Cylindrical pressure vessel clamping method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10487980-B2
Application number	US-201715672382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Sep 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A pressure clamp for connecting pressure vessel segments and method can include a pair of semi-circular sections, which can be placed around the ends of the segments, so that there is a slight gap between the semi-circular sections. The inner surfaces of the semi-circular sections can be formed with two notches with beveled surfaces. The beveled surfaces can engage corresponding slanted surfaces on the segment ends, to urge the segments towards each other as the clamp is tightened. A pair of jack screws can be threaded through the semi-circular sections so that the jack screws extend slightly outwardly from one of the sections and contact the other section at the beginning of the tightening process, to establish an initial assembly gap. As fasteners tighten the clamp around the segment, the jack screws can be backed out to maintain a uniformly decreasing assembly gap between the semi-circular sections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for connecting a first segment of a pressure vessel to a second segment of said pressure vessel, said first segment having a first segment end formed with a first groove, said second segment having a second segment end formed with a second groove, said method comprising the steps of:
A) forming a first slanted surface in said first groove and a second slanted surface in said second groove;
B) providing first and second circular clamp sections for securing said first segment end to said second segment end, said first and second circular clamp sections each having an outer surface and an inner surface, said first circular clamp section's inner surface and second circular clamp section's inner surface being formed with respective first and second beveled surfaces;
C) forming a pair of stepped recesses in said second segment end;
D) placing an O-ring in a corresponding said stepped recess;
E) placing said circular clamp sections around said first segment and said second segment;
F) tightening said circular clamp sections to each other with mating fasteners, said tightening step causing said first beveled surface to engage said first slanted surface in said first groove and said second beveled surface engaging said second slanted surface in said second groove to urge said first segment towards said second segment;
wherein said first segment has a tapered surface distal to said first groove; and,
wherein said tightening step causes said O-rings to deform to take the shape of said stepped recesses and said tapered surface to cover and abut said pair of stepped recesses to form a watertight seal for said first segment and said second segment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first segment, said second segment, said first outer surface and said second outer surface are all flush with each other once said tightening step is accomplished.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
G) threading a jack screw into a respective said circular clamp section so that said jack screw extends outwardly from one of said circular clamp section and contacts the other said semi-circular section, to establish a gap therebetween when said circular clamp sections are placed around said first end and said second end.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
H) unscrewing until each said jack screw no longer extends from a corresponding circular clamp section and said circular clamp sections contact each other, said step H) being accomplished concurrently with said step F).

Assignees

• Wiedemeier Brandon J
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Wiedemeier Brandon J

Classifications

• F17C1/02 Primary

  involving reinforcing arrangements {(F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F16L21/065 Primary

  tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins · CPC title

• F16L23/08

  connection by tangentially arranged pin and nut · CPC title