SAFETY ARRANGEMENT FOR EMERGENCY DISCONNECTABLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR FLUID TRANSFER ELEMENTS

Abstract: Safety arrangement for urgency disconnection connect­ ing device for fluid transfer elements like pipes (1, 2) con­ nected through said device having a clamping collar with arcuate elements (3) articulated to one each other and clampingly engaging the flanges of the two fluid transfer elements (1, 2). On element is connected to a loading arm and the other to a tank. The connecting device comprises a control jack and the valves of the transfer elements (1, 2) are associated with a separable valve control which is by mechanical means in direct connection with one of the elements of said jack (7). It prevents intempestive discon­ nection before completed closure of the valves of the trans­ fer elements (2, 3) or it copes with the valve closing control being put out of operation before the disconnection.

Description: This invention relates to a safety arrangement for an urgency disconnection connecting device for fluid transfer elements connected through said device by their flanges. There are actually known devices for coupling and uncoupling two flanges of pipe or tube that can be quickly disconnected in case of urgency. Such devices are mainly applied to installations for loading and unloading fluid products, in particular, fluid oil products. Said quick coupling and uncoupling devices are of the type comprising a collar with three circularly arcuate articulated elements. The circle determined thereby may be closed through a knife articulated to one of the circularly arcuate elements and provided with a wedge that comes to bear on a ramp made on one of the two other elements. A control jack resting on one of the articulated elements acts through a cap upon a nut disposed ¯ above the wedge. Through the action of the jack, a safety pin is broken by the knife which tips over outwardly. The three articulated elements have each in cross-section a frusto-conical form closely following the jointive edge portions of both tube flanges to be connected and disconnected in urgency. The united edge portions of both tube flanges have a frusto-conical form corresponding to the hollow frusto-conical form of the arcuate elements of the device. Each of the connected elements comprises a valve and both valves of said two elements are associated with a known common control of the type having a connection between valves and which can be easily dissociated in case of urgency disconnection. The object of the present invention is a safety arrangement for a safety disconnection device of the above mentioned type for two fluid transfer elements comprising valves with a common dissociable. control, characterized in that it comprises mechanical means ensuring direct connection between a valve control and one of the elements of the control jack of the safety disconnection device, such elements consisting of the body and the rod of said jack either to prevent intempestive disconnection before completed closure of the valves or to cope with the valve closing control being brought out of operation before disconnection. The connection between the valve control and the body of the control jack of the emergency disconnector is realized by link means permitting misalignment of said jack. Said misalignment is obtained by an angular deviation imposed upon said jack which is hinged to a pivot secured to one of the arcuate elements of the urgency di cconnetti on device. The end of the rod of said jack comprises a conical head for cooperation with a V-shaped profiled groove formed in the nut of the knife of the urgency disconnection device in such way that for a certain angle of aperture of the valves corresponds a certain angle of deviation of the jack thereby resulting in escape of the conical head of the jack in respect to the V-shaped groove of the nut. The connection between the valve control and the control jack rod of the urgency disconnection device comprises a movable element mounted to the end of the jack rod the body of which is fixed, said movable element being capable of meeting an element in the valve control upon movement toward the nut of the knife of the urgency disconnection device, said movable element acting upon said valve control element when the valve closure control was not effective. An overstroke of said element which may be slidable, after the slidable element has moved aside the valve control element, permits the slidable element to meet the nut of the knife of the urgency disconnection device so as provide disconnection. Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description which is made with reference to the attached drawings on which - Figures 1 and 2 are plane top views, and partially in crosssection for one of the elements, of the arrangement according to the invention in two different positions of the control jack of the urgency disconnection device; - figure 3 is an end elevational view of the arrangement of the form of embodiment of figures 1 and 2; - figure 4 is a working drawing representing the control jack of the urgency disconnection device in different positions with respect to the valve control; - figures 5, 6 and 7 are respective cross-sectional, front and top views of a manual locking means which can be provided with an arrangement according to the invention; ; - figure 8 is a front partly elevational view showing the location of the manual locking means on the device according to the invention; - figures 9 to 12 are top views of another form of embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention in four different positions; - figures 13 and 14 are respective front and laterally elevational views of an arrangement according to the form of embodiment of figures 9 to 12; - figures 15 and 16 are top plane views of still a further form of embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention in two different operative positions. Each of the connected elements comprising a valve are flanged elements; they are an element 1 connected to a loading arm and an element 2 connected to a vessel. The coupling of those elements is ensured by a quick disconnection device of the type having a clamping collar with three arcuate elements 3 articulated to one another and clampingly surrounding the flanges of both elements 1 and 2, which are brought into contact with one another during the connection. The circle which determines the arcuate elements 3 closes through a knife 4 articulated to one of those elements. and provided with a wedge 5 coming to bear on a ramp 6 made on one of the two other arcuate elements. A control jack 7 is provided so as to act on a nut 8 disposed on the knife. Under the action of the jack a safety pin 9 is broken by the knife which then tips over outwardly thereby resulting into disconnection. In the form of embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4, and 8, the jack is articulated through an eye 10 to a pivot 11 of a console 11A secured to one of the arcuate elements 3. The pivot 11 is disposed parallel to the control axes 12,12A of the valves of connected elements 1 and 2. The jack 7 can therefore deviate angularly about the pivot 11 and the link means 13,14 hinged to one another connect the jack 7 to the control axis 12 of the valve of element 1 connected to the arm. The link 13 is fixed to the axis 12 of the valve and the link 14 is hinged to a pivot 15 fixed to the body of the jack. The link 14 is, more precisely, made of two portions. It comprises a sleeve 14A which is hinged to the pivot 15 and a rod 14B received in the sleeve 14A and hinged to the link 13. A shear pin G normally connects the rod 14B and the sleeve 14A and the breakage of said pin entails dissociation of the assembly consisting of the angular deviation jack 7 and the quick disconnection device (3 to 8) from the control axis 12 of the valve of element 1 connected to the arm. It must be noted moreover that the axes 12 and 12A of the valves are connected in their motions by a known arrangement with a deformable parallelogram comprising a bar 16 secured to each axis and two connecting rods 16A connecting both bars such that there can occur a dissociation of both connecting rods and one of the bars at the time of the emergency disconnection. Such loose connection between both connecting rods and the respective bars is obtained by providing a fork at the end of each con necting rod, the fork F coming to ride on an end pivot P of said bar. Apart from its hinged connection to the pivot 11 the angular deviation jack 7 is characterized by having a conical head 17 at the end of its rod, said head being intended for cooperation with a V-shaped profiled groove 18 formed in the nut 8. The combination of the characteristic of angular deviation of the control jack 7 subordinated to the rotation of the axis 12 of the valve of element 1 connected to the arm, and of the characteristic of the conical head 17 of said jack cooperating with the groove 18 of the nut 8 of the urgency disconnection device is mainly intended to prevent any disconnection in the limiting conditions of closure of the valves. It must be noted that the groove 18 is provided in relation with an escape chamfer 19 cut into the nut 8 after said groove. Figure 4 illustrates a comparison between the rotation of the valve. on its axis 12 and the deviation of the control jack 7. When the summit of the conical head 17 of the rod of jack 7 lies in the alignment of the bottom of the groove 18 formed in nut 8 or very close to such alignment, the pushing action of the jack rod results in a direct action upon said nut 8 of the urgency disconnection device, and the tipping over of its knife 4 thereby to provide the actual disconnection. As soon as the summit of the conical head 17 moves away from the alignment with the bottom of the groove 18, or its very close proximity, the conical head escapes from the nut 8 and moves to meet the escape chamfer 19 of the nut 8 and disconnection is no longer possible. The working drawing of figure 4 shows in a non limitative example a deviation angle of 2.50 of the jack 7 when its conical head 17 is in contact with the chamfer 19 which corresponds to an angle of aperture of the valves of 5 . The total escape of the conical head occurs when the deviation angle is 6.5 and the aperture angle is 100. Total aperture of the valves (angle of 900) corresponds to a deviation angle of the jack of 200. In the chosen example the length of the link 14 is equal to the distance between the hinging pivot 11 of the jack 7 on the console 11A and the hinging pivot 15 of the link 14 on jack 7. The arrangement in accordance with the invention can be completed by manual locking means of the control jack 7 of the urgency disconnection device (3 to 8). Such locking means is intended for preventing disconnection of the disconnection device when the arm is in a resting position or during the operation when both valves are closed (figures 5 to 8). Such locking means comprises a housing 20 having a bore 21 therein for passage of the jack rod which is hollowed out behind the conical head 17 to form an annular groove 22 intended for receiving a knife 23 movable in translation in a slot 24 formed in the housing 20 so as to open perpendicularly into the bore 21. The translating knife 23 comprises a rod 25 on which a sleeve 26 extending into a manual control lever 27 is slidingly mounted. The sleeve is disposed between a nut 28 forming an abutment at the end of the rod and a spring 28A slidingly put on the rod and resting on the housing. A lever 27 passes through a curved slot 29 formed in a cylinder 30 secured to the housing 20. The path imposed upon by the curve 29, depending on the direction of movement of said lever in the slot makes the translating knife penetrate or not the annular groove 22 of the rod of jack 7. Sensors for detecting the position of the translating knife 23 in the housing 20 are disposed so that one 31 detects the position of the knife 23 in the unlocked position permitting emergency disconnection and the other 32, the position of the knife 23 in the locked position to prevent urgency disconnection. In the form of embodiment shown in figures 9 to 12, there is also a direct connection between the valve control and the jack of the emergency disconnection device. These figures also show the urgency disconnection device itself (3 to 83 on the one hand, and on the other hand,the deformable parallelogram connecting the valves between one another and consisting of the bars 16 and the links with the fork ISA. Said figures show the valve control jack which acts through a link 33 upon the axis of the valve lying in the connection element 1 connected to the arm. Said jack is the control jack 34. The control jack 7 of the emergency disconnection device is fixed and acts upon the nut 8 of the knife 4 of the emergency disconnection device through a slidable carriage 35 mounted to the end of the rod of the jack 7; a pivot 36 of such mounting being capable of sliding in two parallel slots 37 and 38 formed in two fixed parallel supports 39. The operation of this form of embodiment occurs in two steps. The first corresponds to the closing of the valves through the jack 34 from the position shown in figure 9 to the position shown in figure 10. In the position shown in figure 10 with the valves being closed, the urgency disconnection jack 7 can fulfil its purpose by acting upon the nut 8 of the knife 4 of said emergency disconnection and through the slidable carriage 35. For the event that the valve control of jack 34 would be out of operation, the jack 7 can fulfil a second function, i.e. in a first step closing the valve, the pivot 36 of carriage 35 of such jack causing the moving apart of the connecting rod 33 of the valve control jack 34 through contact therewith until said connecting rod is in the valve closing position, with the carriage continuing its movement in the slots 37-38 until it reaches the final position of the connecting rod 33 corresponding to the closing of the valves. In a second step, the pushing action of the jack being continued, an overstroke of the carriage 35 permits the latter to meet the nut 8 of the knife 4 of the urgency disconnection device thereby causing disconnection of elements 1 and 2. Therefore there is direct connection between the control jack 7 of the urgency disconnection device and the valve closing control, there being the supplementary advantage consisting of causing the valve closing when for example the hydraulic circuit of the control jack of the valves is out of operation. According to a form of embodiment shown in figures 15 and 15, there is provided manual locking 'means intended for preventing disconnection when the arms are in a resting position or during the operation with the valves being closed. Figure 15 shows the manual locking means in the locked position thereby enabling operation of the arm but inhibiting urgency disconnection. The manual locking means consists. of a pivotable hook 40 engaging the pivot 36 of the carriage 35, said manual locking means being associated with two sensors, a sensor 41 corresponding to an unlocked position of the urgency disconnection device (3 to 8), and a sensor 42 corresponding to a locked position of said urgency disconnection device. Figure 16 shows the manual locking means represented in an unlocked position inhibiting operation of the arm but authorizing urgency disconnection. Finally, it will be understood that this invention was only described and represented in a preferential mode of embodiment and that equivalent parts can be substituted for its constitutive elements without departing from its scope. Thus, according to a variation, the movable element 33 could move rotatably instead of slidingly.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A safety arrangement for urgency disconnection connecting device of the type having a clamping collar with arcuate elements articulated to one another and clampingly engaging the flanges of two fluid transfer elements brought into contact with one another at the time of connection, said connected elements each containing a valve and being connected one to a loading arm and the other to a tank such as that of a vessel, said urgency disconnection device also comprising a control jack belonging thereto and said valves being associated with a separable valve control, said safety arrangement being characterized in that it comprises mechanical means for ensuring a direct connection between the valve control and one of the elements of said jack consisting of its body and its rod either to prevent intempestive disconnection before completed closure of the valves or to cope with the valve closing control being put out of operation before the disconnection. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the valve control and the body of the control jack 7 of the urgency disconnection device (3 to 8) is realized by links 13 and 14 permitting misalignment of said jack 7. 3. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that misalignment of the control jack 7 of the urgençy disconnection device (3 to 8) is obtained by an angular deviation imposed upon said jack which is hinged to a pivot 11 secured to one of the arcuate elements 3 of the urgency disconnection device (3 to 8). 4. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end of the rod of the control jack 7 of the urgency disconnection device comprises a conical head 17 for cooperation with a V-shaped profiled groove 18 formed in the nut 8 of the knife 4 of the urgency disconnection device (3 to 8) such that for a cer tain angle of aperture of the valves corresponds a certain angle of deviation of the jack 7 which results in escape of the conical head of the jack 7 in respect to the V-shaped groove of nut 8. 5. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that an escape chamfer 19 is made on the nut 8 after the V-shaped profiled groove 18. 6. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided with supplementary manual locking means comprising a translator 23 engageable into a groove 22 formed in the head of the jack 7 behind its conical head 17 and also comprising sensors for detecting the position of the translator 23 so that one 31 detects the position of the translator in the unlocked position authorizing emergency disconnection and the other 32, the position of the translator in the locked position inhibiting emergency disconnection. 7. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the valve control and the rod of the control jack 7 of the urgency disconnection device comprises a movable element 35 mounted at the end of the rod of the jack 7 the body of which is fixed, said element being capable of meeting an element 33 for control of the valves during its movement toward the nut 8 of the knife 4 of the emergency disconnection device, said element 35 acting upon said element 33 when the valve closing control did not work. 8. An arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the element 35 is a slidable element provided with a pivot 36 slidable into at least one slot 37 formed in a fixed support 39, the element 33 for the control of the valves being a link fixed to an axis of one of the valves. 9. An arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivot 36 of the slidable element 35 moves in two parallel slots 37,38 formed in two fixed parallel supports 39. 10. An arrangement according to any of claims 1, 8 and 9, characterized in that an overstroke of the sliding element 35 after the moving aside of the link 33 by said element, in the event that the valve closing control has not worked, permits said slidable element 35 to meet the nut 8 of the knife 4 of the urgency disconnection device to provoke disconnection. 11. An arrangement according to any of claims 1 and 8 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a supplementary manual locking means 40 associated with two position sensors, a sensor 41 corresponding to an unlocked position of the urgency disconnection device, and a sensor 43 corresponding to a locked position of said urgency disconnection device. 12. An arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the manual locking means 40 is a pivotable hook engaging the pivot 36 of the slidable element 35.

Inventors: LE DEVEHAT, EUGENE ROGER, ELEKTR. AND HYDR.-ING.
Applicants: FMC EUROPE S.A.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: F16L55
IPC codes: F16L55, F16L37