Closure for a vessel

1. A closure for a vessel, comprising:

a hub having an access opening to the vessel, the hub having a circumferential stop face spaced between the access opening and the vessel and a plurality of recesses each extending radially outward from an adjacent inner surface of the hub;

a door for positioning between the stop face and the vessel;

a seal for sealing between the door and the stop face;

a latch member for bringing the door to sealing engagement with the stop face, such that fluid pressure in the vessel forces the door against the stop face;

a plurality of lugs each extending radially outward from an adjacent exterior surface of the door, such that during opening of the closure a respective lug passes through a respective recess in the hub and a portion of the seal extends radially outward of the door and circumferentially along a respective lug to seal between the respective lug and the hub, and the door may be moved to pass through the plurality of recesses and out of the hub;

at least one elongate flexible member connected with the door and extending from the access opening;

one or more locking pins for selectively securing the door to a swing arm; and

an elongate tube movable with the door and surrounding the flexible member, the flexible member movable to position the door with respect to the hub.

2. A closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate flexible member includes one of a cable and a chain.

3. A closure as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

another flexible elongate member connected with the door and extending from the recess opening; and

another elongate tube substantially fixed to the hub and surrounding the another flexible member, the another flexible member movable to position the door with respect to the hub.

4. A closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein the elongate tube is secured to move axially with the door.

5. A closure as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

a door operator for axially moving the door relative to the hub; and

a door support for supporting the door while moved by the door operator.

6. A closure as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

seal being selected from one of a metal seal, an elastomeric seal, and a polymeric seal.

7. A closure as defined in claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the door without the one or more lugs has a generally circular configuration.

8. A closure for a vessel, comprising:

a hub having an access opening to the vessel, the hub having a circumferential stop face spaced between the access opening and the vessel and a plurality of recesses each extending radially outward from an adjacent inner surface of the hub;

a door for positioning between the stop face and the vessel;

a seal supported on the door for sealing between the door and the stop face;

a plurality of lugs each extending radially outward from an adjacent exterior surface of the door, such that during opening of the closure a respective lug passes through the hub about a respective recess in the hub and a portion of the seal extends radially outward of the door and circumferentially along a respective lug to seal between the respective lug and the hub, and the door may be moved to pass through the plurality of recesses and out of the hub;

first and second elongate flexible members each connected with the door and extending from the access opening; and

first and second elongate tubes each movable with the door and surrounding a respective flexible member, each flexible member movable to position the door with respect to the hub.

9. A closure as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first and second elongate flexible members each includes one of a cable and a chain.

10. A closure as defined in claim 8 , wherein an exterior surface of the door without the one or more lugs has a generally circular configuration.

11. A closure as defined in claim 8 , further comprising:

the seal being selected from one of a metal seal, an elastomeric seal, and a polymeric seal.

12. A closure as defined in claim 8 , further comprising:

a door operator for axially moving the door relative to the hub; and

a door support for supporting the door while moved by the door operator.

13. A closure as defined in claim 8 , wherein the elongate tube is secured to move axially with the door.

14. A method of positioning the closure for a vessel of claim 8 , the method comprising:

connecting at least one of the first and second elongate flexible members with the door and extending from the access opening; and

securing at least one of the first and second elongate tubes to the door and surrounding the flexible member; and

pulling the at least one flexible member within the at least one elongate tube to position the door with respect to the hub.

15. A method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

securing another of the first and second flexible elongate members with the door and extending from the access opening;

securing another of the first and second elongate tubes to the door and surrounding the another of the first and second flexible members; and

pulling the another of the first and second flexible members within the another of the first and second elongate tubes to position the door with respect to the hub.

16. A method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

selecting securing the door to a swing arm; and

securing the elongate tube to move axially with the door.

17. A method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

providing a door operator for axially moving the door relative to the hub; and

providing a door support for supporting the door while moved by the door operator.

18. A method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

providing a pivot mechanism for pivoting the door with respect to the hub.

19. A method as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:

sealing between the door and the hub with the annular seal, the annular seal being selected from one of a metal seal, an elastomeric seat, and a polymeric seal.