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DE-102019112403-B4 - Container with locking device, locking device, use of a locking device and pressure vessel system

DE102019112403B4DE 102019112403 B4DE102019112403 B4DE 102019112403B4DE-102019112403-B4

Abstract

Container (1), in particular pressure vessel (1), with - a wall (3) defining the interior of a container (10), - a base (6) defining the interior of a container (10), - a container opening, - a lid (5) that can be coupled to the wall (3) for closing the container opening, - a longitudinal axis (2) running between the base (6) and the lid (5), - a sealing agent arranged between the wall (3) and the lid (5) for sealing the container (1) closed by means of the lid (5), - a locking device (11) designed to lock the lid (5) and container (1) together in the closed position, wherein the locking device (11) has at least one locking part (15, 15') which is arranged in the area of the container opening to lock the lid (5) relative to the wall (3) in the closed state, wherein the locking part (15) is held in a locking position by means of a locking unit, in which the locking part (15) positively locks the lid (5) relative to the wall (3), and can be moved from the locking position into an open position by a movement which has at least one movement component orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (2) of the container (1), characterized by the fact that the cover (5) has a first recess (17) which is designed to accommodate the locking part (15), and the container (1) has a second recess (19) which is designed to accommodate the locking part (15, 15').

Inventors

  • Olaf Hommers
  • Dirk Terbeek

Assignees

  • SYMEX GMBH & CO. KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20190513
Priority Date
20180518

Claims (16)

  1. Container (1), in particular pressure vessel (1), comprising: - a wall (3) defining a container interior (10), - a bottom (6) defining a container interior (10), - a container opening, - a lid (5) connectable to the wall (3) for closing the container opening, - a longitudinal axis (2) extending between the bottom (6) and the lid (5), - a sealing means arranged between the wall (3) and the lid (5) for sealing the container (1) closed by means of the lid (5), - a locking device (11) which is configured to lock the lid (5) and the container (1) together in the closed state, wherein the locking device (11) has at least one locking part (15, 15') which is arranged in the area of the container opening in order to lock the lid (5) relative to the wall (3) in the closed state, wherein the locking part (15) is held in a locking position by means of a locking unit in which the The locking part (15) locks the lid (5) relative to the wall (3) in a form-fitting manner and can be moved from the locked position to an open position by a movement which has at least one movement component orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (2) of the container (1), characterized in that the lid (5) has a first recess (17) which is configured to allow the locking part (15) to pass through, and the container (1) has a second recess (19) which is configured to receive the locking part (15, 15').
  2. Container (1) according Claim 1 , characterized in that the locking part (15, 15') can be moved into the open position by a linear movement which preferably runs orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (2) of the container (1), wherein the locking part (15) locks the lid (5) relative to the wall (3) in a form-fitting manner.
  3. Container (1) according Claim 1 , characterized in that the locking part (15, 15') can be moved into the open position by a pivoting movement, the locking part (15) locks the cover (5) relative to the wall (3) in a form-fitting manner.
  4. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (1) further comprises a container flange (9) formed on the wall (3), which extends around the area of the container opening and has a lid flange (7) corresponding to and connectable with the container flange (9), and the locking device (11) is configured to lock the lid flange (7) relative to the container flange (9) in the closed state.
  5. Container (1) according Claim 4 , characterized in that the locking part (15) is arranged on the cover flange (7).
  6. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking part (15, 15') has a direction of movement which is substantially horizontal in the direction of the container center, wherein the container (1) is preferably rotationally symmetrical and the direction of movement of the locking part (15, 15') corresponds to a radial of the container (1).
  7. Containers (1) according to the general term of Claim 1 or one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking unit is configured to hold the locking part (15) in the locked position by applying a spring force as a locking force, and the container (1) has at least one actuator (13) operatively connected to the locking part (15), which is configured to act against the locking unit and to move the locking part (15) out of the locked position.
  8. Container (1) according Claim 7 , characterized in that at least one actuator (13) is a hydraulic actuator (13) and/or a pneumatic actuator (13) and/or an electromechanical actuator (13).
  9. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a groove is formed on the container (1) in the area of the opening, which is designed to receive the sealing material, wherein the sealing material The means is designed as a ring and preferably has a round cross-section.
  10. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing means has a fillable chamber, wherein a valve is formed on the sealing means which can be connected to a fluid source in a fluid-conducting manner.
  11. Container (1) according to one of the Claims 7 , 8 or 10 , characterized by a multitude of sensors which are designed to detect at least one observation parameter, in particular pressure and/or temperature and/or position.
  12. Container (1) according Claim 11 , characterized by a control unit (8) which is connected to the plurality of sensors via a signal conductor, wherein the control unit (8) is configured to: - receive a command to close the container (1), - receive a command to open the container (1), and - issue a command to the actuator (13) to move the locking part (15) from the locked position to the open position, and/or to compare an observed quantity detected by the sensors with a setpoint and to issue an error message in case of a deviation.
  13. Container (1) according Claim 12 , characterized in that the control unit (8) is connected to the valve associated with the sealing means via a signal conductor and is further configured to - issue a supply command to the valve in the locking position to supply a pressurized fluid to the sealing means, and - issue a discharge command to the valve associated with the sealing means in the opening position to discharge the pressurized fluid.
  14. Container (1) at least after Claim 4 , characterized in that the container flange (9) has the second recess (19) and the lid flange (7) has the first recess (17).
  15. Locking device (11, 11') for locking a container (1) according to at least one of the Claims 7 - 13 , which is configured to lock the lid (5) and the container (1) together in the closed state, wherein the locking device (11, 11') comprises: - at least one locking part (15, 15') arranged in the area of the container opening to lock the lid (5) relative to the wall (3) in the closed state, and - a holding unit (31) configured to hold the locking part (15) in a locked position by applying a spring force as a holding force, and - at least one actuator (13) operatively connected to the locking part (15) which is configured to act against the holding unit and to move the locking part (15) out of the locked position, wherein the locking part (15, 15') can be moved into an open position by a movement which has at least one movement component orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the container (1).
  16. Method for locking a container according to one of the Claims 11 until 13 , with the steps: - Receiving a signal regarding the position of the container lid (5) and/or receiving a manual locking command, - Issuing a command to the actuator (13) to move the locking part (15) from the open position to the locked position, - Issuing a feed command to the valve associated with the sealing agent, - Receiving a signal regarding the container pressure or container temperature and/or receiving a manual opening command, - Issuing a command to the actuator (13) to release the locking part (15), and - Issuing a discharge command to the valve associated with the sealing agent.

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular a pressure vessel, comprising a wall defining the interior of the container, a bottom defining the interior of the container, a container opening formed in the wall, a lid that can be coupled to the wall for closing the container opening, a longitudinal axis extending between the bottom and the lid, a sealing means arranged between the wall and the lid for sealing the container closed by means of the lid, and a locking device which is configured to lock the lid and the container together in the closed state, wherein the locking device has at least one locking part which is arranged in the area of the container opening in order to lock the lid to the container wall in the closed state. In the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, for example, pressure vessels, also called pressure tanks, are used to mix liquid, pasty, or solid substances, particularly to produce free-flowing products. High pressures or vacuums prevail inside these pressure vessels. During these mostly highly automated processes, the pressure vessels must be opened, closed, and locked regularly. To open and close the pressure vessel lid, it is usually moved vertically, diagonally, or horizontally using a lifting device, which is electrically or hydraulically operated, for example, to fill the container with raw materials or to carry out maintenance or repair work. Manual, and sometimes semi-automatic, locking devices are currently used to secure the pressure vessel to the lid when closed. The reliability of locking devices for pressure vessels is of particular importance due to the significant risk of damage to property and personal injury. In addition to the high mechanical loads inherent in the process, which act on the locking devices due to the container pressure, the opening/closing process places a mechanical strain on the locking device and leads to increased wear. The DE69818088T2 Disclosure reveals a bolt clamping device for locking pressure vessels. Several bolts are proposed, which pass through recesses in a lid and a flange of the pressure vessel. Furthermore, the bolts extend through a hole in a movable plate. The plate is adjacent to the flange or the lid. A hydraulic control mechanism clamps the bolts and the plate against each other to clamp the flange and the lid. The locking mechanism, which involves relative movement of the plate with respect to the multiple bolts, constitutes a third, essential component that must be manufactured separately and is also prone to wear and requires intensive cleaning and maintenance. The DE10016805A1 The patent discloses a closure for a pressure vessel which locks a flange of the pressure vessel to a flange of the vessel lid by means of retaining elements that grip them. The retaining elements are preferably two semi-rings with an internal circumferential groove that receives the flanges when the lid is closed. The locking device again constitutes a third essential component that must be manufactured separately. Furthermore, the manual or semi-automatic guidance of the semi-ring elements along the circumference of the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel flange until the pressure vessel is fully opened results in long cycle times and requires intensive cleaning. The US 2 797 948 A and the US 2012 /0 187 123 A1 disclose a pressure vessel according to the preamble of claims 1 and 7. Containers with separate and individualized locking mechanisms, as known from the prior art, are generally prone to wear and tear, require extensive maintenance, and are costly. Securing these containers in the event of malfunctions requires further optimization. Furthermore, the complex locking mechanisms necessitate manual or semi-automatic operation of the locking devices on these pressure vessels and hinder comprehensive process automation in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries, for example. The object of the invention is therefore to overcome, as far as possible, the disadvantages found in the prior art for containers, particularly pressure vessels of the type mentioned above. The invention was based in particular on the objective of proposing a container with a fail-safe locking device that locks the container to the container lid in the closed state, without requiring a third, essential component that would need to be manufactured separately and would be costly and difficult to clean. The aim is thus to increase safety, reduce production downtime due to maintenance work, and simplify cleaning. The invention solves the underlying problem by proposing a container with the features of claim 1. The locked position, as used here, refers to a position of the locking element in which the container is locked in a defined position relative to the lid by a connection between the container wall, the locking element, and the container lid. The open position, as used here, refers to a position in which the lid is movable relative to the c