FR2711763A1 - Safety device which can be incorporated into connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention aims to interrupt the flow of a fluid at the connector (11) located on the supply line (15) almost instantaneously and automatically in the event of there being an unintentional leakage of the said fluid into the atmosphere, following the pulling-out or piercing of the connecting line (12) feeding the installation (14) to be supplied. The invention is used autonomously, without an external power supply, using a conventional connector. Application to the field of the distribution of a pressurised fluid such as a liquid or a gas.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: SAFETY DEVICE
INTEGRATED WITH
CONNECTION SOCKETS
Technical Field Do The Invention
The technical fields concerned by the present invention are those of public security, following the establishment and operation of a connection member on a distribution pipe, in order to supply one or more private interior installations.

This type of component which can be an electrical connection socket for example, or any other system, mechanically fixed on the pipe, makes it possible to supply the interior installation by means of a connection pipe, which connects said connection socket. to the equipment that must be supplied, via a general shut-off device.

The connection socket, as well as the connection pipe must guarantee any impossibility of leakage of the distributed fluid, likewise the procedure implemented to put these elements in place must also satisfy this condition.

State of the art
The installation of a connection socket on a distribution pipe depends mainly on the nature of the material constituting the pipe, the nature and the pressure of the fluid conveyed.

Generally, this operation is carried out under load without interrupting the flow of the fluid.

Adequate and specific means are used to: - permanently fix the plug to the pipeline; - connect this body to the installation that we want to supply; - drill the pipe through the socket, so as to allow the installation to be serviced; - carry out the tests necessary to validate this structure.

These various operations are carried out after having prepared a work excavation, which is then backfilled when the operations mentioned above have been validated.

Then begins the operation of the structure thus constituted by: the connection socket, the connection pipe, the general breaking device and finally the connected installation.

During the life of this structure, malfunctions may occur, following external actions such as fireworks, for example, which can lead to serious consequences which may go as far as to endanger public safety.

These situations sometimes occur, in the context of interventions on other concessions located in the ground in the vicinity of the above-mentioned structure, when untimely maneuvers occur causing significant deterioration of said structure.

This deterioration can become critical and be the cause over time of a major leak located on the branch pipe, and create a climate of insecurity if the fluid distributed is dangerous such as certain gases for example.

Another critical situation is that in which the tearing of the branch line inadvertently occurs, likewise causing a significant leak, located at the level of the branch line, which can have dangerous consequences, depending on the nature of the fluid or its distribution pressure.

To remedy these situations, it is urgently necessary to eliminate all risk of accidents and temporarily limit the leak, before initiating more substantial actions for final repair.

To do so, you must access: - either the branch pipe to stop the fries, by crushing the pipe for example; - Either at the connection socket to close it in order to suppress any flow of fluid downstream.

This requires being able to reach these organs, which may require excavation of access excavations if this condition is not met.

If this is the case, carrying out these excavations is often long and sometimes random, which increases the risks mentioned above, of catastrophic situation.

In the current state of the art, no other procedure can be used to remedy such incidents.

Statement of the Invention
The invention aims to automatically and practically instantaneously interrupt the flow of the fluid, at the branch outlet, in the event of an involuntary leakage of said fluid into the atmosphere, following the tearing or piercing of the connection
The invention is used autonomously, without an external source of energy, with a conventional plug.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows in section, the device integrated into a connection socket, according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view of the arrangement Figure 3 shows the device after it has been triggered. FIG. 4 represents a general view of the device supplying an installation to be served (14) from a distribution pipe (15). With reference to these drawings, the invention is mainly composed of the following elements: - a valve (1) normally open along the spring (7) and the stop (13); - a retractable stop (4) limiting the stroke of the valve (1); - a pressure-reducing member (5) enabling the stop (4) to be controlled according to the state of the downstream pressure (r), comprising a calibrated spring (8) and a flexible membrane (9); - a flexible pipe (6) controlling the downstream pressure (r) at the level of the supplied installation; - A frame (3) supporting all of the elements described above, and integrated into the connection socket (11) by means of the connector (10) itself supporting the connection pipe (12). All the elements mentioned above are all interdependent, and form a single entity.

Operation
The invention is illustrated using the accompanying descriptions, and the embodiments and materials are not limiting.

The assembly described above, is set up and connected to the installation to be supplied, by means and methods which are not part of the present invention
In what follows, the pressure is always expressed in relative pressure (absolute pressure = relative pressure + 1) measured in bar.

In normal fluid distribution situation, the pressure (P) at the connection socket (11) is equal to the downstream pressure (r) located at the level of the shut-off valve (14) constituting the start of the installation at serve.

The pressure-reducing member (5) is then under pressure (P = r) maintaining the stop (4) fully extended, and thus making any lateral movement of the valve (1) impossible.

The installation is therefore supplied normally whatever the variations in upstream pressure or flow desired by the customer.

By cons in the case for example, where work would be undertaken near this branch pipe (12), or for any other reason, and an untimely operation makes that said pipe is pierced or torn, the present invention will have the effect of causing the following: - initially the fluid coming from the distribution pipe will flow into the atmosphere, and the fluid located at the level of the installation (14) will also tend to do the same ; - Which will have the effect of increasing the flow rate of the fluid between the pipe and the breaking point, causing a greater thrust on the valve (1) immobilized by the stop (4); - the pressure (P) located upstream of the breaking point will remain constant; - the indoor installation being no longer supplied, the downstream pressure (r), located at the level of the member (14) and inside the pressure-reducing member (5), will tend towards 0; - This causes the total retraction of the stop (4) via the spring (8) and the flexible membrane (9); - The thrust of the fluid on the valve (1) can then cause it to move until the hole (2) is completely closed; - This makes it impossible then any flow of the distributed fluid, and allows to restore automatically and almost instantly public safety, in the case of a dangerous fluid. After repair of the connection line (12) and possibly of the line (6), the distribution situation can again return to normal.

SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF THE INVENTION
A first particular arrangement of the invention relates to the pressure-reducing member (5) which may have the configuration of a Bourdon tube, of which an "accordion-like" shape is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. However, the shape of this pressure-reducing element ( 5) may be different from that shown in FIG. 5.

This element thus constituted, in addition to great ease of manufacture, makes it possible to obtain a large amplitude of movement, and thus facilitates the triggering of the retractable stop (4). Figure 6 shows an axial sectional view of this particular arrangement.

The mechanism for triggering the retractable stop (4), the configuration of which is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises: - the retractable stop (4) secured to the axis supporting the shutter valve (1); - an axis (21) joining the axis of the shutter valve (1) to the retractable stop (4); - a spring (22) allowing the horizontal return of the retractable stop (4) on the axis (1); - the fixed support (20) integral with the frame (3); - The pressure-reducing element (5) connected on the one hand to a control cam (23) which allows the escape of the stop (4) of the fixed support (20), and on the other hand to the frame (3 );
- A flexible conduit (6) connecting the interior of the pressure-reducing member (5) at the start of the installation to be served (14).

Operation: in normal operation, the retractable stop (4) is blocked by the support
fixed (20) which thus prohibits any lateral movements of the shutter valve (1).

When a major rupture or leak occurs on the service line (12), the interior and
the outside of the depressor organ (5) is no longer subjected to the same pressure which has the effect of producing a
constricted by this organ (5).

This causes the displacement of the cam (23) which raises the stop (4), thus releasing the shutter valve (1) which
closes under the effect of the upstream fluid pressure.

A second particular provision of the invention relates to a configuration which can be adopted for
arrange the invention in the fit (11) of the body of the connection socket, as shown in Figure 7. The
flexible conduit (6) supplying the pressure-reducing member (5) can be connected to a channel (24) which can be either
inside outside or in the material constituting the body of the connection socket (11).

This particular arrangement of the invention replaces the manual piercing member usually used for
drill the distribution pipe (15). The substitution of these two elements is obtained using an airlock
waterproof not forming part of the present invention.

Operation: the particularity of this arrangement does not change the general operation of the device
previously described
A third particular provision of the invention aims to have in the barrel of the body the intake
connection (11) a shutter member (25) which also performs the manual drilling function of the pipe
distribution (in), to put into service the installation to be supplied by said socket. Figure 8
schematize this provision. This arrangement mainly consists of a closure cup (25), a
cylinder (27) and a drilling tool (31).

The cylinder power supplies (27) are obtained by the central orifice (26), by the flexible conduit (6) and the channel (24)
which reduce the existing pressure at the level of the interior installation in the jack (27). The flexible conduit (6) the
cylinder (27) can be connected to a channel (24) which can be either inside, outside or in the material
constituting the body of the connection socket (11).

This particular provision of the invention avoids the obligation to use a sealed airlock of substitution, in order to
drill the distribution line (15), as indicated in the previous provision.

Operation: the double-acting cylinder (27) is used to close the distribution line (15), in the frame
of a malfunction. The spring (28) allows the cylinder rod (29) to always be retracted in situation
normal. In an anomalous situation, the downstream pressure drops and tends to 0 as already explained further, which
causes a pressure difference between the two chambers of the jack (27), thereby causing the total outlet of
the rod of the jack (29) thus closing the distribution line (l5). Before any use, the
spacers (30) located in the cylinder body allow it to rotate to pierce the pipe
by means of a saw cutter (31). A thread (32) on the outside of the cylinder body (27) and the internal thread
corresponding in the barrel of the body of the socket (11) allow this drilling operation.

Figure 9 shows schematically a fourth particular arrangement of the invention, which aims to have in the body of
the connection socket (11) a shutter member (40) mainly consisting of a jack (42), arranged in
look at the branch (41) of the connection socket (11). The cylinder supplies are obtained by the
channels (43) and (44), as well as by the flexible conduit (6) which reduces the existing pressure to the level of
indoor installation. The flexible conduit (6) supplying the cylinder body (42) can be connected to a channel (44)
which can be either inside outside or in the material constituting the body of the connection socket (11).

This particular provision of the invention avoids the obligation to use a sealed airlock of substitution, in order to
drill the distribution line (15). This is usually done, using a hole punch (47)
manual turning located in the barrel of the body of the socket.

Operation: the double-acting cylinder (42) is used to close the bypass of the connection socket (41),
as part of a malfunction. The spring (45) allows the cylinder rod to always be normally
returned to normal situation.

In abnormal situation, the downstream pressure drops and tends to 0 as already explained further, which leads to a
pressure difference between the two chambers of the cylinder (42), thereby causing the complete exit of the rod from the
cylinder (46) thus completely closing the bypass of the connection socket (41) by means of the shutter (40).

Before each use, the perforator (47) is rotated to pierce the pipe with
by means of a saw cutter (48), not forming part of the invention.

Possible applications
Different applications can be envisaged, in the field of safety of distribution of a gaseous fluid
or liquid:
- for all new installations, requiring the installation of a connection socket on a pipe
dispensing a pressurized fluid; - to add to all old installations, having required the installation of a connection socket on a pipe distributing a fluid under pressure

Claims (7)

Claims 1 - Device for taking a connection (11) to a distribution network (15), capable of performing a security function by temporary self-shutting eliminating any supply downstream of the socket (11), characterized in that said device reacts autonomously and without any external source of energy, following a malfunction that has caused deterioration or rupture of the connection pipe (12) located downstream of said connection socket (11). 2 - Automatic cut-off device (1) capable of achieving a safety function by temporary self-shutting eliminating any supply downstream of the socket (11) in which it is installed, characterized in that said device reacts autonomously and without no external source of energy, following a malfunction that caused deterioration or rupture of the connection pipe (12) located downstream of said connection socket (11), as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. 3 - Automatic cut-off device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the triggering of the shutter valve (1) is controlled by a pressure-reducing member (5) mainly consisting of a Bourdon tube (5) of "accordion" shape as shown in Figures 5 and 6, or having a completely different shape. 4 - Automatic cutoff device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the assembly of all the components forming part of this device, is carried out in place of the perforator located in the barrel of the body of the socket (11) of connection as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. 5 - Automatic cut-off device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the shutter assembly (25) comprises a device (31) for drilling the distribution pipe (15), as shown in FIG. 8. 6 - Automatic cut-off device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the shutter assembly (40) is located in the connection socket (11) opposite the bypass (41) supporting the connection pipe (12 ), as described in Figure 9. 7 - Automatic cut-off device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the shutter assembly reacts independently, without the intermediary of a control member such as the pressure-reducing member described in claim 3.