Patent GB-1515680-A (GB)
Title: Safety connection device interconnecting two piping elements
IPC: F16L37/00
Filed: 1975-08-27
Abstract: 1515680 Releasable pipe couplings; cleaning pipes COMPAGNIE DES TERMINAUX MARINS COTERM and SPETSIALNOE KONSTRUKTORSKOE BJURO TRANSNEFTEAVTOMATIKA 27 Aug 1975 [3 Sept 1974] 35387/75 Heading F2G A safety connection device for interconnecting two pipes, one movable, comprises obturating means mounted in a first one of the pipes, means for sealingly assembling the pipes and control means of the obturating means mounted on the second one of the pipes, the control means being such that it can actuate the obturating means only after the pipes are assembled, the first pipe having a first cylindrical conduit in coaxial alignment with the second pipe and a second cylindrical conduit opening perpendicularly into the first one, the said first cylindrical means having a slidably movable piston forming the obturating means and adapted to occupy two predetermined positions on either side of the opening of the second conduit, the piston means being in the shape of a cup whose concavity frees the second pipe and being adapted to receive a ball whose diameter is equal to the inner diameter of the second pipe and can be used as a member for cleaning the inner surface of the second pipe. The stationary piping element, Fig. 2, consists of cylinders 1, 3 which are interconnected by a bolted flange connection 5, 6, 7 and have therein a hollow rod 8 which in turn is provided with a piston unit 9, 10 and is bolted to a closure plate 14. An arm 16 is secured to the plate 14 and carries a rod 18 which slides in bearing 19 and terminates in a shoulder 21 adapted to co-operate with a stop 22 and actuate locking means 23. The means 23 is urged by its spring 24 towards an abutment 25 mounted on the cylinder 1 in alignment with the stop 22. The piston 9, 10 serves to blank off a conduit (4) disposed at right angles to the conduit 1 adjacent the flange 2, see Fig.1 (not shown). The rod 8 encloses pipes 30, 31 connected to a distributing valve (35) mounted on the plate 14 whereby fluid fed through the pipe 31 is adapted to project a ball 40 housed in the piston 9,10 into a second pipe for cleaning purposes. The second piping unit, Fig. 3, comprises a cylinder 100 slidably mounted in a sleeve 101 terminating in a flange 103 for connection to the flange 2, the connection being effected by actuators 105 which are fixed to the sleeve 101 and are each provided with a double-acting piston 107, 108 terminating in a catch 109. The cylinder 100 carries an actuator 120 having a piston 122, 123 terminating in unlocking means 124 for the rod 18. The actuator 120 is adapted to move the rod 18 and the associated rod 8 until the former rod is arrested by the stop 22 thereby opening the conduit (4) to the conduit 1; the actuator 120 also serving to retract the rod 18 until it occupies the locking position shown in Fig. 2. Pressure fluid fed through conduit 31 is adapted to force the ball into the second piping element to scrape and clean it, the fluid displaced by the ball on its return being fed to a tank via the conduit 30 through a valve distribution system as depicted in Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown). For minor details of actuators, locking means, valves and modus operandi the Specification and remaining drawings (not shown), should be referred to.