Apparatus and method for gaining operational access to a pressure vessel

Abstract

The disclosure includes embodiments of an apparatus and a method for gaining operational access to a pressure vessel. In one embodiment, an apparatus is described that is shaped and formed to replace a conventional manway portal cover of a pressure vessel. The apparatus includes an aperture that allows for an object such as, for example, a monitoring device to be attached along the aperture, thereby allowing for increased access to the interior of the pressure vessel during operation of the pressure vessel without the necessity of creating a new aperture in the pressure vessel itself or destroying the conventional manway portal cover. A method is also disclosed for using the described embodiments of the apparatus.

1 . A cover apparatus for providing access to a pressure vessel, the apparatus comprising a plate dimensioned to fit through a manway portal of a pressure vessel and to substantially sealingly engage with the pressure vessel so that the plate substantially covers the manway portal from the interior of the pressure vessel, the plate including a first surface, a second surface, an aperture located through the plate, and a plurality of engagement members along the second surface of the plate, the plurality of engagement members for engaging with an attachment member that is capable of holding the second surface of the plate against an inner surface of the pressure vessel at least until the pressure vessel is pressurized. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of attachment members that are removably attachable to the plurality of engagement members and that may be oriented to overlap an outer edge of a collar flange surrounding the manway portal at two or more points along the outer edge, wherein the plate may be held in place substantially covering the manway portal of the pressure vessel by attaching the attachment members to the engagement members and orienting the attachment members such that the attachment members overlap the outer edge of the collar flange. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of attachment pockets that extend partially into the plate along the second surface of the plate near the aperture, the plurality of attachment pockets for attaching an object to the plate along the aperture. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the aperture is located substantially at the center of the second surface. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an object substantially sealingly attached along the aperture of the plate, wherein the object includes a sensor exposed to the interior of the pressure vessel. 
   
   
       6 . A pressure vessel comprising the cover apparatus of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of engagement members further comprises an extension member extending from the second surface of the plate, the extension member including an aperture. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of engagement members further comprises an attachment port extending partially into the second surface of the plate. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of engagement members further comprises an attachment rod extending orthogonally from the second surface of the plate. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the attachment members further comprises a bolt including a first end and a second end, and a retainer member including an aperture, wherein the apparatus may be attached to the pressure vessel at least in part by extending the bolt through the aperture of the retainer member, orienting the retainer member such that a portion of the retainer member overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, and attaching the second end of the bolt to the aperture of the extension member. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a balancing member oriented between the retainer member and the second surface of the plate, wherein the retainer member may be oriented to overlap the balancing member while the retainer member also overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, wherein the balancing member is capable of distributing a force from the retainer member to both the outer edge of the collar flange and the balancing member. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the attachment member further comprises a bolt including a first end and a second end, and a retainer member including an aperture, wherein the apparatus may be attached to the pressure vessel at least in part by extending the bolt through the aperture of the retainer member, orienting the retainer member such that a portion of the retainer member overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, and attaching the second end of the bolt to the attachment port. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a balancing member oriented between the retainer member and the second surface of the plate, wherein the retainer member may be oriented to overlap the balancing member while the attachment member also overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, wherein the balancing member is capable of distributing a force from the retainer member to both the outer edge of the collar flange and the balancing member. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the attachment members further comprise a retainer member and a cap member, each retainer member including an aperture, whereby the apparatus may be attached to the pressure vessel at least in part by placing the retainer member along the rod such that the rod is exposed through the aperture of the retainer member, orienting the retainer member such that a portion of the retainer member overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, and attaching the cap member to the end of the rod. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the rods are removably attachable to the plate. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a balancing members oriented between the retainer member and the second surface of the plate, wherein the retainer member may be oriented to overlap the balancing member while the retainer member also overlaps the outer edge of the collar flange, wherein the balancing member is capable of distributing a force from the retainer member to both the outer edge of the collar flange and the balancing member. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the cap member comprises a threaded nut and wherein the rod is at least partially threaded. 
   
   
       18 . A method for adding an access aperture to a pressure vessel without the necessity of creating a new aperture in the pressure vessel or associated manway portal cover, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a cover apparatus for providing access to a pressure vessel, the apparatus comprising a plate dimensioned to fit through a manway portal of a pressure vessel and to substantially sealingly engage with the pressure vessel so that the plate substantially covers the manway portal from the interior of the pressure vessel, the plate including a first surface, a second surface, an aperture located through the plate, and a plurality of engagement members along the second surface of the plate, the plurality of engagement members for engaging with an attachment member that is capable of holding the second surface of the plate against an inner surface of the pressure vessel at least until the pressure vessel is pressurized;   (b) inserting the plate through the manway portal of the pressure vessel such that the second surface substantially faces out through the manway portal;   (c) attaching a plurality of attachment members to the plurality of engagement members such that the manway portal is substantially sealingly obstructed by the cover apparatus.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of orienting the attachment member so that the attachment member overlaps an outer edge of a collar flange surrounding the manway portal of the pressure vessel at two or more locations along the outer edge of the collar flange. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of attaching an object to the cover apparatus whereby the object is exposed to the interior of the pressure vessel after the manway portal becomes obstructed by the cover apparatus.