Air lock system

The techniques introduced here include a system and method for efficiently connecting two or more pipes through the combination of a pushing plate, a gasket and a sealing plate. Such techniques exploit the presence of concentric protuberances, or rings, on the sealing plate that help, also thanks to the space between them, in keeping the cleanness, tightness and flexibility of the conjunction, especially when sticky substances, like a sludge, are dealt with.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a self-cleaning, flexible and tight system for connecting two or more pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Valves and pipe connectors in general are commonly used when two or more pipes have to be connected or reconnected together. Their function is not merely to make air, a fluid or other substances to go from one pipe to another pipe but they also need to have other characteristics.

In particular, in peculiar contexts, pipe connectors have to ensure the tightness of the connection, so that no air, liquid or other material (at least to a certain extent) drops out from the connection between the two pipes, including in the moment they are connected and/or disconnected.

The above-referenced need is exacerbated when the pipes to be connected do not remain in a fixed position for a long time, but they have to be detached and reconnected very often as part of an industrial process. In that case, it is often very hard to maintain the tightness and to connect the pipes with precision one time after the other.

Moreover, especially when dealing with certain sticky substances, like sludges, pipe connectors need to be cleaned continuously, because otherwise the substance can remain within the connector and reduce its tightness. The problem, as recalled above, is even worse if an industrial process requires the pipe to connect and disconnect continuously.

In the past, the problem of creating a tight connection between two often disconnecting pipes has been solved by a system of cones interconnecting one with the other, but the system has not proved to be so efficient, especially when sludges are involved. In that case, in fact, not only the tightness is not optimal and there is a risk that the pipes are not workably aligned, but another issue remains: the connector must be cleaned continuously in order not to compromise its ability to work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system to connect two or more pipes which have to be frequently connected and disconnected in a way in which not only preserves tightness but also leaves the connection point clean when dealing with sludges and other similarly sticky materials. Such connection can be performed using a pushing plate, a gasket and a sealing plate.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, such sealing plate presents on its surface or embedded in its surface two or multiple concentric protuberances or rings (if the shape of the pipe is that of a cylinder) that allow the sealing plate to be connected more flexibly to a pipe. If there is not a perfect match with the first ring, then the pipe can be connected in the area covered by the second ring (and so one when more than 2 rings are present), but the tightness is preserved. Such flexibility overcomes many difficult situations, including defects in the construction of the pipes and misalignments generated by wrong software computing, and also helps when the connecting point between two pipes is not perfectly clean, because the dirt is automatically deposited in the space amongst the rings and does not impact on the tightness of the conjunction. The flexibility which is granted by the rings can also overcome a misalignment (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) of the pipes to be connected up to at least 20 mm at 1 bar pressure when at least 2 rings are present, which is something that in the past was impossible to achieve.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the rings that cover the sealing plate also have a self-cleaning function even when dealing with sticky substances, and in particular sludge. In fact, when traces of the sticky substance remain stuck between the rings of the sealing plate, after some time such trace becomes dry and when the pipes are disconnected and re-connected again, it naturally falls off, helped by the thrust applied by the pushing plate to the sealing plate, leaving the mechanism always clean and functional.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the circular shape of the sealing plate, the gasket and the rings allow the connection between the pipes to remain clean because the content of the pipes is not easily put in contact with the connecting point. Moreover, an automatic pushing system with an angle of 120° allows a misalignment of the mechanism up to 3° without compromising the tightness of the junction.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description and drawings. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter or to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a method and a system to efficiently connect two201,202or more pipes together. The efficiency of the connection is guaranteed by the combined use of pushing plates102, sealing plates103and gaskets109. In particular, in one of the embodiments of the invention the sealing plate contains multiple, concentric, protuberances104,105,106. The protuberances104,105,106can also referred to as “rings”. Such rings are located at a certain distance107,108one from the other so as to allow the pipe connection to be flexible: If the pipes201,202are perfectly or almost perfectly aligned, the first ring106is used and the pipe202goes directly into that ring106. If for some reason the pipes201,202are not perfectly aligned, then the next concentric ring105is involved and it is used to connect the pipes201,202while preserving the tightness. And this system can be repeated in case of more serious misalignments with the more external rings104. In one of the embodiments of the invention, such flexibility overcomes many difficult situations, including defects in the construction of the pipes and misalignments generated by wrong software computing. In one of the embodiments of the disclosure, such flexibility can also overcome a misalignment (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) of the pipes to be connected up to at least 20 mm at 1 bar pressure when at least 2 rings105,106are present, which is something that in the past was impossible to achieve. It is to be noted that the protuberances104,105,106are preferably positioned at least 5 millimeters from one another.

In one of the embodiments of the disclosure, the distance107,108between the rings104,105,106allows not only to preserve tightness in case of non-perfect alignment of the pipes201,202but it also allows hypothetic residues, traces of dirt or other materials to deposit in such space107,108. In this way, such material will not obstruct the conjunction between the pipes201,202compromising the tightness of the conjunction. Moreover, in one of the embodiments of the disclosure, such material will also naturally dry and, also thanks to the vibrations and movements of the pipes201,202when they rotate or translate or are pushed one against the other, fall off, so that the spaces107,108will be clean again and the conjunction will not be obstructed. This can be referred to as the self-cleaning feature of the disclosure.

In one of the embodiments of the invention, one of the pipes201is pushed against the other, for example as to convey fluid, liquid, air or some other substance into the other pipe202, wherein the first pipe201is pushed into the second one 202 thanks to a pushing plate102. In one of the embodiments of the disclosure, such pushing plate102is bigger and higher than the other plates and is pushed in 3 precise points101put at 120° from the center of the pushing plate102so as to exercise force while preserving stability. In one of the embodiments of the invention, an automatic pushing system with an angle of 120° allows a misalignment of the mechanism up to 3° without compromising the tightness of the junction. In one of the embodiments, sensors are placed in the junction and in the pipes201,202so that the rotation or translation, or both, of the pipes201,202and the functioning of the conjunction, including the alignment of the pipes, is remotely and automatically controlled by software. A computer-control system is operatively connected to the pushing plate for moving the first pipe toward the second pipe such that one or more of the plurality of concentric protuberances disposed upon the sealing plate can engage the gasket disposed upon the second pipe and thereby establish fluidic integrity between the first and second pipes such that a fluid can flow between the first and second pipes without any leakage of fluid from either one of the first and second pipes, and for moving the first pipe away from the second pipe such that the first and second pipes can be easily and quickly fluidically disengaged from each other. The computer-control system moves the first pipe, the pushing plate, and the sealing plate toward the gasket fixedly mounted upon the second pipe in accordance with a signal received from a sensor operatively associated with one of the first and second pipes. It is also noted that the pushing plate102is larger than the sealing plate103by at least 10 millimeters. Still further, the computer-control system can apply a force of at least 200 N to the pushing plate102.

The above detailed description of examples of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. While processes or blocks are presented in a given order in this application, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps performed in a different order, or employ systems having blocks in a different order. Some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples. It is understood that alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.

The various illustrations and teachings provided herein can also be applied to systems other than the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention.

Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts included in such references to provide further implementations of the invention.