Pressure vessel with internal self sealing door

Abstract

A pressure vessel closing system for conducting industrial processes has a pressure vessel with an underside door opening having a major and a minor axis, a cover that is proportionally larger than the door opening, and an external door operating mechanism. The door operating mechanism has door manipulation capabilities for inward movement, rotation, lateral movement, tilting movement, and outward movement of the cover into and out of the pressure vessel through the door opening, for internally closing the door against the inner face of the door opening; the door being then self sealing from the pressure applied within the pressure vessel.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A high pressure vessel and closing system for conducting industrial processes comprising 
 a pressure vessel having an oval shaped underside a door opening, said opening having a major and a minor axis,    a cover of substantially the same shape but proportionally larger than said door opening, said major axis of said opening being larger than the minor axis of said cover,    an external door operating mechanism, said mechanism comprising door manipulation capabilities for inward moving, rotating, laterally moving, tilting, and outward moving of said cover into and out of said pressure vessel through said door opening.    
     
     
         2 . The high pressure vessel and closing system of  claim 1 , said external door operating mechanism comprising an arm hinged from a hinge point external of said vessel and displaced to a side of said door opening for providing said manipulation capabilities for said inward moving and said outward moving, said manipulation capabilities for said rotating, laterally moving, and tilting being mounted thereon.  
     
     
         3 . The high pressure vessel and closing system of  claim 2 , said cover comprising a sealing flange disposed around the edge thereof for contacting and sealing said cover to the interior surface of said vessel.  
     
     
         4 . The high pressure vessel and closing system of  claim 3 , wherein said external door operating mechanism is automated.  
     
     
         5 . The high pressure vessel and closing system of  claim 4 , wherein said pressure vessel is incorporated into an automated industrial production system.