초록 ▼

A pressure vessel in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover, movable between an open position and a closed position, and a clamp for releasably clamping the cover in its closed position. The clamp includes a handle for manually operating the clamp. The handle is movable between a fi

A pressure vessel in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover, movable between an open position and a closed position, and a clamp for releasably clamping the cover in its closed position. The clamp includes a handle for manually operating the clamp. The handle is movable between a first position, in which the clamp releasably holds the cover in its closed position, and a second position, in which the cover is free to be moved to its open position. The pressure vessel further comprises locking means, including a latch pin for releasably locking the handle in its first position upon actuation of the latch pin, and actuating means, including a flexible diaphragm which is responsive to an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel, for actuating the latch pin when the pressure within the vessel has reached a predetermined level.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pressure vessel, comprising a cover movable between an open position and a closed position; clamping means for releasably clamping said cover in its said closed position, said clamping means including a handle adapted to permit the manual operation of said clamping means, said handle being

1. A pressure vessel, comprising a cover movable between an open position and a closed position; clamping means for releasably clamping said cover in its said closed position, said clamping means including a handle adapted to permit the manual operation of said clamping means, said handle being movable between a first position, in which said cover is releasably retained in its said closed position by said clamping means, and a second position, in which said cover is free to be moved to its said open position; locking means for releasably locking said handle in its said first position upon actuation of said locking means, said locking means including a pin sized and shaped so as to be receivable in an opening provided in said handle, said pin being movable between an extended position, in which it engages said opening, and a retracted position, in which it disengages said opening; and actuating means, which is responsive to an increase in pressure within the pressure vessel, for actuating said locking means when the pressure within the vessel has reached a predetermined level, said actuating means including a flexible diaphragm which is movable between an activated position, in which it causes said pin to move to its said extended position, and a deactivated position, in which said pin is permitted to move to its said retracted position. 2. A pressure vessel according to claim 1, further comprising urging means for urging said pin toward its said retracted position, whereby said pin is moved to its said retracted position when said diaphragm is in its said deactivated position. 3. A pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein said urging means causes said pin to move from its said extended position toward its said retracted position when the pressure within the vessel is below a predetermined level. 4. A pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein said urging means includes a spring. 5. A pressure vessel according to claim 4, wherein said actuating means further includes a pair of flanges which form a chamber therebetween, said diaphragm being flexibly and securely positioned between said pair of flanges and within said chamber. 6. A pressure vessel according to claim 5, wherein said chamber is in communication with the vessel such that said diaphragm is moved from its said deactivated position to its said activated position when the pressure within the vessel reaches a predetermined level. 7. A pressure vessel according to claim 6, further comprising guiding means for guiding the movement of said pin between its said extended and retracted positions. 8. A pressure vessel according to claim 7, wherein said guiding means includes a guide tube having a throughbore, said pin being mounted within said throughbore for reciprocating movement therein, said guide tube having an end connected to one of said pair of flanges such that said pin in engageable with said diaphragm. 9. A pressure vessel according to claim 8, further comprising aligning means for aligning said opening of said receiving means with said pin. 10. A pressure vessel according to claim 9, wherein said aligning means includes an upper housing having an open chamber, said upper housing being connected to an opposite end of said guide tube such that said open chamber communicates with said throughbore, said open chamber being sized and shaped so as to receive said receiving means of said handle therein. 11. A pressure vessel according to claim 10, wherein said pin extends into said open chamber and is received within said opening of said receiving means when said pin is in its extended position. 12. A pressure vessel according to claim 11, wherein said pin includes an annular shoulder; and wherein said guiding means further includes a ledge within said throughbore proximate to said opposite end of said guide tube, said spring having one end abutting against said shoulder of said pin and an opposite end abutting against said ledge.