Latch Assembly For Use With An Inversion Drum

Abstract

A hinged cover overlays an opening that provides access to a pressurized inversion drum. A releasable latch assembly holds the cover in a closed and locked position. The latch assembly comprises a plurality of first knuckles formed in the cover that are interlaceable with a plurality of second knuckles formed in the body adjacent the opening. The latch assembly further comprises a rotatable latch pin that may be installed within the first and second knuckles. The latch assembly is moved from an unlocked to a locked position by rotation of the latch pin within the knuckles.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a body having an opening formed therein and an outer edge; in which at least one first passage is formed in the body adjacent its outer edge;   a cover positioned over the opening and having an outer edge; in which at least one second passage is formed in the cover adjacent its outer edge; and in which the at least one second passage is aligned with the at least one first passage; and   a rotatable pin installed within the at least one first passage and the at least one second passage;   in which rotation of the pin in a first direction locks the cover to the body, and in which rotation of the pin in an opposite second direction unlocks the cover from the body.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one first knuckle formed in the outer edge of the body; 
 in which the at least one first passage is formed within the at least one first knuckle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the at least one first passage has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 at least one second knuckle formed in the outer edge of the cover; 
 in which the at least one second passage is formed within the at least one second knuckle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  in which the at least one second passage is characterized by an exposed semi-cylindrical groove. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 at least one groove formed in the body such that the at least one groove is positioned adjacent to the at least one first knuckle and aligns with the at least one first passage. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  in which the at least one groove has a semi-cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the pin has a plurality of alternating first and second sections, each first section having a semi-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  in which the rotatable pin has at least one first section, the first section having a size and shape complementary to the semi-cylindrical groove of the at least one second passage. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  in which the at least one first section of the pin is positioned within the at least one second passage formed in the cover when the cover is locked to the body. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a pressurized inversion drum; and   the apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the body and opening are those of the pressurized inversion drum.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a drum having an opening; and   the apparatus of  claim 1  positioned over the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle attached to the rotatable pin.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the cover is rotatably attached to the body via a hinged connection. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one knuckle formed in the outer edge of the cover and extending from a bottom surface of the cover;   in which the at least one second passage is formed in the at least one knuckle.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 2  in which the at least one first knuckle is integral with the body. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a body having an opening formed therein;   a cover positioned over the opening; and   a rotatable latch pin having at least one section having a half-moon cross-section, in which the latch pin is installed within a side edge of the body and a side edge of the cover.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least one first knuckle formed in a selected one of the cover and body; and   at least one second knuckle formed in the unselected one of the cover and body adjacent the opening.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  in which an exposed semi-cylindrical groove is formed within the at least one first knuckle, and a cylindrical passage is formed within the at least one second knuckle. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the at least one section of the latch pin is installed within the semi-cylindrical groove formed in the at least one first knuckle.