Fluid handling – Convertible – Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Patent
1997-03-20
1999-11-09
Lee, Kevin
Fluid handling
Convertible
Units interchangeable between alternate locations
137615, 141 84, B67D 500, B65B 304
Patent
active
059794879
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns an installation for selectively connecting any one of a plurality of input pipes to any one of a plurality of output pipes. It is particularly, but not exclusively, directed to the circulation of petroleum products.
In most installations producing oil or chemical products it is necessary to make many temporary connections in order to transfer products of different kinds in the same pipes. To this end it is necessary to be able to connect any one of a plurality of input lines to any one of a plurality of output lines, the numbers of input and output lines possibly being large, for example in the order of 20 or even more.
These multiple connections are unavoidable in the case of installations which can be cleaned by scraping (i.e. in which the internal cross-section of the fluid passage is the same everywhere).
There are various existing solutions to the problem of making these connections.
The first is to use flexible connections (hoses).
There are other solutions, usually automated, which use telescopic connections, which can cause problems with cleaning by scraping.
The Applicant has already proposed the following solutions: patent application 90-03050 of Mar. 9, 1990), the manner of abacus members and joined by a double elbow (see patent application FR-A-2 680 559 of Aug. 21, 1991).
These automated solutions have the drawback of being relatively costly and are therefore ruled out in some projects for budgetary reasons.
It is therefore necessary to propose economical, possibly manual solutions to the problem of making multiple connections (multiple input lines connected to multiple output lines) in a way that enables cleaning by scraping.
These solutions must use rigid members which can be manoeuvred without major physical effort and which can be cleaned by scraping.
It must be possible to connect simultaneously all the input lines (or all the output lines if they are fewer in number), in any order, and without having to disconnect any line(s) already in service.
To this end the invention proposes an installation for provisional selective connection of any one of an ordered plurality of first fixed sections all having the same inside diameter to any one of an ordered plurality of second fixed sections all having the same inside diameter as the first fixed sections, including: each at a specific level, diameter as the first and second fixed sections, deformable independently of each other in stacked horizontal planes, a specific articulated pipe being connected to each first fixed section, inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges in an imaginary coupling plane (P), the number of first coupling sections being equal to the number of first fixed sections, fixed, inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, the number of second coupling sections being equal to the number of second fixed sections, a second coupling section, which installation is characterised in that: section, said second coupling sections having fixed positions parallel to the imaginary coupling plane and being regularly arranged facing a substantially horizontal reference line in said plane at a level below the level of the first sections, to the first section to which it is connected, to a tubular column having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and extending vertically as far as a respective first coupling section, the respective lengths of the tubular columns being such that the first coupling sections are all at substantially the same level, each combination of a pipe, a tubular column and a first coupling section being provided with means for limiting movement of said combination along the whole of the reference line to within a given range of horizontal movement to either side of said reference line, of movement being greater than the diameter of the first coupling sections.
In accordance with preferred features of the invention: other, sliding on substantially horizontal coplana
REFERENCES:
patent: 3896841 (1975-07-01), Bahlke
patent: 3974864 (1976-08-01), Fournier et al.
patent: 4844133 (1989-07-01), Von Meyerinck et al.
FMC Corporation
Lee Kevin
Query, Jr. Henry C.
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