Abstract: A pressure vessel includes an enclosure adapted to contain a structural assembly in a pressurized environment. The vessel includes first and second enclosure components which together define the enclosure, the first enclosure component is movable relative to the second enclosure component which permits the enclosed pressure to be vented. Structure is provided for coupling between the first and second enclosure components, wherein the structure becomes inoperative when the pressure within the vessel reaches a predetermined excessive level thereby allowing the first enclosure component to separate from the second enclosure component. Structure for limiting the distance the first enclosure component may separate from the second enclosure component is also provided.

Abstract: A deep beam head for a nuclear reactor and an improved reactor containing such a head where the upper horizontal support plate of a calandria in the reactor forms a sealing plate for the reactor vessel. The sealing plate has a ring member about the upper periphery thereof that is secured to the top of the pressure vessel cylindrical wall and reinforcing members extend across the sealing plate and are welded to the ring, while transverse cross-members extend across the sealing plate and are welded to the reinforcing members. The calandria may be removed from the reactor while attached to the ring member to provide ready access to the reactor internals.

Abstract: A shutoff valve has a housing which is provided in the region of a lateral mounting opening with several holding projections having free ends which extend toward a cover and form an abutment for an edge of the cover, wherein the cover is sealingly mounted in the housing by tensioning pins which are driven between the abutment of the holding projections and a cover edge formed as a counter abutment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-pressure vessel with inner closure suitable for frequent load changes due to charging and discharging, comprising a forged cylindrical shell with bulbed ends and at least one cover with a frustum-shaped top surface, the cover being centered by supporting elements of the same shape and inclination and being tightened by the prevailing inner pressure. Further features of this high-pressure vessel are the cover bottom sealing which is locally separated from the supporting segments and is radially movable by means of a retaining ring as well as a thin-walled liner with welded-on wearing ring. In view of the frequent opening and closing actions, it is advisable to provide the vessel cover with a small feed-hold cover which is tightened by the prevailing inner pressure and which may be used whenever permitted by the process material characteristics.

Abstract: In combination, a vessel (10), opening means (16) in the vessel, a cover (18), flange means (20) surrounding the opening means, a primary closing means (22, 24) for the cover including a plurality of studs (22) securing the cover onto the vessel, the studs having inner ends threaded into openings (26) in the vessel, nuts (24) cooperating with the outer ends of each of the studs, secondary closing means (32, 34, 38, 40) for the cover including cylindrical clamp means (30, 32) made up of more than one piece, a protruding ledge (34) on the cover over which the clamp means extends, an annular groove (36) in the flange means into which the clamp means extends, a circular retaining ring (38) which surrounds the clamp means, a plurality of threaded openings (42) in the retaining ring, and a plurality of set screws (40) threaded into the openings, so that their ends force the clamp means into tight clamping engagement with the ledge on the cover and the groove in the flange means.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved removable closure assembly (28) for use in feedwater heater or other pressure vessels requiring periodic internal access thereto for service, etc. The closure assembly (28) includes an o-ring seal (54) seated in a groove (58) chamfered into the outer edge of one end of a cylindrical cover (30) disposed in the open end of the channel or casing (12) of the pressure vessel. A compression ring (56) is disposed between the cover (30) and a split retaining ring (36) which are drawn together by bolts (60). The compression ring (56) overlies the o-ring (54) and a portion of the cover (30) so that only a portion of the compression force is transmitted through the o-ring, whereby an effective seal is provided without undue deformation such that the closure assembly (28) can be readily disassembled and removed, if desired.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for joining a guidance module housing to a bulkhead of a guided missile. The coupling assembly includes a plurality of levers extending through slots in the housing and bulkhead of the guided missile with a plurality of threaded fasteners extending through the levers and engaging a plate member integral with the housing. The threaded fastener is torqued to impart a pivoting motion to the lever about a fulcrum integral with the plate such that axial directed forces are transferred from the outer periphery of the lever to the housing which is forced to abut the bulkhead.

Abstract: A hollow rotor shaft 34 having a bore 36 sealed by an end cap 40 is disclosed. The end cap abuttingly engages a first side 42 and second side 44 on the shaft which extend radially inwardly into the bore of the shaft. The sides face in opposite directions and are oriented in a generally axial direction. The end cap includes at least one dog 48, a cover 46 pressed tightly against the first side by the rotatable dog and a lock means such as the bolt 50. The dogs are rotatable to a first position during insertion and rotatable to a second position during assembly by the lock means which extends through the cover to permit assembly and disassembly of the end cap from the exterior of the rotor shaft. In one embodiment a gasket 72 is trapped between the side of the shaft and the cover by the side of the shaft and the cover.

Abstract: A closure assembly is provided for sealing vessel manways, coke drums and other high temperature connections. It includes a cover member, a substantially cylindrical retaining member, a crush ring slidable with respect to the retaining member, a stop member, and a sealing ring positioned between an end of the crush ring and the stop member. Tightening screws or bolts pass through the cover member and contact the crush ring. They may be employed for moving the crush ring toward the stop member thereby compressing the sealing ring. The sealing ring may be a graphite ribbon wrapped a number of times about the retaining member.

Abstract: A lid for a pressure vessel which is seamless and which includes a peripheral groove in an outer surface formed by deforming the material of the lid, for example by a swaging process. The groove accommodates a seal, such as an O-ring.

Abstract: A cover plate for completing the enclosure of an outlet box, the plate having a mounting screw retaining and aligning assembly integrally formed in an aperture in the plate. This assembly engages and aligns the screw so that the screw will not inadvertently fall out of the plate and the longitudinal axis of the screw is substantially perpendicular to the plate for ease of insertion of the screw into an internally threaded bore coupled to the box. The assembly comprises a pair of opposed, spaced flexible major webs integrally formed with the plate and extending into the aperture; and a pair of opposed, spaced flexible minor webs also integrally formed with the plate and the major webs and extending into the aperture. The major webs have parallel, straight distal edges which form chords of a circular aperture in the plate. The minor webs are in the form of ring segments. The assembly further comprises a countersink formed in the aperture and coaxial with that part of the aperture containing the webs.

Abstract: A closure arrangement for a pump housing having a generally cylindrical bore, comprising a closure member connected to the housing by a closure ring and a plurality of shear studs received in threaded openings, a portion of each opening being in the housing member and a portion being in the closure ring, and locking or compression means comprising compression bolts received in the closure ring and acting on the closure member.

Abstract: The vessel cover has an outer section which engages over a coaxial inner section of the bottom part of the vessel. The outer section has radial bores each of which contains a blocking member in the form of a ball while the inner section has recessed abutment surfaces for each ball. A closure ring surrounds the outer section and when in a locked position, the ring presses the balls against the abutment surfaces whereas in a released position, the balls are allowed to move outwards from the abutment surfaces. The inner surface of the ring pressing the balls against the abutment surfaces is formed by the end surfaces of set screws which are threadably inserted in the ring so that pressure can be exactly adjusted for each ball.

Abstract: A fluid-tight closure apparatus for providing a fluid-tight seal between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical bore in an enclosure receiving therein a high-pressure fluid and the outer peripheral surface of an end closure wall held in the cylindrical bore. The apparatus has a pressurizing ring fitted around the outer peripheral surface at the inner end portion of the end closure wall for a small axial displacement. The pressurizing ring is adapted to derive the required sealing pressure from the internal fluid pressure in the enclosure. The apparatus further has a seal ring disposed between the pressurizing ring and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical bore and/or between the pressurizing ring and the end closure wall, and a bolt screwed through the end wall member into the pressurizing ring for imparing an initial sealing surface pressure to sealing areas, through the axial displacement of the pressurizing ring toward the end closure wall.

Abstract: The cylindrical body of a pressure vessel for use as a reaction vessel, is built up from courses of flat circularly arcuate segmental plates, the courses being located with respect to each other by locating means passing through aligning openings in the plates. To facilitate construction the openings in each plate are disposed in a symmetrical pattern or array. The locating means may be pins or preferably sleeves, and prestressing means for holding the courses together may be provided by tie-rods or cables passing through such sleeves and also possibly through openings not taken up by locating means. The floor and/or cover of the pressure vessel may be double-walled, and prestressing means provided within the double walls for tightly securing the floor and/or cover to the inside of the cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A pressure vessel, containment or burst shield for a nuclear reactor has a substantially circular cover surmounting the cylindrical part (shell) of the vessel and preferably comprised of a plurality of circular segments arranged concentrically and stressed inwardly by annular prestressing means. At least the outer segments and preferably all of the segments are provided on the upper surface with upwardly open circular grooves receiving the prestressing arrangement. The latter can comprise an outwardly open channel-shaped (U-section) supporting member receiving the stressing cables and means for transferring the radial stress of the annular stressing arrangement to the ring segment. The latter means may be wedges inserted between the support and a wall of the groove after the stressing arrangement has been placed under stress, e.g. by hydraulic means for spreading the annular stressing arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lid assembly having a lid support and cooperating lid constructed of structural foam molded synthetic polymeric material, the lid support including a base portion adapted for nontranslatable removable engagement with various diameter protective housings and having an upstanding wall portion defining a surface access opening, the closure lid having a construction adapted to fit within and close off the surface access opening. The lid support includes a plurality of circumferentially extending reinforcing ribs, selected ones of which are flat and thus define stacking ledges; and the lid includes a network of transversely intersecting ribs providing the principal structural support for the lid.

Abstract: A pressure vessel, containment or burst shield for a nuclear reactor has a substantially circular cover (closing the top or bottom of a cylindrical casing or shell) comprised of a plurality of layers, each formed from a multiplicity of segments meeting a central part. The adjoining segments of each layer meet at joints which are staggered with respect to the joints of the adjacent layers above or below and hence no continuous crevices are provided through the cover. Tension members extend through aligned passages of the several layers and provide support against shear and thrust forces.

Abstract: Thrust termination of a solid propellant rocket motor is obtained by connecting the nozzle to the combustion chamber pressure vessel by means of explosive and extrusable bolts. When it is desired to obtain thrust termination, the explosive bolts are blown leaving the nozzle connected to the pressure vessel by the extrusable bolts. The extrusable bolts have sufficient strength to retain the nozzle assembly; however, upon elimination of the strength of the explosive bolts, the nozzle is permitted to separate from the pressure vessel and move to the rear by drawing the extrusable bolts through dies. The bolts deform to absorb the energy of the nozzle and the jolt of forward acceleration which would normally be obtained if the nozzle were ejected, is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A sight glass assembly comprising a housing having an opening therethrough, the opening having an enlarged section providing a shoulder, a face plate having an opening registered with the opening in the housing, mounted on the housing in opposed relation to the shoulder, a lens disposed in the enlarged section of the opening in the housing and interposed between the shoulder and the face plate, a resilient packing disposed in the enlarged section of the opening in the housing, between the lens and the housing structure, said face plate having a flange portion projecting into the enlarged section of said housing opening and engaging said resilient packing, and means for securing said face plate to said housing to apply a compressive force on the packing, causing the packing to expand laterally to provide a compressive force about the periphery of the lens.

Abstract: An end wall closure device for supporting the end wall of a pressure vessel against axial movement when subjected to load conditions. A retaining member made up of a segmented shear key and a segmented compression key is inserted within an internal groove provided within the vessel casing. The shear key is seated in a recessed shoulder formed in the end wall and is provided with a pair of raised moment control pads which, in assembly, act upon the compression key and the casing wall. The pads are strategically positioned to negate the bending moments acting on the retaining member thus minimizing the deflection of the retaining member when placed under load.