Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L51/00—Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines
  • F16L51/02—Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines making use of a bellows or an expansible folded or corrugated tube
  • F16L51/025—Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines making use of a bellows or an expansible folded or corrugated tube with several corrugations
  • F16L51/027—Expansion-compensation arrangements for pipe-lines making use of a bellows or an expansible folded or corrugated tube with several corrugations with external reinforcement

Definitions

• This invention concerns an axial compensator for insertion into a pipeline, such as a district heating pipeline, and comprising a flexible metal bellows, each end of which is connected to its corresponding part of the pipeline.
• Compensators of this kind find particular application in district heating pipelines, where they can absorb the movements in the pipelines which arise as a result of temperature changes.
• the pipeline system is thus safegurded against stresses , in that longitudinal changes can be absorbed by the flexible bellows.
• An axial compensator of this type is known from English Patent No. 898,383. It consists of an internal tube, the centre of which is provided with an external flange , and to which one end of the bellows is connected. The other end of the bellows is secured to a ring which can be moved axially external to the tube. To the ring is welded an external pipe which extends over the bellows, and which via a guide for the absorption of torsion extends out over the tube. The two ends of the pipe can be welded to the pipeline during assembly.
• This known axial compensator is, however, inexpedient, the reason being that the internal side of the bellows stands in free connection with the surroundings. There is thus the possibility of water and dirt collecting inside the bellows, hereby rendering the bellows incapable of being compressed. Moreover, a great risk of damage to the bellows will arise when foreign bodies collect between the folds of the bellows.
• the compensator is provided, as mentioned above, with a guide which is disposed as an extension of the bellows. This gives a greater construction length, which is unfortunate, as this in turn demands more room for assembly. Furthermore, since the moment of effect becomes greater, the compensator is also further loaded.
• the construction achieved herewith is simple and uncomplicated and provides the possibility of complete protection of the bellows, in that they are exposed to the influences of water or steam only on their inner side.
• the outside of the bellows can easily be protected by means of an external casing which extends from the one end to the other end of the bellows.
• the construction length of the compensator moreover, is made very short, since it needs only to comprise the bellows.
• Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing showing the compensator in its extended and compressed position respectively, seen in the direction of the line I - I in fig. 2, and
• Fig. 2 shows the compensator seen from the end in the direction of line II - II in fig. 1.
• Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the compensator in accordance with the invention.
• the upper half of the drawing shows the compensator in its fully extended position, while the ghost, lines of the lower half of the drawing show the compensator in its compressed position.
• the one end of the district heating pipe 13 is shown to the left of the drawing, and its other end 12 to the right of the drawing.
• the axial compensator is inserted between these ends.
• the left-hand part of the compensator comprises a connection pipe 6, said pipe being welded to the left-hand pipeline 13 and having mainly the same diameter as said pipeline.
• a connection pipe 6 To the pipe 6 is welded a ring-shaped flange 7 having the same internal diameter.
• the inner side of flange 7 is welded to a tube 3 which can slide externally along the right-hand tube piece 4 of the compensator.
• the left-hand end 2 of the bellows is also secured in a gas-tight manner to the flange 7, and a casing 10, in the form of a cylinder, is secured outermost.
• a guide 11 At the right-hand end of cylinder 10 is secured a guide 11, said guide 11 being in the form of a ring having two recesses in its inside surface.
• the right-hand part of the compensator comprises the tube piece 4, this tube piece being welded to the end 12 of the right-hand district heating pipe.
• the tube piece 4 also has essentially the same diameter as the pipe 12.
• To the tube piece 4 is welded a ring-shaped flange 8, to which the right-hand end 5 of the bellows 1 is secured in a gas-tight manner.
• the compensator can be further compressed until the tube piece 4 lies up against the flange 7. in other words, the working length of the compensator is the distance between the flange 7 and the end of the tube piece 4.
• the compensator will hunt in step with the temperature variation. This spares the district heating pipelines, in that during operation they are not exposed to stresses caused by the expansion of materials.
• the end of the tube piece 4 will abut the flange 7, and thus the axial thrust forces are transferred direct through the. tube parts without the bellows being loaded.
• the bellows are of such dimensions to enable them to be compressed an even further amount, whereby they maintain their bellows function in the event of any subsequent, expansion.
• the casing 10 and the guide 11 will abut the flange 8.
• the tensional forces are thus transferred through these parts, and the bellows remain unloaded.
• the bellows are so:..dimensioned as to enable them to be extended an even further amount, and thus with any subsequent compression they can resume their normal bellows function.
• the compensator at these loads ccmprises a firm part of the pipeline network without compensator function, some of the so-called fixed points can be avoided, i. e., anchoring of the pipeline network to the ground by means of castings.
• the construction provides an operationally reliable and stable compensator, capable of working completely without supervision.
• the outside of the bellows is completely protected against impurities and other harmful influences, and thus they can function freely without any risk of damage.
• the flow of the medium through the compensator is optimized, in that its constant cross-section does not give rise to any appreciable resistance. Neither does the compensator give rise to any noise in the pipeline.
• the compensator is very robust. This is due to the long guide formed by the telescopic action of -the tubes 3 and 4, and partly to the precise control provided by the rails 9 and the recesses in the guide 11.
• the compensator is therefore easier to install, the reason being that it is not deformed by heavy-handed treatment during the installation work. It is therefore quicker and thus more economical in its manufacture, installation and operation, than other known compensators.
• any possible leakage in the bellows will not present any danger to anyone who might be in the vicinity, the reason being that the water or the steam will seep out along the guide.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
• Diaphragms And Bellows (AREA)
• Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8136494

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (10)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1980
  • 1980-11-10 DK DK476980A patent/DK147189B/da unknown
• 1981
  • 1981-11-10 EP EP81903133A patent/EP0064530A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-11-10 NL NL8120426A patent/NL8120426A/nl unknown
  • 1981-11-10 FI FI822264A patent/FI822264A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-11-10 DE DE19813152521 patent/DE3152521T1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-11-10 WO PCT/DK1981/000099 patent/WO1982001759A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1981-11-10 GB GB08217939A patent/GB2100820B/en not_active Expired
• 1982
  • 1982-06-21 SE SE8203829A patent/SE8203829L/ not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1982-06-22 NO NO822068A patent/NO822068L/no unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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