Method and apparatus for covering a pressure vessel

Abstract

An apparatus disclosed herein relates to a pressure vessel cover comprising, a periphery of the cover, a first surface of the periphery for sealing on a first side of the cover and a second surface on a second side of the cover opposite from the first side, a third surface on the first side of the cover and located radially inwardly from the periphery, the third surface being displaced axially from the first surface in the direction of the second surface, a fourth surface on the second side of the cover radially inwardly positioned from the periphery, and a bore through the cover in fluidic communication with the third surface and the fourth surface.

1 . A pressure vessel cover, comprising:
 a periphery of the cover;   a first surface of the periphery for sealing on a first side of the cover;   a second surface on a second side of the cover opposite from the first side;   a third surface on the first side of the cover and located radially inwardly from the periphery, said third surface being displaced axially from the first surface in the direction of the second surface,   a fourth surface on the second side of the cover radially inwardly positioned from the periphery; and   a bore through the cover in fluidic communication with the third surface and the fourth surface.   
   
   
       2 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a port through the cover in fluidic communication with the bore and an outer circumference of the periphery.   
   
   
       3 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of through holes in the periphery in fluidic communication with the first surface and the second surface.   
   
   
       4 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an axial distance from the first surface to the second surface is substantially equal to an axial distance from the third surface to the fourth surface.   
   
   
       5 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first surface is substantially flat.   
   
   
       6 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the plurality of holes are substantially perpendicular to the first surface and the perpendicularity of the plurality of holes is unaltered by an application of heat and pressure to the third surface.   
   
   
       7 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the third surface is substantially flat.   
   
   
       8 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the fourth surface is substantially flat.   
   
   
       9 . The pressure vessel cover of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first, third and fourth surfaces are substantially parallel to each other.   
   
   
       10 . A method of distributing stress in a bored pressure vessel cover, comprising:
 transmitting stress applied to an interior surface of the cover surrounding the bore symmetrically to a thickness of a periphery of the cover.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 maintaining substantially a constant wall thickness throughout the cover.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 maintaining perpendicularity of a plurality of mounting holes through the periphery with a sealing surface of the periphery throughout temperature and pressure induced stressing of the cover.