DE8332598U1 - Centering device for pipe parts that can be coupled together - Google Patents

Description

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Centering device for pipe parts that can be coupled together

The invention relates to a centering device according to the Preamble of claim 1.

Plants for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels have to accommodate the process-related part |

les so-called hot large cells. In this radiation i

shielding large cells are the process components I.

set up in scaffolding or frames (so-called racks). |

The maintenance work within the with radioak- <

Large cells exposed to tive radiation should be used without the '

Necessity for workers to enter the cell ■

be performed. The maintenance work k DA

through mobile remote handling machines

leads. It seems appropriate that the procedural §

components accommodating racks in \

Modular construction along the walls of the large hot cell.

will be presented. There is thus the possibility of a scaffolding |

Replace the complete module or parts of the scaffolding module. |

During this exchange, all pipelines connecting two |

Racks directly to one another or directly through the cell wall leading% pipelines connect remotely separated and after the installation of a new framework module again
be connected to each other. In order to expand the scaffolding

"possible, it is necessary that entire sections of the piping are removed because they are interchangeable,
that would prevent the scaffolding module from being removed.

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One therefore uses removable pipeline parts / so-called Pipe connection units / which are connected at their ends with couplable pipe flanges. When connecting of pipes leading through the cell wall with pipe connections in the framework, these pipe connection units become between the stationary end flange on the pipeline plate attached to the cell wall and the End flange of the pipeline connection of a process engineering apparatus arranged in the frame is used and coupled with these two end flanges.

There is a fixed distance between these two end flanges in which the replaceable or removable Pipeline part is inserted or removed vertically. The connection of the flanges to each other is made via known means such as clamping ring couplings or Screw connections achieved.

The pipeline parts to be coupled must be brought together zen'fcrJUch will. Since this merging must be carried out using remote handling technology, is for those who monitor the connection priority by means of television images and operating surgeon present a particular problem. Just before joining the pipeline parts a poor view of the coupling point can be observed. This leads to frequent unsuccessful attempts to insert the replaceable or removable pipeline part.

The invention is based on the object of a centering device of the type described in such a way that the Kuppe'lvorgang quickly, safely and with a simple technical structure is possible.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features listed in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The expansion of the pipeline part is handled after the remote Loosening of the clamping device carried out in the vertical direction. After maintenance work or replacement of a scaffolding module, the pipe part must be reinserted to connect the pipe connections.

The centering device according to the invention is for the operator already a visual aid for bringing together the flanges to be coupled together. This is has therefore become possible because the centering process in the centering device according to the invention is not within the coupling point is, but advantageously outside. It is thus a quick central merging of the flanges to be coupled.

In the dependent claims 2 and 3 advantageous Ausgesta.ltungen the invention referred to in more detail. Attaching the centering pin and the nut piece to around the pipelines fixed pipe clamps has the advantage of being precisely aligned in the vertical direction. The on The centering pin attached to the stationary pipeline can already be used in the original construction and assembly in

attached to the large cell. The nut piece on the exchangeable or removable pipe part can be made in the service area, which is shielded above or next to the large cell.
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The further embodiment of the invention according to the claim 4 has the effect that the centering extends over conical surfaces of a certain width. It

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precise guidance and stability of the centering device is achieved.

Due to the configurations according to the dependent claims 5 and 5, an axial displacement of the two parts of the centering device is possible effectively prevented.

The invention creates a centering device, which enables quick, centric merging of the flanges to be coupled by means of remote handling technology * » light.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The For the sake of clarity, things that are not necessary to understand the invention are not shown.

It

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a large cell with frames running along the walls and a pipeline part between an end flange of a fixed pipe on the cell wall and a fixed pipe connection on the scaffolding,

Fig. 2 shows the coupling point in an enlarged scale

coupled state between the stationary end flange of the cell wall and the adjacent pipe flange of the pipeline part,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section along line III-III in FIG. 2.

In a large cell 2 there are several frameworks 4, so-called “racks”, along two opposing walls 6 and 8 arranged. In these racks 4, which can have a grid structure, the process components, of which only one container 9 is shown here for the sake of clarity, included. Through the two A middle transport aisle 10 is formed on opposite rows of racks. In this transport aisle 10 is a manipulator carrier system 12 is arranged to be movable. The manipulator support system 12 consists of an upper cross member 14, dei. · Laterally in the side walls 6, 8 of the large cell 2 can be moved horizontally. A vertical guide column 16 hangs centrally on the cross member 14.

On the guide column 16, which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a support 20 is arranged so that it can be moved up and down and carries a telescopic extension arm 22. At the end of the telescopic arm 22 are manipulators,

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Tools or other remote handling devices adaptable.

Above the cross member 14 of the manipulator carrier system is just below the cell ceiling 27, a remotely controllable overhead traveling crane 28 is arranged with a transverse to the Crane girder 30 movable trolley 32 is provided. The overhead traveling crane 28 carries a vertical wire rope 34 movable crane hook 36.

The racks 4. each have a horizontally arranged pipe connection plate 40 on their head, the pipe connections 42 of the procedural components 9 take up. Above the racks 4 are within the Large cell 2 on the cell walls 6, 8 each vertically arranged connection plates 44 for from the outside through cell wall plugs 45 pipelines 46 brought up are arranged. The connection plates 44 have end flanges 47 in which the pipelines 46 brought up end. The cell wall plug 45 is filled with lead granulate 48.

In each rack 4, the two connection plates 40 and 44 are connected by a pipe part 49, the so-called pipe connection unit, connected with each other. This pipe part 49 has a pipe flange at each of its ends 50, 52, which via screw connections 53 with. the end flange 47 of the cell wall or the end flange 42 of the pipe connection plate 40 is connected. After loosening the screw connections 53, the pipeline part 49 is in a vertical position Detachable direction.

For the central merging of the flanges 47 and 50 of the horizontal pipeline sections 46 and 49, these have Sections a centering device 54. Din centering

It till lit *

Apparatus 54 (Fig. 2 and Pig. 3) consists essentially from a centering pin 56 which, next to the end flange 47 of the stationary pipeline 46, protrudes vertically upwards is appropriate. The centering pin 56 consists of a flat bar which is welded to a pipe clamp 58 parallel to the axis which is fastened to the stationary pipeline 46 by means of screws 60. The centering pin 56 has a wedge-shaped tip 62 which is aligned parallel to the pipe axis.

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On the removable pipe part 49, in addition to the pipe flange 50, there is also a pipe clamp 64 by means of screws 66 attached. On this pipe clamp 64 is an angle bracket 68 with its vertical protruding vertically upwards Leg 69 welded on, the horizontal leg 70 of which is on. has a welded-on nut 72 at its end. This Kuttfr, / piece 72 is with a wedge-shaped recess 74 provided that it is open at the bottom. The wedge-shaped recess 74 is aligned parallel to the pipe axis and thus cooperates with the wedge-shaped tip 62 of the centering pin 56. The inclined surfaces 75 of the wedge-shaped recess 74 of the nut piece 72 form the centering surfaces for the centering pin 56 during the centering process .

Limiting blocks 80, 82 are located on both sides of each pipe clamp 58 and 64 in the area of the screws 60 and 66, respectively or 84, 86 welded onto the respective pipe surface. These limiting blocks 80, 82 or 84, 86 prevent axial displacement of the pipe clamps 60, 66.

The operation of the device described above is as follows.

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If the framework 4 or a part of it is to be removed, the connection of the pipelines between the pipe connection plate 40 of the framework 4 and the pipe connection plate 44 of the cell wall released and the pipe connection unit 49 can be removed. Using an impact wrench carried by the manipulator arm 22, the Screw connections of the coupled flanges separated. Subsequently, the pipeline part 49 is vertically upwards from sei-ο by means of the crane 36 Lifted out the position connecting the pipe connections. The framework 4 can now be freely exchanged.

After replacing the frame 4, the pipe connections reconnected to each other. For this purpose, the respective pipe connection unit 49 by means of the Crane 28 vertically down into the position between the two end flanges 47 and 47 to be connected to one another 42 of the pipe connection plates 44 and 40, respectively. The surgeon can access his Tube connection unit retraction screens.

4 9 align with the centering device 54 located outside the coupling point. Due to this optical perception, a considerably precise approach to the clutch position can be achieved. The fine centering of the flanges 47 and 50 with respect to one another is achieved in the fine range by placing the nut 72 on the centering pin 56. The wedge-shaped tip 62 of the centering pin 56 rests on the inclined centering surfaces 75 of the nut piece 72 and centers the pipe flange 50 exactly centric to the end flange 47 of the fixed pipe 46 as the pipe part 49 is lowered further. After this precisely centered merging of the two flanges 47 and 50 will be the

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two paddles 47 and 50 by means of one of the screws 53 tightening impact wrench carried by the manipulator arm 22 connected.

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List of reference symbols

2 large cells 4 frameworks 6 cell wall

8 cell wall

9 containers

10 Transport aisle 12 Manipulator carrier system 14 cross member 16 guide column 20 support 22 extension arm 27 cell ceiling 28 overhead traveling crane 30 crane girder 32 trolley 34 Wire rope 36 Crane hook 40 Pipe connection plate 42 Pipe connections

44 connection plates

45 cell wall plugs

46 pipes 47 pipe flange

48 lead granules

49 pipe part (pipe connection unit)

50 pipe flange 52 pipe flange 53 screw connections 54 centering device 56 centering pin 58 pipe clamp

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60 screws 62 wedge-shaped tip 64 pipe clamp 66 screws 68 angle bracket

69 vertical leg

70 horizontal leg 72 nut piece 74 wedge-shaped recess 75 centering surfaces 80 Limiting block 82 Limiting block 84 Limiting block 86 Limiting block

Claims (6)

1 . Centering device for remote coupling an end flange of a fixed pipe with a pipe flange of a vertically removable pipe part in a process cell, especially a large cell for the reprocessing of irradiated Nuclear fuels, with the parting plane of the end flange and the pipe flange arranged in a vertical plane dadurct marked, that a vertical centering pin (56) is arranged protruding upwards on the stationary pipeline (46), that on the removable pipe part (45 * ·) on the centering pin (56) matching nut piece (72) with centering surfaces (74) is arranged. 2. Centering device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the centering pin (56) is mounted on a pipe clamp (58) around the fixed pipe (46) next to it End flange (47) is attached. 3. Centering device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the nut piece (72) is attached to the end of an angle bracket (68), one leg (69) of which is perpendicular j; the circumference of a pipe clamp (64) is attached to f the removable pipeline part (49) next to the , · 5 peeling pipe flange (50) is arranged. 4. Centering device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that the centering pin (56) consists of a flat bar, .which has a longitudinally extending wedge-shaped tip (68) at the upper end which runs parallel to the pipe axis,
that the nut piece (72) has a downwardly open and widening wedge-shaped recess (74) which is arranged parallel to the pipe axis. 5. centering device according to claims 2 and / or 3, characterized in that that in addition to the pipe clamp (58) of the fixed pipe (46) and / or the pipe clamp (64) of the removable Pipe part (49) stop means (80, 82, 84, 86) to prevent the axial displacement of the pipe ^ ⁵ clamps (58, 64) are arranged. 6. centering device according to claim 5, characterized in that that the stop means are limit blocks (80, 82, 84, 86) welded onto the pipe surface. ι ι »· t ·