Closure Having a Segmented Locking Ring

Abstract

A pressure closure having a round door with an arcuate locking ring having a plurality of arcuate locking ring segments connected by at least one connecting ring movably retained therewith proximate an outer circumference of an outer surface of the door. The locking ring segments may have at least one cavity extending through the arcuate length thereof. An arcuate connecting ring extends through each cavity in the locking ring segments retaining them together to form the locking ring. Alternatively, the connecting ring connects the locking ring segments together with connecting ring retaining links cooperating with the connecting ring and locking ring segments. Optionally, the cross-sectional configuration of the connecting ring is rounded. Advantageously, the optional at least one cavity extending through the locking ring segments has an axial opening extending the arcuate length of each locking ring segment. The axial opening may have a width less than or greater than the diameter of the locking ring extending therethrough. Optionally, the locking ring segments may have protuberances and fitting recesses on adjacent circumferential ends. Furthermore, connecting ring retaining links may be placed between a plurality of adjacent locking ring segments securing the connecting ring into cavities in the locking ring segments or securing the connecting ring proximate solid locking ring segments.

1 . A pressure retaining closure for an opening in a pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom comprising:
 a round door having an inner and outer surface;   an arcuate locking ring having a plurality of arcuate locking ring segments and at least one connecting ring movably retained therewith proximate an outer circumference of said outer surface of said door;   at least one cavity having a rounded cross-section extending through the arcuate length of each of said plurality of arcuate locking ring segments;   said at least one connecting ring having a round cross-section and arcuately extending through each of said cavities of said locking ring segments retaining each of said locking ring segments together forming said locking ring;   said at least one cavity having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said connecting ring extending therethrough; and   said arcuate locking ring being suitable to expand and contract wherein an outer circumferential portion of said locking ring is suitable to engage a groove within an inner circumferential surface of said opening when said locking ring is in an expanded orientation and is suitable to contract to a circumference less than the inner circumference of said opening.   
   
   
       2 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein said cross-section of said at least one connecting ring and said cross-sectional area of said at least one cavity is round. 
   
   
       3 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein said cross-section of said at least one connecting ring and said cross-sectional area of said at least one cavity is oval. 
   
   
       4 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein said connecting ring is solid. 
   
   
       5 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein said connecting ring is hollow. 
   
   
       6 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one cavity in each of said locking ring segments has an arcuately extending opening therein. 
   
   
       7 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 6  wherein each of said arcuately extending openings are in an axial surface of each of said locking ring segments. 
   
   
       8 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 7  wherein at least one of said arcuately extending openings is in an axially inward facing surface of each of said locking ring segments, said axially inward facing surface being proximate said outer surface of said door. 
   
   
       9 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 7  wherein at least one of said arcuately extending openings is in an axially outward surface of each of said locking ring segments, said axially outward surface facing away from said outer surface of said door. 
   
   
       10 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one cavities has an arcuately extending axially outward opening with a width less than the diameter of said connecting ring therein. 
   
   
       11 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  having at least two cavities in each of said plurality of locking ring segments and at least two connecting rings. 
   
   
       12 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 11  wherein each of said cavities has an arcuately extending axially outward opening with a width greater than the diameter of said connecting ring therein and a connecting ring retaining link between at least two of said arcuate locking ring segments, said connecting ring retaining link having at least one aperture receiving each of said connecting rings. 
   
   
       13 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein said locking ring has an inner and outer load bearing surface, said inner and said outer load bearing surfaces being substantially frustoconical. 
   
   
       14 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 1  wherein each of said cavities has an arcuately extending axially outward opening with a width proximate the diameter of said connecting ring therein, each of said locking ring segments having at least one adjacent circumferential end with either a protuberance or a recess suitable for receiving said protuberance, and a connecting ring retaining link with at least one aperture suitable to receive said protuberance and said connecting ring between at least two of said adjacent circumferential ends. 
   
   
       15 . A pressure retaining closure comprising:
 a round door having an inner and outer surface;   an arcuate locking ring having a plurality of arcuate locking ring segments and at least one connecting ring movably retained proximate an outer circumference of said outer surface of said door;   at least one cavity extending through the arcuate length of each of said plurality of arcuate locking ring segments, said at least one cavity having an arcuately extending axial opening in each of said plurality of arcuate locking ring segments;   said at least one connecting ring arcuately extending through each of said cavities of said locking ring segments retaining each of said locking ring segments together forming said locking ring;   said at least one cavity having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said connecting ring extending therethrough; and   said arcuate locking ring being suitable to expand and contract wherein an outer circumferential portion of said locking ring is suitable to engage a groove within an inner circumferential surface of an opening in a pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom when said locking ring is in an expanded orientation and is suitable to contract to a circumference less than the inner circumference of said opening.   
   
   
       16 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein said outer cross-sectional surface of said at least one connecting ring and said cross-sectional area of said at least one cavity is rectangular. 
   
   
       17 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein said outer cross-sectional surface of said at least one connecting ring and said cross-sectional area of said at least one cavity is rounded. 
   
   
       18 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein said connecting ring is solid. 
   
   
       19 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein said connecting ring is hollow. 
   
   
       20 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein each of said arcuately extending axially openings have a width proximate the diameter of said connecting ring therein, each of said locking ring segments having at least one adjacent circumferential end with either a protuberance or a recess suitable for receiving said protuberance, and a connecting ring retaining link with at least one aperture suitable to receive said protuberance and said connecting ring between at least two of said adjacent circumferential ends. 
   
   
       21 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  having at least two cavities in each of said plurality of locking ring segments and at least two connecting rings. 
   
   
       22 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 21  wherein each of said cavities has an arcuately extending axially outward opening with a width greater than the diameter of said connecting ring therein and a connecting ring retaining link between at least two of said arcuate locking ring segments, said connecting ring retaining link having at least one aperture receiving each of said connecting rings. 
   
   
       23 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein said locking ring has an inner and outer load bearing surface, said inner and said outer load bearing surfaces being substantially frustoconical. 
   
   
       24 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said arcuately extending openings is in an axially inward facing surface of each of said locking ring locking ring segments, said axially inward facing surface being proximate said outer surface of said door. 
   
   
       25 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said arcuately extending openings is in an axially outward surface of each of said locking ring segments, said axially outward surface facing away from said outer surface of said door. 
   
   
       26 . A pressure retaining closure for an opening in a pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom comprising:
 a round door having an inner and outer surface;   an arcuate locking ring having a plurality of arcuate locking ring segments and at least one connecting ring movably retained proximate an outer circumference of said outer surface of said door;   at least one rounded cavity extending through the arcuate length of each of said plurality of arcuate locking ring segments, said at least one cavity having an arcuately extending axial opening in each of said plurality of arcuate locking ring segments;   said at least one connecting ring having a rounded outer cross-sectional surface and arcuately extending through each of said cavities of said locking ring segments retaining each of said locking ring segments together forming said locking ring;   said at least one cavity having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said connecting ring extending therethrough; and   said arcuate locking ring being suitable to expand and contract wherein an outer circumferential portion of said locking ring is suitable to engage an inner annular groove within an inner circumferential surface of said opening when said locking ring is in an expanded orientation and is suitable to contract to a circumference less than the inner circumference of the opening.   
   
   
       27 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 26  wherein said locking ring has an inner load bearing surface and an outer load bearing surface, said inner load bearing surface being adapted to cooperate with an outer perimeter portion of said outer surface of said door and said outer load bearing surface being adapted to cooperate with said inner annular groove. 
   
   
       28 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 27  wherein said load bearing surfaces are substantially frustoconical. 
   
   
       29 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 27  wherein said load bearing surfaces form an angle with respect to a central axis of said locking ring of at least 30°. 
   
   
       30 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 29  wherein said load bearing surfaces are substantially parallel. 
   
   
       31 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 26  wherein said outer surface of said door has a tapered portion proximate the outer circumference thereof. 
   
   
       32 . A pressure retaining closure for an opening in a pipe, vessel, or hub extending therefrom comprising:
 a round door having an inner and outer surface;   an arcuate locking ring having a plurality of arcuate locking ring segments slidingly retained proximate an outer circumference of said outer surface of said door, said arcuate locking ring having two end faces and being suitable to radially expand and contract altering a distance between said two end faces;   a connecting ring retaining link fastened between each of said arcuate locking ring segments and each of said end faces of said arcuate locking ring, each of said connecting ring retaining links having a portion extending radially inward from an inner radial surface of said arcuate locking ring, said inward extending portion having an aperture therein; and   a connecting ring arcuately extending through each of said apertures of said connecting ring retaining links retaining each of said locking ring segments together forming said arcuate locking ring.   
   
   
       33 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 32  wherein said arcuate locking ring segments are solid. 
   
   
       34 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 32  wherein said arcuate locking ring segments have a rectangular cross-sectional configuration. 
   
   
       35 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 32  wherein said connecting ring retaining links are fastened between each of said arcuate locking ring segments with at least one fastener having a head, each of said arcuate locking ring segments having said at least one fastener head extending thereto has a cavity suitable for receiving one of said at least one fastener head. 
   
   
       36 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 35  wherein each of said at least one cavity has a diameter greater than said fastener head being received therein by an amount sufficient to allow said locking ring segments to flex or contract in a radial direction wherein said fastener heads do not damage said locking ring segments. 
   
   
       37 . The pressure retaining closure of  claim 36  wherein said inner surface of said door has a molded seal within a circumferential groove proximate an outer circumference thereof.