Patent Publication Number: US-2022213992-A1

Title: Arrangement

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/061142 filed 22 Apr. 2020, and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefit of European Application No. EP19176103 filed 23 May 2019. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an arrangement for the compensation of an offset between two pipe flanges comprising: adapting rings which in each case have a recess which extends along an axis and around which a ring material extends along a circumferential direction, the adapting rings in each case having two bearing faces, the bearing faces having planar substantially circularly annular bearing faces at least along circular paths which are concentric with respect to the axis, a cross section of the ring material along the circumferential direction having a changing axial ring material thickness in such a way that at least two of the adapting rings have a wedge shape with an angular offset of the two bearing faces with respect to one another. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Flanges in the context of the invention are also called pipeline flanges. If statements are made in the present text about flanges, exclusively pipeline flanges are meant. Flanges serve for the sealed, releasable connection of pipe sections. The contact pressure, applied by means of flange screws, of the circularly annular sealing faces of the flanges on a seal which possibly lies in between is decisive for tightness. The screws extend through bores in the flanges and what are known as the flange sheets. As a constituent part of the pipeline, flanges are as a rule welded to a pipe end. Flanges can also be provided on connector components. Various flanges of different metal materials are described, inter alia, in: EN 1092-1, EN 1092-2, EN 1092-3, EN 1092-4. 
     A spatial offset of the flanges to be joined together, for example on account of welding distortion, occurs frequently during the production of pipelines and the installation of connected machines. 
     The compensation of an offset of this type conventionally requires complicated reworking or adaptation work on site under as a rule poor conditions, in particular without suitable machine tools. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to simplify said work. 
     In order for it to be possible for different types of offset phenomena between flanges to be compensated for simply in a flexible manner, an arrangement as claimed is proposed according to the invention in order to achieve the object. Furthermore, a method for the assembly of an arrangement of this type is proposed. 
     The individual adapting rings are configured in such a way that at least three of the adapting rings have a wedge shape with an angular offset of the two bearing faces with respect to one another. In other words, at least three of the adapting rings have two substantially circularly annular bearing faces which point with a respective surface perpendicular substantially in the direction of the axis, a cross section of the ring material along the circumferential direction having a changing axial ring material thickness in such a way that the two surface perpendiculars have an angular offset with respect to one another. 
     The two bearing faces have planar substantially circularly annular bearing faces at least along circular paths which are concentric with respect to the axis, in order that the adapting rings can be turned with respect to one another during the assembly about the axis of the extent of the recess. Accordingly, the bearing faces can be of completely planar configuration or can have elevations or grooves which extend along the concentric circular paths. Radial centering of the adapting rings with respect to one another is conceivable by means of said elevations, grooves or recesses. 
     The use according to the invention of at least three, advantageously at least four, adapting rings makes a compensation of an offset possible, which offset can be a combination of an axial offset, an angular offset and a parallel offset or only a single offset type of the listed offset types. 
     One advantageous development of the invention provides that the wedge angle for the wedge-shaped adapting rings is between &lt;2° and 6° (the angle is dependent on the nominal width and should be selected in accordance with the axial tolerance to be corrected). A wedge shape of this type makes the compensation of most of the offset phenomena which occur on site possible. A further advantageous development provides that the wedge-shaped adapting rings in each case have a minimum axial ring material thickness and have a maximum axial ring material thickness, the following applying in the case of a mean internal diameter: 0.005&lt;((difference of the ring material thicknesses)/internal diameter) &lt;1.025. 
     Another advantageous development of the invention provides that at least some, advantageously all, of the adapting rings are connected among one another in an integrally joined manner, in particular by means of an adhesive bond. A suitable adhesive to this end is, for example, silicone. Seal materials can vary from a separate seal by means of  0 -ring or round cord via rubber coating of the ring as far as the adhesive bond as described above. 
     The arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for filling an offset in a bridging manner between two flanges which lie with a flange sealing face substantially opposite one another. In particular, in the case of the offset between the offset sealing faces with respect to one another, it can be an angular offset between 0.05° and 8° (depending on the nominal width of the flanges and/or the permissible tolerances of the pipelines). An axial spacing between the flanges or the flange sealing faces can be greater than 1 mm. There are advantageously four adapting rings between the two flange sealing faces, but only three adapting rings can also be used depending on the axial spacing and the angular offset. In addition to or instead of the angular offset, the offset between the two flange sealing faces can also be configured as a parallel offset. Here, the adapting rings are turned about the axis with respect to one another in such a way that the adapting rings fill or compensate for the offset between the flange sealing faces. 
     Moreover, the invention provides a method for compensating for an offset between two pipe flanges, comprising flange sealing faces, by means of an arrangement as claimed in at least one of the apparatus claims. 
     To this end, the method provides the following steps: a) orienting of the pipe flanges with at least three adapting rings which are arranged between the flange sealing faces, b) turning of the adapting rings about the axis with respect to one another into a joining position in such a way that those bearing faces of the adapting rings which in each case lie directly opposite the flange sealing faces are oriented substantially parallel to the respective opposite flange sealing face, and the adapting rings which are arranged in each case adjacently with respect to the flange sealing faces are arranged with the recess which extends along the axis in each case substantially concentrically with respect to the adjacent pipe flange, c) integrally joined joining of the adapting rings in the joining position or by means of separate seal and positively locking marking by means of, for example, grained structure, d) final assembling of the two pipe flanges to form a flange connection with arranging of the adapting rings between the two flange sealing faces. 
     Moreover, one advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the following step takes place after the turning and before the integrally joined joining: b 1 ) checking of the absence of stress of the arrangement with the adapting rings. 
     Furthermore, the following additional step can take place: b 2 ) marking of the relative circumferential position of the adapting rings with respect to one another in the joining position. 
     Moreover, the further step can advantageously also take place: b 3 ) removing of the adapting rings out of the arrangement between the flange sealing faces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following text, the invention is described in greater detail on the basis of specific exemplary embodiments with reference to drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional illustration of an adapting ring according to the invention, 
         FIGS. 2-4  in each case show a diagrammatic two-dimensional illustration of a side view of the various configurations of the adapting rings between two flanges which lie opposite one another, and 
         FIG. 5  shows a diagrammatic flow chart for illustrating the method according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional illustration of an adapting ring AJR.  FIGS. 2-4  in each case show a lateral diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement ARR comprising in each case four adapting rings AJR between in each case two flanges FLG which lie with a flange sealing face FLS substantially opposite one another.  FIG. 5  shows a diagrammatic flow chart of a method for assembling an arrangement ARR according to the invention. 
     The adapting ring AJR which is shown in  FIG. 1  is provided for the compensation of an offset OFT between two pipe flanges FLG, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . The adapting ring AJR has a recess HOL which extends along an axis X and around which a ring material AMT extends along a circumferential direction CDR. The adapting ring AJR has two bearing faces CSF on both sides on the axial end side. The bearing faces CSF are configured at least along circular paths which are concentric with respect to the axis X as a plane and substantially circularly annular bearing faces CSF. A cross section of the ring material AMT along the circumferential direction CDR has a changing axial ring material thickness ART. As a result, the adapting ring AJR is of wedge-shaped configuration, and the two bearing faces CSF are not parallel to one another, but have an angular offset AOF. For clarification, surface perpendiculars SN 1 , SN 2  are also illustrated for the respective bearing faces CSF in  FIG. 1 , which surface perpendiculars SN 1 , SN 2  point substantially in the direction of the axis on one side (the first surface perpendicular SN 1  is parallel to the axis X), the second surface perpendicular SN 2  having an angular offset AOF with respect to the first surface perpendicular SN 1  and with respect to the axis X. Shown here optionally, the adapting ring AJR has, on the upwardly pointing bearing face CSF, a projection PRT which extends in a circularly annular manner on the bearing face and can be brought into engagement with a corresponding circularly annular cutout RCS of an adjacent adapting ring AJR (is shown here by means of dashed lines as a concealed contour and optionally in  FIG. 1 ), with the result that a radial relative offset between two adjacent adapting rings is not possible. This relative offset block is merely optional and is also provided only for adapting rings AJR which do not come into contact by way of the corresponding bearing face CSF with a flange seal face FLS. As an alternative or in addition to said positively locking movement restriction in a relative manner between two adapting rings AJR, an integrally joined connection between two adjacent adapting rings AJR is provided, in the manner of an adhesive bond GLU, for example by means of silicone. Seals or materials for sealing can be provided depending on requirements between the individual adapting rings AJR and/or between the adapting rings AJR and the flange seal faces FLS. The wedge angle AOS or the angular offset AOS between the two surface perpendiculars SN 1 , SN 2  is between 2° and 6° for at least some wedge-shaped adapting rings AJR. All of the wedge-shaped adapting rings AJR of the arrangement ARR are advantageously configured with identical wedge angles. 
     The wedge-shaped adapting rings AJR in each case have a minimum axial ring material thickness IAR and a maximum axial ring material thickness AAR. In addition, the wedge-shaped adapting rings AJR have a mean internal diameter AID and a mean external diameter AOD. The following applies to a relationship between the ring material thicknesses IAR, AAR and the mean internal diameter AID: 0.005&lt;(AAR-IAR)/AID&lt;1.025. 
     Furthermore, the following applies to the ratio of the mean external diameter AOD and the mean internal diameter AID: 1.002&lt;AOD/AID&lt;1.2 depending on the respective flange sealing face ratio. 
       FIG. 2  shows the case where the two flange sealing faces FLS of the two flanges FLG which lie opposite one another are at merely an axial spacing ADS from one another. Accordingly, the wedge-shaped adapting rings AJR are turned with respect to one another in such a way that the respective wedge angle AOF is compensated for by the adjacent adapting rings AJR. Accordingly, all the axes of extent X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4  of the involved adapting rings AJR coincide with the central axis X. 
       FIG. 3  shows a parallel offset PLS of the two flanges FLG which lie opposite one another or the flange seal faces FLS. The parallel offset PLS is compensated for by means of the adapting rings AJR by virtue of the fact that the four adapting rings are oriented in each case in groups of two with an identical circumferential position of the maximum axial ring thickness AAR. In this way, an angular offset of the end-side bearing faces of the group of two is caused. A second group of two with a likewise identical circumferential orientation of the two adapting rings AJR is arranged with an opposed orientation in the circumferential direction with respect to the first group. As a result, the angular offset of the total of four adapting rings AJR is compensated for. Merely a parallel offset PLS which corresponds to the compensation requirements of the arrangement ARR remains. 
       FIG. 4  shows a situation, in the case of which the flanges FLG which lie opposite one another also have an angular offset AOF in addition to the axial offset ADS. The angular offset is compensated for by means of the four adapting rings AJR, by the circumferential position of the four adapting rings AJR being identical, with the result that the circumferential position with the maximum axial ring thickness ART coincides in each case. These three basic cases are superimposed with one another in a real assembly situation in such a way that the combination of axial offset or axial spacing ADS, angular offset AOF and parallel offset PLS is compensated for in each case within the limits of the wedge shape of the adapting rings by means of turning of the individual adapting rings AJR until the offset situation is compensated for. 
       FIG. 5  shows a flow chart which represents the method for the compensation of an offset OFT between two pipe flanges FLG. 
     In a first step a), an orientation of the pipe flanges FLG takes place with at least three adapting rings AJR, advantageously with four adapting rings AJR, which are arranged between the flange sealing faces FLS. 
     In a second step b), turning of the adapting rings AJR about the axis X with respect to one another into a joining position follows in such a way that those bearing faces of the adapting rings AJR which in each case lie directly opposite the flange sealing faces FLS are oriented substantially parallel to the respective opposite flange sealing face FLS, and the adapting rings AJR which are arranged in each case adjacently with respect to the flange sealing faces FLS are arranged with the recess HOL which extends along the axis X in each case essentially concentrically with respect to the adjacent pipe flange FLG. 
     In an optional sub-step of step b) (called b 1 ) here), the optional checking of the absence of stress of the arrangement ARR with the adapting rings AJR takes place. In a likewise optional sub-step b 2 ) of the second step, marking of the relative circumferential position of the adapting rings AJR with respect to one another in the joining position takes place. 
     A further optional sub-step b 3 ) provides that, before the integrally joined joining, a removal of the adapting rings AJR from the arrangement between the flange sealing faces FLS takes place. The removal takes place for the purpose of the adapting rings AJR being adhesively bonded together. 
     In the following third step c), the integrally joined joining of the adapting rings AJR in the joining position takes place. 
     Finally, in a fourth step d), the final assembly of the two pipe flanges FLG to form a flange connection with the adapting rings AJR arranged between the two flange sealing faces FLS takes place.