RU2769292C2 - Device for detachable connection of pipelines - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: nuclear technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to nuclear technology, and more specifically to connections of vacuum pipelines of diagnostic systems of thermonuclear plants. A device for the detachable connection of pipelines includes support case (1) containing connecting system (2) for attaching support case (1) to first pipeline (3) and second connecting system (8). Second connecting system (8) is made in the form of two opposite half-rings (9), which are connected by rods (11) passed through walls of support case (1) with pneumatic cylinders (12) fixed on the outer surface of support case (1). Actuator (15) contains annular pneumatic jack (19) and annular wedge (20) coaxially mounted on spline flange (16) attached to second end face (17) of support case (1).

EFFECT: device provides reliable sealing of connected pipelines in conditions of strong radiation exposure to fast neutrons and gamma quanta, large heat flow from plasma, exposure to emergency loads.

3 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to nuclear engineering, and more specifically to connections of vacuum pipelines of diagnostic systems of thermonuclear installations, for example, such as ITER (France), JET (Great Britain), JT-60U (Japan). Such connections are designed to operate under conditions of strong radiation exposure to fast neutrons and gamma quanta, a large heat flux from the plasma, exposure to emergency loads associated with an earthquake (vibration and shock) and plasma disruption (the so-called electromagnetic loads).

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see patent FR 1536180, IPC F16L 27/04, F16L 27/12, F16L 37/002, F16L 49/08, published 08/27/1968), including opposite telescopic tubular elements driven by hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. The actuator contains pistons installed in the holes of the support casing and designed to move the tubular elements to the outer side of the casing. The tubular elements are connected to each other in such a way that they provide a seal when the bellows is actuated. The system may provide communication between widely spaced pipes that are installed and controlled by a robot that can pump pressurized fluid to an actuator. Thus, the connection of two pipes can be performed without operator intervention, which is advantageous in a hostile environment, such as a radioactive environment in a nuclear reactor shell.

The disadvantages of the known device is a complicated actuator, which uses four pairs of oppositely moving pistons distributed along the circumference between two clamps connected by tension springs in such a way that the vector sum of the forces acting on the telescopic element is directed along the axis of translational movement of the element. Maintaining the connecting position of the device depends on the pressure in the hydraulic or pneumatic circuit of the actuator, which reduces the reliability of its operation. In addition, for the operation of such a device, it is necessary that the pipes have holes with a socket to obtain a tight connection.

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see RU 2312271, IPC F16L 37/098, publ. 12/10/2007), including a tubular body, on which two double-shoulder snap-in elements are located diametrically opposite each other and with a lateral indent, which at their pivot point are connected by an elastic connecting jumper to the outer wall of the housing and have hooks on the free ends of their forward-directed arms facing radially inward, which catch on the locking element on the outer wall of the mating part of the quick-coupling assembly when assembling the connection. The arms of the snap-in elements directed backwards are made in the form of springy tabs, the free ends of which are bent inwards.

The disadvantages of the known device for detachable connection of pipelines include the use of springy tabs, which may not withstand the action of significant vibration loads, and the need to manually manipulate the snap-in elements.

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see RU 2342589, IPC F16L 23/02, publ. 27.12.2008), containing two connected links with mating surfaces. On the first link, a stop element is made in the form, for example, of an annular protrusion. On opposite sides of the second link there are two clamps with gripping jaws. Clamps are installed with the possibility of movement in the holders, which can be rotated on the fingers installed in the brackets, rigidly connected with the second link. Screws are screwed into the threaded hole of the clamps, placed and fixed from axial movement on the clips. Handles are installed in their protruding heads to rotate the screws. The second link and clips are interconnected by tension springs.

The known device for detachable connection of pipelines allows you to quickly and reliably assemble / disassemble pipeline elements, but does not provide for its remote control by maintenance personnel.

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see patent US 9915385, IPC F16L 21/04, F16L 25/14, F16L 21/08; F16L 17/04, F16L 21/00, published 03/13/2018), including a hollow body, an element sealing, located on the inner surface of the hollow body and sealing mechanism. The sealing mechanism includes a main sealing element connected to the body, and a plurality of secondary sealing elements connected to the sealing element and equidistantly arranged around the circumference on the inner hollow body. A plurality of secondary sealing elements engage with the main sealing element in such a way that when the sealing element is compressed, the plurality of secondary sealing elements, moving in the axial direction, transfer the sealing element from the open position to the sealing position.

The known device for detachable connection of pipelines allows you to quickly assemble/disassemble the elements of pipelines, but does not provide its remote control by maintenance personnel.

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see patent RU 2324858 F16L 23/02, publ. 20.05.2008), containing a connecting plate rigidly attached to one end of the fitting with the possibility of axial approach to the front of the end flange of the flanged pipe; at least three stop wheels rotatable about their own axes and protruding from the front of the connection plate in peripherally spaced positions. Each locking wheel has the shape of a circle with a cutout passing along the chord of the circle to ensure the same angular position with the chord facing the axis and to prevent in all angular positions the reciprocating movement of the flanged pipe flange channel between the said wheels and displacement of the plate and flange. Each locking wheel additionally has a screw trunnion in the direction of the connecting plate, which is configured to provide front support engagement and lock the flange with the plate by turning the wheel from said one angular position to the aforementioned other angular positions.

Known device provides a quick and safe connection of pipelines, however, this is achieved by excessive complication of its design.

A device for detachable connection of pipelines is known (see patent RU 2529968, IPC F16L 25/12, published on 10.10.2014), which coincides with the present technical solution in the largest number of essential features and is taken as a prototype. The prototype device contains a support housing containing two telescopic connecting systems for connecting the support housing with the first and second pipeline, and an actuator for actuating the connecting systems. Each telescopic connecting system contains a movable tubular element with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the corresponding pipeline. The movable tubular element moves translationally relative to the support casing and is equipped with at least one inflatable seal. The telescopic connecting system is connected to the first section of the actuator located inside the support housing. The actuator includes a control rod passing through the wall of the support housing and connecting the first section with the control system located on the outside of the specified support housing.

The known prototype device allows you to remotely control its operation, but does not provide a reliable seal of the connected pipelines. The presence in the prototype device of two additional annular seals of telescopic systems reduce the overall reliability of the sealing of the pipeline connection. In addition, the actuator is located inside the support casing and contains a control rod passing through the wall of the support casing, which has one more additional ring seal, which further reduces the reliability of the sealing of the connection by the pipeline. The prototype device is located between the connected pipelines, which increases the overall size of the connection in the axial direction. The sealing force in the prototype device is directed to the spacer connected by the pipeline, which greatly complicates the system of fastening pipelines.

The objective of this technical solution was to develop a compact device for detachable connection of pipelines with remote control of its operation, which would provide reliable sealing of the connected pipelines.

The problem is solved by the fact that the device for detachable connection of pipelines contains a support housing containing two connecting systems for attaching the support housing with the first and second pipelines and an actuator. The first connecting system is made in the form of a bolted connection of the first end of the support body with the first pipeline. The second connecting system is made in the form of two opposite half-rings to encircle the second pipeline, connected by rods passed through the walls of the support body with pneumatic cylinders fixed on the outer surface of the support body. The rods are equipped with compression springs. The actuating mechanism is made in the form of an annular pneumatic jack and an annular wedge in the form of two rings coaxially mounted on a flange attached to the second end of the support body, on opposite surfaces of which there are at least two wedge protrusions symmetrical with respect to the rings axis with parallel opposite inclined faces. The first ring of the annular wedge is mounted for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flange, and the second ring of the annular wedge is installed at the end of the flange with the possibility of reciprocating movement by means of a spline connection.

The annular pneumatic jack can be made in the form of a ring, at the end of the ring there can be at least two cylindrical holes symmetrical with respect to the axis of the ring, in which plungers are installed with the possibility of reciprocating movement, and the cavity of the ring is provided with a branch pipe for connecting to a source of compressed air.

The first ring of the annular wedge for rotation in the first direction can be provided with a pneumatic cylinder fixed on the support body, and for rotation in the opposite direction it can be provided with a spring pusher fixed on the support body.

This device for detachable connection of pipelines is illustrated by a drawing, where:

in fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device for detachable connection of pipelines from the side of the second end;

in fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a device for a detachable connection of pipelines, disassembled into parts;

in fig. 3 is a perspective view in longitudinal section of a conduit connection device attached to a first conduit.

This device for detachable connection of pipelines includes (see Fig. 1-Fig. 3) a support body 1 containing a connecting system 2 for attaching the support body 1 to the first pipeline 3 in the form of bolts 4 passed through holes 5 of the first end 6 of the support body 1 and screwed into sockets 7 on the flange of the first pipeline 3. The second connecting system 8 (see Fig. 2-Fig. 3) is made in the form of two opposite half-rings 9 to cover the second pipeline 10, which are connected by rods 11 passed through the walls of the support housing 1 with pneumatic cylinders 12 fixed on the outer surface of the support housing 1. Pneumatic cylinders 12 are equipped with nozzles 13 for supplying compressed air to dilute the semi-rings 9. The rods 11 are equipped with compression springs 14 to bring the semi-rings 9 closer together. The actuator 15 (see Fig. 2-Fig. 3 ) contains coaxially mounted on a splined flange 16 attached to the second end 17 of the support body 1, for example, using bolts 18, an annular pneumatic jack 19 and an annular wedge 20 in the form of two rings 21 and 22, on opposite surfaces of which there are at least two wedge protrusions 23 symmetrical with respect to the axis of the rings 21 and 22 with parallel opposite inclined faces. The first ring 21 of the annular wedge is mounted for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flange 16, and the second ring 22 of the annular wedge is mounted on the splined end 24 of the splined flange 16 with the possibility of reciprocating movement through a spline connection. The first ring 21 of the annular wedge for rotation in the first direction (for example, clockwise) can be provided, for example, with a pneumatic cylinder 25 with a pipe 26 for supplying compressed air. The pneumatic cylinder 25 is fixed on the support body 1. To rotate the first ring 21 of the annular wedge in the opposite direction (for example, counterclockwise), it can be provided, for example, with a spring pusher 27, also fixed on the support body 1. The annular pneumatic jack 19 is made, for example, in the form of a ring 28, at the end of which, in the holes 29, located symmetrically with respect to the axis of the ring 28, plungers 30 are installed with the possibility of reciprocating movement. The cavity behind the plungers in the holes 29 of the ring 28 is provided with a pipe 32 for connection to a source of compressed air (not shown). If necessary, vacuum tight connection between the flanges of pipelines 3 and 10 install the sealing ring 33 (see Fig. 3), for example, HTMS (High Tech Metal Seals).

This device for detachable connection of pipelines operates as follows.

The support body 1 is fixed on the first pipeline 3 with the help of bolts 4 passed through the holes 5 of the first end 6 of the support body 1. Compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic cylinders 12, as well as to the pneumatic cylinder 25 of the annular wedge 20, while the half rings 9 are divorced, and the ring 21 is withdrawn from the ring 22 of the annular wedge 20. The second pipeline 10 (Fig. 3) is inserted through the flange 16 until it comes into contact with the sealing ring 33 fixed on the flange of the first pipeline 3. The compressed air is depressurized in the pneumatic cylinders 12 of the second connecting system 8, and under the action of four springs 14 half rings 9 "cover" the second pipeline 10 in the immediate vicinity of its flange. Compressed air is supplied to the annular pneumatic jack 19, while the plungers 30 press the ring 22 against the half rings 9, which, in turn, press the flange of the second pipeline 10 against the counter flange of the first pipeline 3, creating a predetermined preload of the sealing ring 33. For fixing the forces of compression of the sealing ring 33 in the pneumatic cylinder 25 of the annular wedge 20 relieve the compressed air pressure, and the spring pusher 27 under the action of the spring turns the ring 21 of the annular wedge 20 in a counterclockwise direction until the clearance between the wedge protrusions 23 of the rings 21 and 22 of the annular wedge 20 is selected. The supply of compressed air to the annular pneumatic jack 19 continues. After selecting the gaps between the wedge protrusions 23 of the rings 21 and 22 of the annular wedge 20, the pressure of compressed air in the annular pneumatic jack 19 is relieved. In the docking station, a force mechanical lock occurs (flange of the first pipeline 3 - sealing ring 33 - flange of the second pipeline 10 - half ring 9 - ring 22 - ring 21 - slotted flange 16 - support body 1 - connecting system 2), bypassing the disconnected annular pneumatic jack 19. The angles of the inclined edges of the wedge protrusions 23 are selected in such a way as to ensure self-braking. Decoupling is carried out in reverse order.

This device for detachable connection of pipelines allows to carry out work under conditions of strong radiation exposure to fast neutrons and gamma quanta, a large heat flux from the plasma, exposure to emergency loads associated with an earthquake (vibration and shock) and plasma disruption (the so-called electromagnetic loads).

Claims (3)

1. The device for connecting pipelines contains a support body containing two connecting systems for attaching the support body to the first and second pipelines and an actuator, characterized in that the first connection system is made in the form of a bolted connection of the first end of the support body with the first pipeline, the second connection system made in the form of two opposite half-rings to encircle the second pipeline, connected by rods passed through the walls of the support body and equipped with compression springs with pneumatic cylinders fixed on the outer surface of the support body, and the actuator is made in the form of coaxially mounted on a flange attached to the second end of the support body, an annular pneumatic jack and an annular wedge in the form of two rings, on opposite surfaces of which there are at least two wedge protrusions symmetrical with respect to the axis of the rings with parallel opposite inclined edges the first ring of the annular wedge is installed for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flange, and the second ring of the annular wedge is installed at the end of the flange with the possibility of reciprocating movement by means of a spline connection. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular pneumatic jack is made in the form of a ring, on the end of which there are at least two cylindrical holes symmetrical with respect to the axis of the ring, in which plungers are installed with the possibility of reciprocating movement, and the cavity of the ring behind plunger is equipped with a branch pipe for connection to a source of compressed air. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first ring of the annular wedge for rotation in the first direction is provided with a pneumatic cylinder mounted on the support housing, and for rotation in the opposite direction it is equipped with a spring pusher attached to the support housing.

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