Measuring and testing – Liquid level or depth gauge – Float
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-15
2001-03-20
Patel, Harshad (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Liquid level or depth gauge
Float
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202487
ABSTRACT:
During the production of oil and gas from well bores, the effluent thus produced from a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir will be a mixture of oil, gas and water. As will be well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the produced effluent will require processing in order to be transported, sold and refined.
In the processing of oil, gas and water, the operator will be required to separate the effluent into the three different phases, namely oil, gas and water. Many different types of separators have been devised in order to effectively separate the effluent. Due to the nature of production process equipment, the constant monitoring of the flow through the process equipment is required. If not monitored, the level in the process equipment may become either too high or too low. Both of these situations may result in dangerous conditions which ultimately may result in spillage or other type of hazardous situations.
In order to monitor the process equipment, numerous types of devices have been devised. One such device is commonly referred to as the level safety switch and is commercially available from Fisher Controls under the name “Type 2100 Pneumatic and Type 2100E Electric Liquid Level Switches”.
However, the prior art devices suffer from several deficiencies. For instance, the switches are fabricated so that the container receiving the displacer assembly is forged in two pieces and welded into an integral unit. Thus, if the operator wishes to change the displacer (sphere and shaft), or simply check on the condition of the displacer on location, it is not possible to do so. Instead, the entire cage must be removed to service center. This results in down time of the process equipment, and/or shut-in of production which is not economically feasible.
Also, the sphere which is used as a float for the prior art displacers is a sealed container inside the cage; thus, the sphere may be penetrated by process fluid. The sphere may then retain pressure or hazardous fluid for an extended period. These conditions are highly undesirable which may result in personnel injury or environmental upsets such as fire or pollution. Another problem is that the unit can test good with saltwater because it floats in it, but it's too heavy to float in hydrocarbon liquid and will not function in actual service.
Therefore, there is a need for a level control device that is fabricated as a two piece container so that the operator may open up the device in order to perform routine maintenance and trouble shooting. There is also a need for a device that is truly a displacement unit and will not float in saltwater for dependable level safety switch applications. The invention herein set forth solves these, and other problems, as will be more fully set forth in the description of the novel liquid level detecting device that follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for signaling a predetermined height of fluid within a switching device is disclosed. The device includes a container having a first section, a second section, and seal means (operatively associated with the first and the second section) for sealing the fluid within the container. The device further includes a fluid level means (operatively associated with the first section) for measuring the fluid within the container, as well as valve means (operatively associated with the fluid level means) for controlling a supply source.
The device may further include a signal means, operatively associated with the valve means, for terminating the supply source to the valve means. In the preferred embodiment, the fluid level means comprises a sphere constructed of a stainless steel having a density greater than salt water that weighs 1.318 pounds (thereby generating a force), and a shaft operatively associated with the sphere. Also included will be the torque tube assembly, operatively connected to the shaft, that is responsive to the fluid level height within the container (acting as a torsional spring and responding to changes in buoyant force).
In the preferred embodiment, the torque tube assembly includes a block member attached to the first section of the container; a collar member operatively associated with the block, with the collar member receiving the shaft; a moment arm perpendicularly attached to the shaft; and, a flapper attachment, operatively associated with the moment arm and responsive to movement of the moment arm.
In one embodiment, the first section has a first sealing face, and the second section has a second sealing face. In this embodiment, the seal means includes: a gasket, with the gasket being positioned between the first sealing face and the second sealing face; and, a series of projections, contained on the first sealing face that cooperate with a series of grooves contained on the second sealing face.
The type of fluid within the container may be a mixture of oil and water, and in one embodiment, the container is fluidly connected to a separator means for separating an effluent from a well bore. The separator means separates the effluent into streams of oil, water and gas. Thus, the apparatus may further contain an alarm, with the alarm being activated when the pneumatic air source is exhausted in reaction to the torque tube assembly's relative position.
The device may have a signal means that includes an air supply so that as the valve means operates, the air supply is exhausted so that a signal is terminated. Alternatively, the device may have a signal means that includes an electric supply so that as the valve means operates, the electric supply is disconnected so that a signal is terminated thereby alerting the operator.
In a second embodiment herein disclosed, which is the preferred embodiment of this application, an apparatus for detecting a level of an effluent containing an oil composition and a water composition contained within a vessel will now be described. The apparatus comprises a container having a first receptacle, a second receptacle operatively attached with the first receptacle, and, a third receptacle operatively attached with the second receptacle.
The apparatus will also have a displacer assembly having extending therefrom a shaft. Also included is a block attached to the first receptacle and a collar member operatively associated with the block, with the collar member receiving the shaft. A torque tube assembly is perpendicularly attached to the shaft. A flapper attachment, operatively associated with the moment arm and responsive to movement of said torque tube assembly is also provided in the preferred embodiment.
The first receptacle includes a first passage and a second passage, and the third receptacle comprises a third passage and a fourth passage. In one embodiment, the first passage and the third passage are fluidly connected to the vessel. In another embodiment, the second passage and the fourth passage are fluidly connected to water supply lines and drain lines.
Also in one of the preferred embodiments, the first receptacle will have a first sealing face, the second receptacle will have a second sealing face and a third sealing face, and the third receptacle will have a fourth sealing face. In this embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a first gasket placed between the first sealing face and the second sealing face, and a second gasket placed between the third sealing face and the fourth sealing face.
The apparatus may further comprise a valve means, operatively associated with the flapper attachment, for exhausting a supply source; and a signal means, operatively associated with the valve means, for signaling the exhaustion of the supply source by the valve means to an alarm. In one embodiment, the signal means includes an air supply so that as the valve means disrupts the supply source, the air supply is exhausted. In another embodiment, the signal means includes an electric supply so that as the valve means disrupts the supply source, the electric supply is disconnected.
An advantage of the present invention includes having a cage container being constructed in two porti
Miller Wendell
Puckett Robert E.
Urias Frank E.
Domingue & Waddell PLC
Patel Harshad
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