Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Guide and support
Patent
1984-10-22
1987-02-03
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Guide and support
285 93, 285325, 285912, 285920, 376260, 376292, F16L 3500
Patent
active
046405313
ABSTRACT:
The invention is directed to an arrangement for centering conduits to facilitate coupling an end flange of a stationary conduit with an end flange of a conduit section removable in the vertical direction. The conduits interconnect materials processing apparatus in a large-area cell for reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuel. The interface separating the connected flanges is in a vertical plane. The joining of the stationary end flange to the end flange of the movable conduit section is carried out by remote handling and the operator performs the connecting process with the aid of a television monitor. To enable the process of coupling the flanges to be carried out quickly, safely, and in a simple manner, the arrangement of the invention includes an upwardly projecting vertical centering key mounted on the stationary pipe conduit. A V-shaped guide defining mutually adjacent centering surfaces is mounted on the removable conduit section. When the removable conduit section is brought together with the stationary pipe conduit for coupling, the centering surfaces are brought into contact engagement with the key for finely guiding the removable conduit member as the same is moved in elevation so as to cause the respective longitudinal axes of the conduit members to be aligned with each other. The centering arrangement of the invention is an optical aid and provides a visual indication of the position of the conduit section as the latter is moved close to the stationary conduit member and then finely guides the conduit section into its end position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3459442 (1969-08-01), Yarmett et al.
patent: 4392790 (1983-07-01), Shibata
Forster Jurgen
Westendorf Helmut
Arola Dave W.
Ottesen Walter
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