Apparatus for securing a closure

摘要

Apparatus for securing a door of a vessel capable of maintaining pressure therein to its end frame is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of spring-biased swing hooks pivotally mounted on the end frame which each have a cam surface adjacent the end frame and a hook surface on the opposite side thereof. A corresponding plurality of latch hooks each having a latch surface is provided on the outer portion of the door. A plurality of wedge bars are mounted for horizontal sliding movement on the outer surface of the door toward and away from the corresponding swing hook and are each provided with a cam surface thereon. In the operation of the instant apparatus, the wedge bars are extended toward the respective swing hooks such that the cam surfaces on the wedge bars engage the cam surfaces of the swing hooks thereby rotating the swing hooks against their spring bias. Such swing hook rotation causes the hook surfaces to increasingly engage the latch surfaces which draws the door toward the end frame and into sealing engagement therewith.