EP1254318B1 - Device for removing fluid from a container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the removal of fluid from a container (10), which carries a gas and which in the area of a collection point (12) for the liquid has a removal connection (14), to which can be connected a collection container (18) by means of a removal conduit (16), which container can be connected through an equalization conduit (20) with an equalization connection (22) arranged on the container (10), which connection is different from the removal connection (14). In this manner a liquid removal device of small structure is made available as a maintenance unit which can be connected with only very short time period of the container being out of commission and in turn can also be rapidly separated therefrom.

Description

The invention relates to a device for removing fluid from a Container which has a gas and which is in the area of a collection point for the fluid has an extraction connection to which it is connected via an extraction line a collection container can be connected, which has a compensating line a compensation port arranged on the container can be connected, the is different from the withdrawal connection.

When using gas-containing tanks in hydraulic circuits there is regular oil entry on the gas side of the tank and hence oil pollution on the gas side. The fluid in question can also be partially provided with abrasion, for example from movable rubber seals or the like. to arise. Furthermore, it is Fluid regularly mixed with the working gas. If you want clas going Fluid from the container, for example in the form of a piston accumulator, in particular Removing from its gas side is usually the for a long time to shut down the entire hydraulic system or at least part of the system, which has the piston accumulator to be maintained and cleaned the mentioned long downtime of the system are then for the Maintenance of the container to adhere to exact safety regulations, what overall the maintenance process can be complex and costly. Also build the well-known maintenance facilities, if necessary Allow refilling the gas side of the container with a working gas, constructively big on and are difficult to handle.

A container for gaseous media is known from DE 297 22 504 U, especially large pipeline, with an inlet connection and a Outlet connection, as well as with a ventilation and drainage connection, with the inlet connection and the outlet connection at the same time as ventilation and drainage connections are formed. The inlet port comprises two inlet pipes which are connected from a side inlet connection of the Container in the arch led to a high point inside the container are, wherein the outlet nozzle comprises two outlet tubes, one of which Low point inside the tank in an arc to a side outlet connection of the container are guided. Usually as a large pipeline trained known containers are made according to general regulations classified as systems requiring monitoring before commissioning the container for a strength and tightness test Be subjected to water, which is called the water pressure test summarizes.

This water pressure test makes it necessary, in addition to the usual ones the gas provided inlet and outlet ports additionally separate Venting and drainage connection at the high or low point to provide the container on the outer wall. The can known solution to separate ventilation and drainage connection for an air-free water filling, which was otherwise customary in the prior art, dispense so that a complete water drainage is possible as well as a largely emission-free natural gas filling can be achieved, otherwise especially in the form of methane losses with the cause of the Enlargement of the ozone hole. The use of the known container as a maintenance unit for other containers is neither intended nor possible.

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention based on a small-sized fluid extraction device as a maintenance unit to be made available with very short downtimes connect to the container and disconnect from it in order overall the maintenance effort and the associated maintenance costs decrease significantly. A device solves this problem with the features of claim 1.

The device is operated in such a way that after its connection the prevailing differential pressures between the container and the collecting container the device from the fluid, which may contain gas is brought out of the container and transported into the collecting container. The collecting container then preferably allows a settling process Fluid components, in particular in the form of contaminated fluid, wherein the gas components via the equalization line and the equalization connection can flow back the gas side of the container. This is a kind closed circuit realizes the permanent operation of the device allowed without it due to unwanted pressure increases or the like. can interfere with the oil extraction process. There the compensation connection for each container for a refill anyway of gas, the container only needs one of the Compensating connection various extraction connection at a deep point of the container to be arranged, on which the fluid with the gas collects The device according to the invention can be used in particular Quickly connect quick coupling devices to the container and separate from this again so that a removal process takes place very quickly can go and the machine downtimes are short. In particular can with a structurally small-sized collection oil tank achieve a compact design for the overall device. Furthermore there is only a small loss of gas compared to the known solutions on the gas side of the container because only in the fluid, especially in the form of oil, dissolved nitrogen and compressed in the gas residue of the collecting container Nitrogen occurs as a gas loss for the container.

Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Fig.1

einen Anschlußplan der Vorrichtung an einen Kolbenspeicher;

Fig.2

in teilweiser Darstellung einen Schnitt durch eine Stickstoffflasche mit ihren Anschlüssen für den Anschluß der Fluidentfernungsvorrichtung nach der Fig.1.

The device according to the invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of two exemplary embodiments.
They show the principle and not to scale

Fig.1

a connection diagram of the device to a piston accumulator;

Fig.2

in a partial representation a section through a nitrogen bottle with its connections for the connection of the fluid removal device according to FIG. 1.

The device shown in FIG. 1 serves to remove fluid, in particular hydraulic oil from a container 10 containing a gas, especially in the form of nitrogen gas. In the area of a collection point 12 for the fluid that may be mixed with the working gas and such is present in a foamed form, a removal connection 14 is used to which a Withdrawal line 16 a collection container 18 can be connected, which in turn via a compensating line 20 with one arranged on the container 10 Compensating connection 22 is connectable, which is different from the one addressed Discharge connection 14. The container shown in Fig.1 provides a so-called hydraulic accumulator in the form of a piston accumulator with a Separating element (not shown) that is common in this type of storage Way separates the fluid side 24 from the gas side 26 of the container, wherein the piston accumulator and thus the container 10 in such a horizontal manner Installation position is maintained that actually the removal port 14 in the lid 28 of the container 10 opens onto its gas side 26, in the area the deepest, i.e. the lowest point of the storage.

The removal connection 14 is in particular in the form of a stub line formed, which passes through the cover 28 and towards the gas side 26 in Looking towards the Fig. 1 turns at right angles downwards and flows into gas side 26 there. This ensures that actually in the horizontal installation position at the lowest point of the container 10 the fluid withdrawal process takes place, the fluid taking the form of Hydraulic oil settles down due to gravity and settles at the collection point 12 collects. Between the bend in the stitch-like extraction connection 14 and the surrounding area is an O-ring seal in the cover 28 arranged the cover 28 opposite the inside of the housing of the container 10 seals. If the oil removal device at a piston accumulator is used, in any case continuously from the fluid side 24 oil via the seals of the separating element (not shown) on the gas side 26 and accordingly leads to contamination of the Working gas with the fluid. Due to the seal abrasion on the separating element the fluid can also be contaminated accordingly. Furthermore, that is settled fluid in the collection point 12 mixed with the working gas and is available in a foamed form. The removal connection 14 is in to introduce the cover 28 by the manufacturer, the constructive Additional effort is low. The compensation connection 22, however, is anyway with everyone. Container 10 present, since it is usually the refill of the Working gas is used, provided this is used, for example, in a piston accumulator via the sealing system of the separating element on the fluid side 24 of the Arrives. Thus, one is already for the compensation connection 22 existing container-side connection used, so that there are no additional costs.

A shut-off valve 30 is located on the underside of the container 18 arranged, which allows the fluid deposited in the collecting container 18, if necessary together with the dirt from the collection container 18 dissipate. On the top of the collecting container 18 is a Whole with 32 designated valve device connected to a first spring-loaded check valve 34 between the extraction line 16 and the collecting container 18 and with a second spring-loaded Check valve 36 between this and the compensating line 20. Here is the opening direction of the first check valve 34 in the direction of Collection container 18 and the opening direction of the second check valve 36 away from the collecting container 18 in the direction of the compensating line 20 directed towards. Furthermore, is in the compensating line 20 between the collecting container 18 and container 10 a filling and designated as a whole with 38 Test device 38 connected, preferably directly to the compensating connection 22 of the container 10. The relevant filling and Test device 38 is not absolutely necessary, but it does Fluid removal process from the container is safer for the operator and more comfortable.

The filling and testing device can in particular be an actuating spindle 40, which in both directions according to the double arrow representation rotatable an opening or closing process for the compensation connection 22 of the container 10, optionally via a control valve device, for example in the form of a controllable, spring-loaded check valve (not shown). It can therefore be operated using the spindle 40 the filling and testing device 38 carrying fluid to the compensating connection 22 on the gas side. A relief valve 42 of the filling and testing device 38 allows the equalization line 20 and must be closed when connecting and operating the removal device. The respective pressure conditions can be checked via a manometer 44 of the filling and monitor device 38.

In order to facilitate the removal process from the pressure situation and to accelerate is on the compensation side of the collecting container 18 between this and the second check valve 36, a throttle point 46 present, especially in the form of an aperture. But it is also with one not shown embodiment possible, the throttle point 46 from a To form gas filter material, for example made of sintered metal, in such a way Working gas remaining fluid for the return to the container 10 on to clean the compensating line 20. Furthermore, all are essential Components of the device via quick-disconnect conventional quick coupling devices 48 as shown in Figure 1, with each other connected, when separating the components of the device from each other Check valves corresponding to the opening position thus produced close fluid-tight. Such quick coupling devices 48 are common, so that we will not go into this in more detail here becomes.

In order to better understand the oil extraction process for the piston accumulator, will now be a connection and removal process in the following explained.

For connecting the device, it is recommended that the respective Machine connected to the piston accumulator or the container 10 is to stop. Then the shut-off valve 30 on the bottom of the Collection container 18 closed and the filling and testing device 38 connected the gas-side filling connection of the storage unit, i.e. to the compensation connection 22 of the container 10. The next step is the relief valve 42 of the filling and testing device 38 to close and the actuating spindle 40 to a position opening the gas valve. The hose-like sampling line 16 is then via the quick coupling device 48 connected to the removal port 14 of the container 10. The connected machine can then be started again become.

The machine now works again between the pressures P1 and P2, whereby the fluidized gas that accumulates at the collection point 12 has, from the stub of the tapping port 14 and the tapping line 16 into the collection container when the first check valve 34 is open 18 is pushed out. The vertically placed collection container 18 then allows the oil components to condense and settle a separation of the transfer mixture in the direction of the shut-off valve 30 and the released gas components can from the collection container 18 as volatile components via the second check valve 36, the compensating line 20 and the filling and testing device 38 the gas side 26 of the container 10 are returned. The passing one The separation process is performed by the throttling point used in the direction of the process 46 further reinforced. After a definable period of time and depending on the degree of filling of the reservoir 18 with oil, the Oil removal device disconnected again and the collected fluid be drained in the collecting container 18 via the shut-off valve 30, so that the device then again for an oil removal process too is available for other containers.

To separate the device from the container 10, it is again recommended stop the connected machine and as the next step the extraction line 16 from the container 10 via the quick coupling device 48 uncoupled. Then the screw of the gas valve closed via the operating spindle 40. After that the relief valve 42 operated and after the pressure on the pressure gauge 44 to 0 bar has dropped, the filling and testing device 38 together with the compensation line 20 separated from the container 10 after the separation can the machine again together with the associated piston accumulator be put into operation. The removal device is constructive small on and for their connection and their removal are only short Machine downtimes are necessary. Furthermore, the oil extraction resulting gas loss over the compensation area of the device balanced again on the gas side.

The device according to the invention does not need to be used in hydraulic accumulators to be limited according to the application of FIG. 1, but can be used generally for gas-containing containers 10, sofem they have fluid or oil contamination in the gas area.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a so-called nitrogen storage bottle is used as the container 10 provided, again the same components as basically the components according to FIG. 1 in terms of their structure correspond with the same reference numerals. The for The statements made in the first embodiment therefore also apply in this respect for the second embodiment according to the partial representation according to Fig.2. Inside the storage bottle as a container 10 is at the removal connection 14 a removal device in the form of a flexible, possibly weighted Removal hose 50 connected. The extraction hose 50 is chosen in length so that it is independent of the horizontal installation position of the storage bottle as the container 10 always the. reached the lowest point of the storage bottle, so that in the area of Collection point 12 settled fluid, if necessary, also with to be able to absorb the working gas for a removal process. Because the removal hose 50 is kept flexible, it follows one possible rotation of the storage bottle as container 10 after; provided this assumes a different horizontal installation position than that shown in FIG. Thus, in any substantially horizontal installation state Storage bottle ensures that the removal hose 50 with its free End in a fluid-carrying manner into the collection point 12 with the if soiled and provided with the working gas Fluid flows out. The compensation connection 22 is this time in the manner of a cranked Branch line formed and also opens into the gas area of the collecting container 10, again the compensation connection 22 from Tapping port 14 is separated. The removal device according to the Representation according to Figure 1 with its collecting container 18 would then again in a corresponding manner to the connections 14 and 22 via the Quick coupling device 48 can be connected and operated.

Basically, it is also possible to use the nitrogen bottle as a container 10 to be freed of fluid in a vertical installation. In that, Not shown case would then the equalization port 22 as Entnameanschluß 14 function and the current extraction connection 14 as a compensation connection 22, the removal hose 50 then through a riser pipe would be replaced as a fixed component that goes far into the interior of the Container 10 extends into the gas side. The addressed exchanged connections 14, 22 would then be at the bottom of the container 10 as a storage bottle to be arranged, the connection block 52 being placed on the storage bottle and contains the connections 14, 22, the lowest point of the storage bottle would represent. Since the connection block 52 with its connections 14 and 22 could be standardized, nitrogen bottle systems already delivered can also be delivered retrofit so inexpensively and for an oil removal process Prepare using the removal device.

Claims (9)

1. A device for removing fluid from a container (10) which contains a gas and has a tapping connector (14) in the area of a fluid collecting point (12) to which a collecting tank (18) can be connected through a tapping line (16); the said collecting tank can be connected via a compensation line (20) to a compensation connector (22) arranged at the container (10) which is different from the tapping connector (14), characterised in that the container is a hydraulic accumulator, especially a piston-type accumulator, with a separating element which separates the fluid side (24) of the accumulator from the gas side (26) and in that the tapping connection (14) terminates in the area of the lowest point of the accumulator on the gas (26).
2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the container (10) is a supply bottle for the working fluid especially in the form of nitrogen and in that a tapping device is connected inside the supply bottle at the tapping connector (14), which forms the fluid carrying connection with the collecting area (12) in the supply bottle, or in that the tapping connector (14) terminates in this collecting area (12) and a compensation device connected to the compensation connector (22) terminates inside the supply bottle, in its gas area.
3. A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the tapping device is a flexible tapping hose (50) which terminates in the collecting area (12) on its own independent of the orientation of the supply bottle in its mounted position and that the compensation device consists of a riser pipe.
4. A device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the preferred mounted position of the container (10) is essentially horizontal and that the tapping connector (14) is arranged at the lowest point of the container (10).
5. A device according to one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the compensation connector (22) corresponds to the normal gas connector at the container (10).
6. A device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a pressure gradient is present within the tapping line (16), acting in the direction of the collecting tank (18), at least during the tapping of the fluid from the container (10) with the collecting tank (18) connected.
7. A device according to one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a filling and testing device (38) is fitted in the compensation line (20) between the collecting tank (18) and the container (10), preferably directly connected to the compensation connector (22) of the container (10).
8. A device according to one of the Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a first non-return valve (34) opening in the direction of the collecting tank (18) is fitted in the fluid-carrying connection between the tapping line (16) and the collecting tank (18) and that a second non-return valve (36) opening in the direction of the compensating line (20) is arranged between that line and the collecting tank (18).
9. A device according to Claim 8, characterised in that a throttle point (46), especially in the form of a diaphragm or a filter device, is fitted between the second non-return valve (36) and the collecting tank (18).

Images