Vessels with personnel access provisions

Abstract

Embodiments of vessels include personnel access provisions having welded or otherwise permanent connections that substantially reduce the potential for leakage into or out of the vessels by way of the personnel access provisions.

Claims

1. A transportable vessel capable of holding and transporting high-purity and ultra-high-purity gases, comprising: a shell defining an internal volume; said shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; a hollow sleeve mounted on and extending through an opening in the shell; a cover permanently connected to an end of the sleeve, and a support welded to an outer surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the shell; wherein the support locates the weld between the support and the outer surface away from said opening to prevent or discourage debris generated by the welding process from entering the internal volume when the weld is cut to remove the support, the sleeve and the cover to gain access to the opening.

2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the cover is welded to the end of the sleeve.

3. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the end of the sleeve is located within the internal volume of the shell.

4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising a valve mounted on the cover.

5. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the sleeve defines a passage extending between the internal volume and outside of the vessel, and the passage has a width or a diameter of approximately 2.5 feet or more.

6. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the cover isolates the internal volume from an ambient environment outside of the vessel.

7. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising a projection mounted on the cover; wherein the sleeve and the projection define a groove, and a weld that connects the cover and the sleeve is located at least in part within the groove.

8. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is substantially cylindrical and the support is substantially ring shaped.

9. A method for accessing an internal volume of a transportable vessel, the vessel comprising a shell that defines an internal volume, said shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, a sleeve mounted on the shell and extending through an opening in the shell, and defining a passage from outside of the vessel to the internal volume, a cover connected to an end of the sleeve by a weld, and a support welded to an outer surface of the sleeve and an outer surface of the shell, the method comprising: cutting the weld between the outer surface of the shell and the support, wherein the support locates the weld between the support and the outer surface away from said opening to prevent or discourage debris generated by the welding process from entering the internal volume; moving the cover, the sleeve and the support away from the passage; and entering the internal volume by way of the passage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving the cover away from the passage comprises lifting the cover, the sleeve and the support.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cover is welded to the end of the sleeve.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the end of the sleeve is located within an internal volume of the shell.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a valve is mounted on the cover.

14. The method of claim 9, the sleeve defines a passage extending between the internal volume and outside of the vessel, and the passage has a width or a diameter of approximately 2.5 feet or more.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the cover isolates the internal volume from an ambient environment outside of the vessel.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising a projection mounted on the cover; wherein the sleeve and the projection define a groove, and a weld that connects the cover and the sleeve is located at least in part within the groove.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the sleeve is substantially cylindrical and the support is substantially ring shaped.

18. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises brackets for lifting straps.

19. The vessel for claim 9, wherein said cover comprises brackets for lifting straps and prior to said moving step is the step of attaching lifting straps to said brackets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. The drawings are presented for illustrative purposes only, and the scope of the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is side view of an embodiment of a vessel having a personnel access provision in the form of a valve box;

(3) FIG. 2 is a magnified, cross-sectional view of the area designated A in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the area designated B in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a first alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3, taken from the same perspective as FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a second alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3, taken from the same perspective as FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a third alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3, taken from the same perspective as FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of a sixth alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view of a seventh alternative embodiment of the vessel shown in FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIGS. 1 to 3 depict an embodiment of a transportable container or vessel 10 having an internal volume 12. The vessel 10 can be used, for example, to hold a specialty material such as an HP or UHP gas.

(13) The vessel 10 comprises a shell 14. The shell 14 can include a substantially cylindrical main portion 15, and two end portions or heads 16, as shown in FIG. 1. The heads 16 can be connected to opposite ends of the main portion 15 by a suitable means such as welds.

(14) The vessel 10 also includes a personnel access provision in the form of a manway positioned at the bottom of a valve box 17. The valve box 17 can be mounted on top of the main portion 15 of the shell 14. The valve box 17 can be mounted at other locations on the shell 14 in alternative embodiments including, for example, on the bottom or sides of the main portion 15, or on the heads 16.

(15) Directional terms, such as top, bottom, upper, lower, above, below, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to the component orientations depicted in FIGS. 1-3. These terms are used for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

(16) The valve box 17 includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 can be accommodated by an opening formed in the main portion 15 of the shell 14, and can be secured to the main portion 15 by a suitable means such as a weld 23. The sleeve 18 is positioned so that the valve box 17 is partially recessed in relation to the outer surface of the main portion 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sleeve 18 can be recessed to a greater or lesser extent than shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in alternative embodiments.

(17) The sleeve 18 has a cylindrical inner surface 19 that defines a passage 20 through the sleeve 18. The passage 20 can have a diameter that is large enough to facilitate the passage of a human therethrough, so that the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 can be accessed by way of the sleeve 18. For example, the diameter of the passage 20 can be about 2.5 feet. The sleeve 18 and the passage 20 can each have a shape other than cylindrical in alternative embodiments of the vessel 10. For example, the sleeve 18 and the passage 20 can be square or rectangular when viewed in cross section.

(18) The valve box 17 also includes a bottom assembly 21. The bottom assembly 21 comprises a substantially plate-shaped cover 22, and a substantially ring-shaped projection 24. The projection 24 can be mounted on an upper surface of the cover 22 by a suitable means such as welds. The inner and outer diameters of the projection 24 are approximately equal to the respective inner and outer diameters of sleeve 18.

(19) The bottom assembly 21 of the valve box 17 also includes a substantially cylindrical skirt 28 that encircles a lower portion of the sleeve 18. The skirt 28 can be mounted on the upper surface of the cover 22 by a suitable means such as welding.

(20) A fluid valve 35 is mounted on the cover 22 of the valve box 17. The use of the valve box 17 to accommodate a single fluid valve 35 is disclosed for exemplary purposes only. The valve box 17 can be used to accommodate more than one fluid valve 35 in alternative embodiments. Other alternative embodiments can include a personnel access provision that is substantially identical to the valve box 17, with the exception that the personnel access provision does not include any fluid valves, i.e., the personnel access provision of the alternative embodiment does not function as a valve box.

(21) The projection 24 has an upper surface 36 that is angled in relation to the centerline C of the valve box 17, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sleeve 18 has a bottom surface 40. The bottom surface 40 is positioned directly above the upper surface 36 of the projection 24, so that the angled surface 36 and the bottom surface 40 define a groove 42. The groove 42 can accommodate a weld 44 that secures the projection 24 and the remainder of the bottom assembly 21 to the sleeve 18. The bottom surface 40 of the sleeve 18 can be angled in lieu of, or in addition to the upper surface 36 of the projection 24 in alternative embodiments.

(22) The bottom assembly 21 can be positioned within the vessel 10 during fabrication of the vessel 10. More particularly, the bottom assembly 21 can be positioned within the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 before one or both of the heads 16 are welded to the main portion 15, because the bottom assembly 21 is too large to fit through the opening in the shell 14 that accommodates the sleeve 18.

(23) The projection 24 can be welded to the sleeve 18 after human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 is no longer required, to secure the bottom assembly 21 to the sleeve 18. The bottom assembly 21 can be lifted and supported from outside of the vessel 10 before and during the welding process using, for example, lifting straps connected to brackets 52 or other suitable means mounted on the cover 22. The lifting straps are not depicted in the figures, for clarity of illustration.

(24) The skirt 28 can prevent or discourage debris generated by the welding process from entering the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10. Such debris can be a potential source of contamination when the vessel 10 is subsequently used to hold an HP or UHP gas or other specialty materials that need to be maintained at a relatively high level of purity.

(25) The valve box 17 can be used to provide access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 on an as-needed basis, after the vessel 10 has been placed in service. In particular, the weld 44 can be cut using a saw, a torch, or other suitable means, to release the projection 24 and the remainder of the bottom assembly 21 from the sleeve 18. The skirt 28 can prevent or discourage debris from the weld 44 from entering the internal volume 12 as the weld 44 is cut. In particular, the inner diameter of the skirt 28 can be sized so that a continuous or semi-continuous pocket 31 is formed between skirt 28 and the sleeve 18, as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, or in addition, pockets 32 can be formed in the skirt 18 itself. The pockets 31 and/or the pockets 32 can catch the debris from the weld 44 as the weld 44 is cut.

(26) The skirt 28 and bottom assembly 21, upon being released, can be supported and lowered into the internal volume 12 using lifting straps and the brackets 52. The internal volume 12 can subsequently be accessed by way of the passage 20 of the sleeve 18.

(27) The projection 24 of the skirt 28 can be re-welded to the sleeve 18 in the above-discussed manner after human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 is no longer required, and after the remnants of the original weld 44 have been removed.

(28) If necessary, the vessel 10 can be decontaminated after the projection 24 of the skirt 28 has been re-welded to the sleeve 18, to return the vessel 10 to a condition suitable for holding an HP or UHP gas or other specialty material.

(29) The valve box 17 facilitates human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10, and can thereby eliminate the need for a manway. The valve box 17 does not rely on the use of seals or gaskets to isolate the internal volume 12 within the vessel 10 from the ambient environment, in contradistinction to a manway; rather, the connections between the various major components of the valve box 17 are airtight welds. Thus, it is believed that the potential for leakage into or out of the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 through the valve box 17 is substantially less than the potential for leakage through a comparably-sized manway, particularly where the vessel 10 is subjected to the mechanical shocks, vibrations, and temperature swings that can occur during transportation of the vessel 10.

(30) The welded connections between the major components of the valve box 17 are believed to make the valve box 17 particularly well suited for applications in which human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10 is not required on a frequent and/or regular basis. For example, devices for performing inspections, repairs, and other operations within vessels are described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application titled Devices and Methods for Performing Inspections, Repairs, and/or Other Operations Within Vessels, filed Nov. 26, 2007, U.S. Ser. No. 11/944,669, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The use of the devices disclosed in the preceding application can eliminate the need for regular human access to the interiors of vessels such as the vessel 10. Vessels such as the vessel 10 can therefore be equipped with a valve box such as the valve box 17 in lieu of a manway (and its potential for leakage), to facilitate occasional human access to the interior of the vessels on an as-needed basis.

(31) Alternative embodiments of the valve box 17 can be configured without the groove 42. For example, FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of the vessel 10 in the form of a vessel 10a. The vessel 10a includes a valve box 60 in lieu of the valve box 17. The vessel 10a is otherwise substantially identical to the vessel 10. Components of the vessel 10a that are substantially identical to those of the vessel 10 are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(32) The valve box 60 includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve 62, and a bottom assembly 64. The sleeve 62 can be accommodated by an opening formed in the main portion 15 of the shell 14, and can be secured to the main portion 15 by a suitable means such as a weld 23.

(33) The bottom assembly 64 includes a cover 66, and a substantially cylindrical skirt 68 mounted on the upper surface of the cover 66 by a suitable means such as a weld 69. The cover 66 can be secured directly to a bottom surface of the sleeve 62 as shown in FIG. 4, by a suitable means such as a weld 70 that extends along the inner circumference of the skirt 68. The sleeve 62 and the skirt 68 can each have a shape other than cylindrical in alternative embodiments. For example, the sleeve 62 and the skirt 68 can each have a square or rectangular cross section in alternative embodiments.

(34) A fluid valve 35 can be mounted on the cover 66 of the valve box 60. The valve box 60 can be used to accommodate more than one fluid valve 35 in alternative embodiments. Other alternative embodiments can include a personnel access provision that is substantially identical to the valve box 60, with the exception that the personnel access provision does not include any fluid valves.

(35) The cover 66 of the valve box 60 can be disconnected from the sleeve 62 when human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10b is required. The cover 66 can be disconnected by, for example, cutting or otherwise severing the weld 70 between the cover 66 and the sleeve 62. The cover 66 can be supported and lowered during and after the cutting process using lifting straps, and brackets 52 mounted on the cover 66.

(36) Other alternative embodiments of the valve box 17 can be can be configured without a skirt. For example, FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment of the vessel 10 in the form of a vessel 10b. The vessel 10b includes a valve box 80 in lieu of the valve box 17. The vessel 10b is otherwise substantially identical to the vessel 10.

(37) The valve box 80 includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve 82. The sleeve 82 can be accommodated by an opening formed in the main portion 15 of the shell 14, and can be secured to the main portion 15 by a suitable means such as a weld 23.

(38) The valve box 80 also includes a cover 84. The cover 84 can be mounted on the sleeve 82 by a suitable means such as a weld 88 that extends around the inner circumference of the sleeve 82. The sleeve 82 can have a shape other than cylindrical in alternative embodiments. For example, the sleeve 82 can have a square or rectangular cross section in alternative embodiments.

(39) A fluid valve 35 can be mounted on the cover 84 of the valve box 80. The valve box 80 can be used to accommodate more than one fluid valve 35 in alternative embodiments. Other alternative embodiments can include a personnel access provision that is substantially identical to the valve box 80, with the exception that the personnel access provision does not include any fluid valves.

(40) The valve box 80 can be disconnected and removed from the main portion 15 of the shell 14 of the vessel 10 when human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10b is required. In particular, the weld 23 can be cut, and the sleeve 82 and the attached cover 84 can then be lifted using, for example, lifting straps and brackets 52 mounted on the cover 84. Access to the internal volume 12 can subsequently be obtained through the opening in the main portion 15 that accommodates the sleeve 80.

(41) FIG. 6 depicts another alternative embodiment of the vessel 10 in the form of a vessel 10c. The vessel 10c includes a valve box 90. The valve box 90 is substantially identical to the valve box 80 of the vessel 10b, with the following exception: the valve box 90 includes a support in the form of a ring 92 positioned around an upper end of the sleeve 82 and secured to the sleeve 82 by a suitable means such as a weld 93. Components of the valve box 90 that are substantially identical to those of the valve box 80 are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(42) The valve box 90 can be secured to the main portion 15 of the shell 14 by a weld 94 that extends around the outer circumference of the ring 92. The valve box 90 can be disconnected and removed from the main portion 15 of the shell 14 of the vessel 10c when human access to the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10c is required. In particular, the weld 94 can be cut, and the sleeve 82, the attached cover 84, and the ring 92 can be lifted, for example, using lifting straps and brackets 52 mounted on the cover 84. Access to the internal volume 12 can subsequently be obtained through the opening in the main portion 15 that accommodates the sleeve 80. The ring 92 locates the weld 94 away from the opening, and can thereby prevent or discourage debris generated by the welding process from entering the internal volume 12 of the vessel 10c.

(43) Alternative embodiments of the valve boxes 17, 60, 80, and 90, as noted above, can be configured without valves, and can function solely as personnel-access provisions. For example, FIG. 7 depicts a vessel 10d that is equipped with a personnel access provision 122 that is substantially identical to the valve box 17, with the exception that the personnel access provision 122 does not include any valves. The depth or height of the personnel access provision 122, unlike that of the valve box 17, is not limited or otherwise restricted by the need to accommodate valves. Components of the vessel 10d that are substantially identical to those of the vessel 10 are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(44) As discussed above, conventional valve boxes may be configured with a manway, so that a single blanket of non-contaminating gas can be used to reduce or eliminate the potential for ambient air to infiltrate into the vessel due to leakage past the manway and the valves located in the valve box.

(45) The potential for leakage through the personnel access provision 122 is believed to be substantially eliminated due to the welded construction of thereof. Thus, it is not necessary to maintain a blanket of non-contaminating gas within the personnel access provision 122. The above-noted advantage of locating valving and a personnel access provision in a common valve box therefore does not exist when the personnel access provision 122 is used. The valving can therefore be located in one or more relatively small valve boxes placed in convenient or otherwise advantageous locations throughout the vessel 10d.

(46) For example, the vessel 10d includes a first fluid valve 126 and a second fluid valve 128. The first fluid valve 126 is mounted in a first valve box 129 located at the top of the shell 15 of the vessel 10d. The second fluid valve 128 is mounted in a second valve box 130 located at the bottom of the shell 15 of the vessel 10d.

(47) The first and second valve boxes 128, 129 do not need to accommodate a personnel access provision, because personnel access to the interior volume 12 of the vessel 10d is provided by the personnel access provision 122. The first and second valve boxes 129, 130 are sized to accommodate only the respective first fluid valve 126 and second fluid valve 128, and are therefore relatively compact in relation to a valve box that also accommodates a personnel access provision such as a manway.

(48) FIG. 8 depicts another alternative embodiment in the form of a vessel 10e. Components of the vessel 10e that are substantially identical to those of the vessel 10 are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(49) The vessel 10e includes an internal wall 134 that divides the internal volume of the vessel 10e into a first compartment 136 and a second compartment 138. The internal wall has an access opening (not shown) that is normally covered by a hatch (also not shown) mounted on the internal wall 134.

(50) The vessel 10e also includes a first fluid valve 140 and a second fluid valve 142. The first fluid valve 140 is mounted in a first valve box 174 mounted on the shell 15 of the vessel 10e so that the first fluid valve 140 is in fluid communication with the first compartment 136. The second fluid valve 142 is mounted in a second valve box 176 mounted on the shell 15 so that the second fluid valve 142 is in fluid communication with the second compartment 138. Personnel access to the first compartment 136 can be provided by a personnel access provision 122 mounted on the shell 15. Personnel access to the second compartment 138 can be obtained, for example, by accessing the first compartment 136 and opening the hatch on the internal wall 134.

(51) FIG. 9 depicts another alternative embodiment in the form of a vessel 10f. The vessel 10f is substantially identical to the vessel 10e, with the following exceptions. Components of the vessel 10f that are substantially identical to those of the vessel 10e are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(52) The vessel 10f includes a first fluid valve 150, a second fluid valve 152, a third fluid valve 154, and a fourth fluid valve 156. The vessel 10f also includes a valve box 158. The first, second, third, and fourth fluid valves 150, 152, 154, 156 are arranged linearly within the valve box 158. The valve box 158 is mounted on the shell 15 of the vessel 10f so that the first and second fluid valves 150, 152 are in fluid communication with the first compartment 136, and the third and fourth fluid valves 154, 156 are in fluid communication with the second compartment 138. The valve box 158 has a substantially elliptical shape, to accommodate the linear arrangement of the first, second, third, and fourth fluid valves 150, 152, 154, 156. The valve box 158 can have other shapes suitable for accommodating a linear arrangement of valves in alternative embodiments.

(53) FIG. 10 depicts another alternative embodiment in the form of a vessel 10g. Components of the vessel 10g that are substantially identical to those of the vessel 10 are denoted in the figures by identical reference characters.

(54) The vessel 10g includes an access provision 122 mounted on the main portion 15 of the shell 14 of the vessel 10g. The vessel 10g also includes a fluid valve 162 accommodated by a valve box 163 mounted on one of the heads 16 of the shell 14.

(55) Other vessel configurations are possible based on the specific requirements for a particular application. For example, three fluid can be mounted within a single valve box in a triangular pattern; four fluid valves can be mounted within a single valve box in a square or rectangular pattern, etc.

(56) Other alternative embodiments can include personnel access provisions in which the cover is connected to an upper surface of the sleeve, so that the cover is located outside of the shell of the vessel.

(57) The foregoing description is provided for the purpose of explanation and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments or preferred methods, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Furthermore, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structure, methods, and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein, as the invention extends to all structures, methods and uses that are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the relevant art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, can make numerous modifications to the invention as described herein, and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.