structure. The cooker also includes a novel cover and cover hold-down mechanism.

Abstract: A rotatable pressure vessel has an opening and an internal movable cover therefor attached to a lever which is pivoted to the exterior of the vessel. For closing the cover, there is an actuating element movable to engage the lever, and mounted on a stationary support adjacent the vessel.

Abstract: An automatic locking device for the lid-closing lever of a pressure-cooker.The lever is provided with an engaging portion designed for engaging a locking pin which is operated in response to the pressure within the pressure-cooker. The pin is mounted directly on the lid and interferes with the lid-closing lever in the lowered condition of the latter, in order to prevent said lever from rotating, and therefore prevent the opening when there is some pressure in the cooker.

Abstract: Discloses is a safety hatch cover apparatus illustrated as used on a tank of a tank-carrying vehicle such as a gasoline truck. The apparatus comprises a base member attached to the tank and having an opening adapted to be closed by a hatch cover hinged to the base member. The hatch cover carries a latch bar rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the base member and adapted to engage keeper members fixed to the base member adjacent the hatch opening. The latch bar carries a cam which turns with the longitudinal axis of the latch bar and engages biasing means carried by the cover. The biasing means, cam, latch bar and keeper members cooperate to close the cover yet permit the cover to lift in case of excess gas pressure in the tank. The apparatus also includes safety means adapted to engage the latch bar to restrain it from moving from its position in which it engages the keeper members, whether or not the cam is turned to cause the latch bar to be in locked position.

Abstract: A quick opening manhole cover including a clamping flange (16) which captures the ears (48) of a locking ring (46) upon rotation of the locking ring with respect to a manhole cover (40). The manhole cover has an O.D. less than the I.D. of the manhole for axial movement into the manhole. A gasket (42) about the manhole cover is clamped between the locking ring (46), manhole cover (40) and against the manhole surface upon axial movement of the manhole cover towards the locking ring.

Abstract: A mechanism for locking the lock straps of railway car hatch covers includes a pivoted lever which is clamped over the tongue of a lock strap. The clamping is achieved by means of a pivoted keeper member having a mouth portion engaging the ends of the lever in locking relation. The keeper member is pivotally supported and is positioned by an overcenter toggle action in a receiving or locked position by means of a leaf spring assembly. The locking and unlocking action may be accomplished by hand or foot operation.

Abstract: A decomposition bomb in which intractable materials can be dissolved including a generally cylindrical hollow body, a liner of a chemically inert material within the body and extending over the upper edge thereof, a plug of chemically inert material which extends above the portion of the liner extending over the body and a closely fitting cap which is a hollow cylinder which can pass over the body, the liner and the plug to prevent movement of the liner and the plug. The invention also includes in association with the bomb a clamp within which the bomb can be located and which has a locking member having a pin bearing upon two ramps so that on partial rotation of the locking member pressure is applied to the cap of the bomb.

Abstract: A small hatch cover is provided which is pivotably mounted upon a hatch cover mounting bracket attached to a car roof. A hatch cover strap is also pivotably mounted upon the hatch cover mounting bracket. The hatch cover strap engages the cover at the center of the cover and at the distal end of the strap, only. At the distal end the strap extends around the cover and engages the lower surface of the cover. A sealing gasket is attached to the lower surface of the periphery of the cover. The sealing gasket engages a conventional hatch coaming extending vertically up from the car roof. Slots are preferably provided at the distal end of the cover and the strap.

Abstract: An improved ascension pipe elbow lid for coke ovens forms a communication means between the coke oven and the volatile products collecting main. The improved structure incorporates a vent which is sealed to prevent the escape of pollutants into the atmosphere.

Abstract: The oven door comprises a latching mechanism having a centrally located spring contained within a spring box to exert a force against said door. A pair of hinge links are pivotably connected to the door hinge shaft and to the spring box. A shaft link is keyed to said shaft and pivotably connected to a latch bar of a yoke type U configuration. A primary toggle link is located on either side of said spring box and pivotably connected on one end to said spring box and door hinge links and on the other end to the latch bar legs, means to limit rotation of primary toggle links and spring box around pivot connections is provided, a latching bracket is affixed to a stationary member for engaging latch bar to secure door to door chamber frame, and actuator means are provided for turning said shaft to open and close the door.

Abstract: A rigid blister package includes a rigid thermoformed plastic cover piece and a flexible backing sheet, a score line for opening said package, and a slide fastener for reclosing the blister package, along with stops to hold the slide fastener in the open or closed position.

Abstract: A latch control for an explosion relief panel is described in which the panel of relatively rigid construction, is normally retained in place by an arm pivotally mounted at one end, a pivotally mounted fork assembly at the other end of the arm which includes a magnetically responsive keeper which is loosely attached to the fork assembly, a magnet carried by the arm normally holding the keeper firmly to prevent rotation of the fork assembly about its pivotal axis. A plurality of springs exerting the desired force are interposed between the panel and the arm. The door carries a rigid post, adjustable in length, for movement with the panel against the force of the springs to apply a releasing force on the keeper to release the keeper and move the fork assembly to a release position so that the arm rotates and releases the panel.

Abstract: A closure for a pressure cooker pot which includes a lid with a lateral keyway in the center, and a standpipe fixed to the lid, a key fitting in the keyway and removable lid locking means fixed to the key and reacting between the key and the pot. A pressure regulator when in position on the standpipe prevents the separation of the locking means from the lid by blocking the removal of the key.

Abstract: A stationary pressure digester for digesting biomaterials with a fast acting closure designed as an easily movable cover carriage with a lower pressure take up plate, an upper pressure take up plate and a closing threaded plug in one of said plates. The pressure take up plates are connected by necked-down bolts and spacer sleeves and the closing nut has a thread with a large pitch and a large area permitting a pressure tight closure which permits moving the closure cover as well as opening and closing the pressure digester fast and easily.

Abstract: A closure cap device for a fuel tank of a motorcycle which is so constructed that a lever is pivotally attached to a part of the fuel tank body in such a manner that it may be freely contacted to and separated from a closure cap fitted on the fuel pouring port of the fuel tank, a lever engagement section is formed in the outer surface of the closure cap, and engagement members are provided at the tip end part of the lever and the body of the fuel tank so as to be mutually engaged when the lever is snugly fitted into the lever engagement section in the closure cap at the time of perfect tight-fitting of the cap to the fuel pouring port.

Abstract: A pressure cooker including a receptacle open at the top, a lid for closing the receptable, locking means engaging the lid and a plurality of brackets attached to the receptacle for engagement with the locking means characterized in that the plurality of brackets overhang the rim of the receptacle and are positioned around the receptacle so that the lid cannot be removed from the receptacle laterally but not vertically.

Abstract: Improvements in venting manhole covers for liquid containing vessels, tanks, containers and particularly mobile truck tanks for transporting volatile liquids; improved primary venting means enabling vessel closures to vent under internal pressures; improved spring loaded pressure relief means for tank closures.

Abstract: A toxic liquid is transferred from a closed shipping container to a dispensing tank without contamination of the operator or the ambient environment by placing the container in a sealed chamber and forcing a container puncturing probe through the interior of the chamber and entirely through the closed container. The probe extends in a slidable and sealed relation through a lid of the sealed housing and is driven through the container by a lever. Both liquid flow and air relief conduits connect the chamber to the dispensing tank to permit gravity or powered flow of the toxic liquid from the sealed chamber. The probe is hollow and is employed to spray a rinsing liquid into both the container and the chamber after they have been emptied of the toxic liquid.

Abstract: A closure for an opening into a combustion chamber or a distillation chamber which tightly seals said opening. The closure has a central portion with a lip at its periphery having at least one sealing surface thereon. A member adjacent to the opening has a seat portion located out of proximity of said opening which contacts the sealing surface of the lip when the closure is closed. A hinge mechanism mounting the closure adjacent to the opening and permitting removal of the closure from the opening and a locking lever supported adjacent to the opening to force the sealing surface of the lip against the seat portion to seal the opening when the closure is closed. The seal is located out of proximity of a passageway in communication with the opening.

Abstract: An improved access port cover latching assembly is provided with an interlock that normally requires the presence of a component within the access port. A first pin encounters the component and, when displaced, releases a second pin to slide, thereby allowing a latching assembly to seat fully, thereby securing the cover. An independent signalling device may be provided to indicate the absence of the component in the event that the interlock is intentionally defeated to enable latching of the cover.

Abstract: A pressure vessel such as a steam cooker is provided with a door closure comprising a horizontally disposed door mounting and actuating member pivotally mounted for swinging movement across an access opening of the vessel and supporting a warped door for movement into and out of the opening; a rotationally and axially movable shaft carried in the door mounting member has a cam and follower associated therewith for moving the shaft axially in response to rotation thereof; and mechanism coupling the door and the shaft for shifting the door laterally with respect to the door mounting member also causes translational movement of the door toward and away from the door mounting member in response to rotation of the shaft so that the door can be inserted through the opening in a warped condition and then unwarped so that the outer peripheral edge sealingly engages the inside of the opening. The operating handle for the actuating mechanism is located to one side of the access opening when the door is closed.

Abstract: A door for an ultra-high vacuum chamber is disclosed which includes a sealing joint that maintains a hermetic seal when it is baked or otherwise subjected to high temperatures, while yet allowing an operator to have quick access into the interior of the chamber. The quick access door includes a vacuum flange adapted to be conventionally secured to a corresponding flange circumscribing an access port of a vacuum chamber. The door vacuum flange has a conical sealing surface about its inner periphery, and the door includes a sealing disc designed to hermetically mate therewith. That is, the sealing disc has a circumferential conical skirt providing a sealing edge and is mounted on a support arm which is selectively securable across the opening to position the sealing disc in front of the access opening.

Abstract: An improved cover support and operating mechanism is disclosed for use with the cooking vessel of deep fat frying apparatus. The vessel has an opening and the cover is supported in a plane transverse to the axis of the opening by a cross bar and a pair of vertical posts which are vertically reciprocable relative to the vessel to move the cover between open and closed positions. A spring arrangement is provided for biasing the post and thus the cover toward the open position, and a hand actuable latching arrangement is provided to releaseably hold the cover in the closed position against the spring bias.