EP0807452B1 - Support for equipment mountable on a cylindrical element - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a support equipment intended to be mounted on a surface cylindrical. It allows in particular cold mounting, without welds, sprinkler rings for tanks containing flammable liquids, intended to spray water or foam to cool the walls of said tanks by fire and supporting bridges, electrical cables and piping.

The invention finds its application in all factories where equipment must be supported by rigid walls cylindrical elements including petroleum refineries, production platforms for petroleum and flammable deposits.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

A device for fixing crowns in particular watering on tanks containing flammable products is described in patent FR 2,638,143.

This device includes a fixing belt, designed to at least partially surround a tank of storage, at least one crown support fixed to said belt and extending radially outward.

Depending on the device, the fixing belt is in contact on one of its faces, over its entire length with the tank skirt creating a large area infiltration and water retention.

The fact that the belt is in contact with the skirt has the disadvantage that the belt constitutes a obstacle to the flow of coolant which has consequence of causing the liquid film to break intended to protect the skirt.

This creates particularly conditions favorable to the development of corrosion phenomena in surfaces in contact.

In addition, the installation of this device requires the use of a crane, see several cranes in the large bins.

This device can be installed without welding on the tank, so without draining and degassing the tank. However in in many cases, this installation mode is only provisional.

We wish to be able to weld the supports on occasion a maintenance operation, during which the tank is emptied and degassed, for other reasons. With this device it is necessary to weld the belt on the skirt of the tank, while it was enough to weld the supports.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks. For this it offers a equipment support designed to be easily mounted on a rigid wall of a cylindrical element and creating zones to risk of corrosion as low as possible

To this end, the support of the invention includes a plurality of consoles intended to support the equipment, one fastening belt provided with tensioning means, intended for be tightened to retain the brackets on the rigid wall of the cylindrical element characterized in that the brackets are independent of the fixing belt and in that it further includes spacers which in cooperation with the consoles are suitable for holding the seat belt fixing away from the rigid wall of the element cylindrical, over its entire length.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the spacers are profiled elements in the form of U, comprising a base and two perpendicular branches, the faces of the ends of the branches resting on the rigid wall of the cylindrical element.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the brackets are profiles with the same shape as the stirrups spacers extended perpendicular to their bases by equipment support arms.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support arms include at least two parts mechanically adjustable.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the fastening belt has a flat face which rests on the bases of the spacers and brackets.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the stirrups and consoles are provided on their bases with guides which limit their sliding relative to the seat belt fixation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the branches of spacers and brackets have lights for the passage of the fixing belt.

According to another characteristic, the invention is also a tank notably of hydrocarbons equipped with support according to the invention, said support being intended for support a sprinkler ring fitted with projection of liquid, placed around the tank and supplied with pressurized liquid.

According to another characteristic, the invention includes a support mounting device consisting of hooks which have a long straight part integral with a magnetic suction cup and a short part curved on the side opposite to said suction cup.

• la figure 1 représente un réservoir en vue de dessus sur lequel est monté un support d'équipement.
• les figures 2 et 2b représentent un étrier d'écartement respectivement en vue de face et de dessus.
• les figures 3a et 3b représentent une console respectivement en vue de face et de dessus.
• la figure 4 représente le support d'équipement monté sur un réservoir.
• la figure 5 représente une vue en coupe suivant A de la figure 4 .
• les figures 6a et 6b représentent une console selon un deuxième mode de réalisation, respectivement de face et en coupe suivant B.
• les figures 7a et 7b représentent un étrier d'écartement selon un deuxième mode de réalisation, respectivement de face et en coupe suivant C.
• la figure 8 représente selon un deuxième mode de réalisation le support d'équipement monté sur un réservoir.
• les figures 9 et 10 représentent partiellement un réservoir équipé d'une couronne d'arrosage soutenue par le support de l'invention, en vue de face et de dessus respectivement.
• la figure 11 représente un dispositif de montage du support.
• la figure 12 représente schématiquement l'installation sur le réservoir des consoles et des étriers au moyen du dispositif de montage.

Other advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a tank in top view on which is mounted an equipment support.
• Figures 2 and 2b show a spacer bracket respectively in front view and from above.
• Figures 3a and 3b show a console respectively in front view and from above.
• Figure 4 shows the equipment support mounted on a tank.
• FIG. 5 represents a sectional view along A of FIG. 4.
• Figures 6a and 6b show a console according to a second embodiment, respectively from the front and in section along B.
• Figures 7a and 7b show a spacer bracket according to a second embodiment, respectively from the front and in section along C.
• Figure 8 shows according to a second embodiment the equipment support mounted on a tank.
• Figures 9 and 10 partially show a tank equipped with a sprinkler ring supported by the support of the invention, in front view and from above respectively.
• FIG. 11 represents a device for mounting the support.
• Figure 12 shows schematically the installation on the tank of brackets and stirrups by means of the mounting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

• des consoles 2
• une ceinture 3
• des moyens 4 de tension de la ceinture 3
• des étriers 5 d'écartement

With reference to FIG. 1, the support according to the invention comprises the following elements:

• consoles 2
• a belt 3
• belt tensioning means 4
• spacers 5

The brackets 2 and the brackets 5, are arranged around the skirt 6 of the reservoir 1 and held in place by pressure against the skirt 6 under the action of the belt 3 which is tightened by means 4 of tension. Belt 3, the consoles 2 and the stirrups thus mounted, the belt 3 is moved away from the skirt 6 of the tank, which reduces the contact surface between the skirt 6 and the elements of the support. Areas where corrosion can occur develop are reduced.

Belt 3 is made in several pieces easy to handle and set up. According to a mode preferred embodiment with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a spacer 5 in the shape of a U, comprising a base 8 and two branches 9 and 10 perpendicular to the base 8, of which the faces 11 and 12 of the ends are supported on the skirt 6 of the tank 1.

• une pièce 15 soudée sur la base 14 du U de la console 2
• deux équerres 16 et 17 de section en forme de L.

FIGS. 3a and 3b represent a console 2, having the same shape as a stirrup 5 for spacing extended by a support arm 13 perpendicular to the base 14. This arm 13 can advantageously comprise three parts as illustrated in FIG. 5:

• a piece 15 welded to the base 14 of the U of the console 2
• two L and 16 section brackets.

These parts are mechanically connected by bolts not shown that pass through the holes oblong formed in the part 15 and the brackets 16 and 17. Thanks to these arrangements, the arm 13 is radially adjustable. and angularly with respect to the reservoir 1.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the belt 3 carried out by means of a flat iron rests on the face 8 of the bracket 5 and on the base 14 of the console 2, to maintain these two parts pressed against the skirt 6 of the tank 1.

The spacer 5 has a guide 19 and the console 2 a guide 18, which limit the sliding of the belt 3.

According to another embodiment, illustrated by Figures 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b, the branches of U 9, 10 and 9bis and 10bis, respectively stirrups 5 and spacers consoles 2 have lights 20, 22 and 21 and 23.

With this type of console and stirrup, the belt 3 consists of round profile irons, which are arranged in upper and lower parts of the lights, as shown in the figure 8.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the application particular from the inventor's support, to the support of a ring 30 for watering a tank 1 of products flammable.

The crown 30 provided with microgenerators 31 of foam, is fed by a mixture of water and agent foaming under pressure.

The foam sprayed on the tank skirt constitutes a protective film for the skirt against the thermal radiation emitted by hydrocarbons in combustion around the tank. Thanks to the free space between the belt and the skirt the film can develop without break and play its role of protective screen.

The crown consists of several sections to facilitate handling. The 17 brackets are welded to the crown 30 by the welds 32.

By relative displacement of the brackets 16 and 17, and of part 15, the length of the support arm is thus adjusted that its angular positioning relative to the skirt of the tank. Thus the welding operations of the brackets 17 on the crown can be made before mounting on The reservoir.

The subject of the invention is therefore a device for mounting of the support illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, constituted by a hook 29 which has a part 27 long integral with a magnetic suction cup 26 and a part 28 short curved on the side opposite to the suction cup 26.

To set up the consoles 2 and the brackets 5, these elements are suspended from the short 28 parts of the hooks, by passing said hooks through holes 7 and 7bis. The assembly is then placed along the skirt 6 of the tank, against which it is held by the suction cup 26 magnetic.

The belt 3 is put in place, tightened by action on the tensioning means 4. The hooks 29 are then withdrawn.

Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to weld the consoles 2 on the cylindrical surface for a final assembly and to remove the belt 3 and the stirrups 5 of spacing, these elements being reusable on a other installation.

Claims (9)

1. An equipment support mountable on a rigid wall (6) of a cylindrical element (1), comprising a plurality of brackets (2) for supporting the equipment, a fastening belt (3) provided with tension means (4), designed to be tightened so as to hold the brackets (2) on the rigid wall (6) of the cylindrical element (1), characterised in that the brackets (2) are independent of the fastening belt (3) and in that the support additionally comprises spacer stirrups (5) which, in cooperation with the brackets (2), are fitted so as to hold the fastening belt (3) away from the rigid wall (6) of the cylindrical element (1), over the entire length thereof.
2. A support according to claim 1, characterised in that the spacer stirrups (5) are U-shaped elements comprising a base (8) and two perpendicular branches (9 and 10), the faces (11 and 12) of the ends of the branches (9 and 10) resting on the rigid wall (6) of the cylindrical element (1).
3. A support according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the brackets (2) are shaped members of the same shape as the spacer stirrups (5) but extended perpendicularly to their bases (14) by arms (13) for supporting the equipment.
4. A support according to claim 3, characterised in that the supporting arms (13) comprise at least two members connected mechanically in adjustable manner.
5. A support according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the fastening belt (3) has a flat face which rests against the bases (8 and 14) of the spacer stirrups (5) and the brackets (2).
6. A support according to claim 5, characterised in that the stirrups (5) and the brackets (2) are provided on their bases (8 and 14) with guides (18 and 19) which limit sliding thereof relative to the fastening belt (3).
7. A support according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the branches (9 and 10) of the spacer stirrups (5) and the brackets (2) comprise apertures (20, 21, 22 and 23) for passage of the fastening belt (3).
8. A tank in particular for hydrocarbons equipped with the support according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said support is designed to support a sprinkler ring (30) provided with liquid projection means (31), positioned around the tank (1) and fed with pressurised liquid.
9. Device for mounting the support according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it consists of hooks (29) comprising a long rectilinear portion (27) integral with a magnetic suction pad (26) and a short portion (28) curved to the opposite side from said suction pad (26).

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