Fluid handling – Processes – Cleaning – repairing – or assembling
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-15
2001-02-20
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Processes
Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
C137S237000, C137S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189555
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns valve arrangements and in particular valve arrangements for connecting conduits.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
There are many known designs of valve for providing selective communication between two conduits. Many of these provide for movement of a valve member between the conduits to selectively open and close communication between the conduits. One such type of arrangement comprises a ball valve in which a ball is located within a socket connectable between conduits, which ball comprises a passage therethrough which provides for selective connection of the conduits by rotation of the ball to align the passage with the conduits or remove it from alignment to cut off connection
One disadvantage of known ball valve arrangements is that the socket is prone to contamination, particularly in situations where material is conveyed between the conduits, through the valve arrangement. Such contamination can hinder effective operation of a valve arrangement. Moreover, contamination can be a serious problem for example if the conduits are conveying foodstuffs or other material in which contamination by impurities is not acceptable or desirable.
One known attempt to overcome this problem is to deliver pipe cleaning fluid to the interior of the socket along secondary conduits. However such secondary conduits require a not inconsiderable amount of space around the socket, which space may not be available in certain environments. Further, the provision of such further conduits introduces undesirable expense. cl SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invent to obviate or mitigate one or more disadvantages of the prior art.
According to the present invention there is provided a valve arrangement for connecting first and second conduits, the arrangement comprising a valve member mounted in a socket for movement between a first condition in which the valve member communicatively connects the first and second conduits and a second condition in which the valve member communicatively connects the first conduit to the interior of the socket such that cleaning fluid can be passed along the first conduit to clean inside the socket.
Preferably the valve member defines a connecting passage which provides for the aforesaid communicative connection. The valve member may be rotatably movable within the socket, which socket may comprise one or more bearing surfaces and/or seals acting on the valve member to support movement of the valve member in the socket. Preferably the operative surface(s) of each of the seals and/or the bearing surface(s) are cleaned when cleaning fluid is supplied to the socket.
Preferably the passage sealingly aligns with the first and second conduits when in the first condition whereby to provide for substantially sealed communication for the passage of liquid therethrough between the conduits. The passage may not be aligned with the first conduit when in the second condition.
The valve arrangement may provide for selective communication of a third conduit with one or both of the first and/or second conduits. Preferably the third conduit is isolated from the first and second conduits when the valve member is in the first condition. Preferably the third conduit is in communication with the first conduit when the valve arrangement is in the second condition. The passage may not be fully aligned with either of the first and third conduits when in the second condition, but off-set to provide for said communication with the interior of the socket. The second conduit is preferably isolated when the valve member is in the second condition.
Preferably the third conduit comprises a chamber which chamber is cleaned by cleaning fluid provided from the first conduit when the valve member is in the second condition. Preferably the chamber provides storage for a conduit cleaning device, often termed a pig, whereby the chamber and a device stored therein can be cleaned when the valve member is in the second condition.
Preferably the socket is arranged such that fluid fed therein can circulate therearound to facilitate cleaning. The socket may comprise a selectively openable outlet for the release of cleaning fluid therefrom, desirably following completion of cleaning.
The valve member may be movable to a third condition in which the passage communicatively connects the second and third conduits, desirably sealingly for the passage of fluid therethrough between the second and third conduits. The passage is preferably arranged to allow a conduit cleaning device stored in the third conduit to pass to the second conduit to evacuate material from the second conduit according to known pigging techniques.
Preferably the valve arrangement provides for sequential cleaning of the seal/bearing surfaces during movement of the valve member between two or more of the aforesaid conditions.
Preferably the arrangement is electrically or pneumatically actuated. Alternatively or additionally the valve arrangement may be manually movable between said conditions. A gap may be provided on the valve arrangement to provide for manual gripping thereof and selective movement of the valve member.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pipeline comprising a valve arrangement substantially as described in any of the preceding nine paragraphs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2070517 (1937-02-01), O'Leary
patent: 3392920 (1968-07-01), Gagliardo
patent: 3473550 (1969-10-01), Scoy et al.
patent: 4757834 (1988-07-01), Mieth
patent: 5305986 (1994-04-01), Hunt
patent: 5311904 (1994-05-01), Beppu
patent: 5467796 (1995-11-01), Pettinaroli et al.
patent: 3246622A1 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 1200203 (1967-10-01), None
U.K. Search, GB 9700950.0, Nov. 12, 1997.
European Search Report for Application No. EP 98 30 0283; dated Oct. 21, 1999.
Hygienic Pigging Systems Limited
Lee Kevin
Watts Hoffman Fisher Heinke Co LPA
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