Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Leakage
Patent
1982-04-26
1984-04-17
Goldberg, Gerald
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Leakage
G01M 332
Patent
active
044427026
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for inspecting liquid storage tanks for leaks.
2. Background Art
In a method generally used of inspecting tanks for leaks, the tank is entirely emptied, the pressure in the tank is increased or decreased, and pressure variations with time are checked while the tank is under pressure or vacuum to determine whether the tank has a leak. However, it takes a lot of time and money to empty the tank, and this step can be very dangerous when the tank contains certain kinds of liquids. Moreover it takes much more time to make preparations for the inspection and for procedures afterwards than to actually inspect the tank. This causes a great loss of time.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus which eliminates these drawbacks, and makes it possible to inspect a storage tank safely and reliably with the liquid left therein.
The inspection method according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises the steps of air-tightly closing a tank with a liquid stored therein, discharging a part of the liquid from the tank to put the tank under vacuum and checking variations in the pressure therein with time; raising the pressure in the tank back to atmospheric pressure and then putting the tank under pressure by pouring the liquid discharged from the tank in the preceding discharging step back into the tank, and checking variations in the pressure in the tank with time.
The inspection apparatus according to the present invention characteristically comprises an air pipe, a measuring pipe and a liquid feed pipe, which are communicated with upper portions of a tank to be inspected, a liquid suction pipe communicated with a lower portion the tank to be inspected, an air-tight container communicated with a lower portion of the tank to be inspected via a valve, a pressure regulator pump communicated with the air-tight container, a manometer and a recording air gauge which are joined to the measuring pipe, and a valve connected to the measuring pipe and adapted to open the interior of the measuring pipe to atmospheric pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a method of inspecting storage tanks for leaks by means of pressure decrease and increase according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 2 and 3 show examples of inspection curves obtained in the method.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tank to be inspected, 2 an air pipe communicated with the tank 1 at an upper portion thereof, 3 a measuring pipe communicated with the tank 1 at an upper portion thereof, 4 a liquid feed pipe also communicated with the tank 1 at an upper portion thereof, 5 a suction pipe communicated with the tank at a lower portion thereof, and 6 a liquid stored in the tank 1.
According to the present invention, a small air-tight container 7 is provided with a pressure regulator pump 8 connected to an upper portion thereof, the suction pipe 5 which is communicated with the tank 1 being connected to a lower opening of the container 7 via a valve 9. One end of a manometer 11 and a recording air gauge 10 are joined to, for example, the measuring pipe 3 communicated with an upper portion of the tank 1. The other end of the manometer 11 is left open to atmospheric pressure. Blind covers are then put on the air pipe 2 and liquid feed pipe 4 to make the interior of the tank air-tight. The pressure regulator pump 8 is actuated to put the small air-tight container 7 under vacuum. The valve 9 is opened to apply the vacuum to the suction pipe 5 to suck up some of the liquid 6 stored in the tank into the small air-tight container 7 to store it therein. When a device for extracting the liquid in storage, such as a pump, is connected to the tank 1 the liquid may be sucked up in the depressurizing step. A chain line in the tank 1 represents
REFERENCES:
patent: 2239612 (1941-04-01), Lawlor
patent: 2270447 (1942-01-01), Jones et al.
patent: 2912852 (1959-11-01), Trinneer
patent: 3350704 (1967-10-01), Kessler
patent: 3921436 (1975-11-01), Plegat
patent: 4186591 (1980-02-01), Mooney
patent: 4272985 (1981-06-01), Repson, Jr. et al.
Goldberg Gerald
Nilles James E.
Nippon Engineer Service Kabushiki Kaisha
Noland Tom
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