Pipe joints or couplings – With casing – lining or protector
Patent
1999-01-21
2000-09-05
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With casing, lining or protector
285 14, F16L 1112
Patent
active
061131520
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a spray protection ring for pipe flanges consisting of a clamping wall covering a flange gap when placed on the circumferential surfaces of a flange, with a ring-shaped umbrella-like slotted shielding element extending radially, the axial extent of the shielding element in the radial direction before being installed being slightly larger than the distance between the surfaces of the flanges facing each other.
Spray protection rings mounted on pipe flanges serve to protect the environment when leakage occurs in a flange connection. Personnel in the vicinity are to be shielded from liquid escaping under pressure, and it is to be noted in this context that flange connections with no spray protection ring may allow a positively life-threatening stream of liquid to escape if a leak occurs.
State-of-the-art spray protection rings (29 32 259 C2 and DE-U 70 37 277.9) are unable to provide the safety desired. This is to be ascribed mostly to the fact that it is not possible to remove sufficient energy from liquid emerging under pressure.
This invention remedies this defect; it has the object of ensuring escape of liquid from pipeline connections under pressure without spraying in the event of seal malfunction.
This is accomplished in that a ring-shaped connector projecting radially inward from the clamping band, together with an element extending radially-axially integral with it acting as a spacer, is provided for the ring-shaped shielding element extending peripherally and acting as a valve, and in that the connector and the element integral with it have a plurality of slots distributed over the circumference which are offset circumferentially from a plurality of slots in the shield. disclosed in DE-PS 31 46 803 and EP 00 80 654 A1). In the case of this clamping band, which is positioned over the two flange leaves and the enclosed gap, between the flanges there is an annular deflection space with a deflecting surface for escaping liquid. There is also provided a downstream cushion space into which a liquid flows and in which its pressure is reduced. The two spaces communicate with each other through apertures in the partitions. This results in the formation of partial liquid streams flowing in opposite directions, so that the liquid gradually transfers its kinetic energy through deflection, impact, and pressure reduction into a zero-pressure space.
The present invention does not have the object of generating partial liquid streams, nor that of reducing kinetic energy by pressure reduction. In the spray protection ring claimed for the invention there is provided on the interior surface of the clamp band as spacer a ring-shaped connector projecting radially inward; this effects transition to a ring-shaped shield element acting as a valve, in such a way that it presents the appearance of a question mark when viewed in axial cross-section. In order for it now to be possible for a structure such as this to be moved over the flange and clamped together on the diameter of the flange, a plurality of slots, which nevertheless are for all practical purposes closed when the spray protection ring is in the operating position, are distributed over the circumference in the ring-shaped connector.
Liquid escaping as a result of leakage between pipe flanges strikes the protection ring opposite it, and only a very small part of it manages to move through the slots distributed over the circumference to enter the space beyond them and immediately reach the clamping band without the occurrence or involvement as a factor of any form of deflection or even rebound processes. Part of this flow may be propagated circumferentially, since the slots in the protection ring are offset circumferentially from those in the connector.
In the event of leakage in the flange connection first the space fills with liquid radially inside the protection ring, since the two axial peripheral surfaces of the protection ring rest more or less immobile on the surfaces of the flanges. If the pressure of the liquid is sufficiently high,
REFERENCES:
patent: 4483554 (1984-11-01), Ernst
patent: 4950000 (1990-08-01), Richardson
patent: 5470110 (1995-11-01), Hupe
Arola Dave W.
Protec Verschlusselements GmbH
Shannon John P.
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