EP0937009B1 - Waterproof flexible bag for suspension load test - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a waterproof and flexible bag for suspension load test, comprising a waterproof envelope (1) supported by evenly distributed straps (2) each of which has a top end designed to be linked with means for hanging the bag and its other end, so-called lower, linked to a connecting ring (3) common to all the straps and arranged beneath the bag while means for emptying the bag are provided. Said bag is characterised in that the emptying and/or filling means comprise at least two mutually fixed parts (5a, 5b) and arranged inside and outside the bag respectively, while a housing is provided in one (5b) of the two parts for receiving the connecting ring (3) of said straps and at least one emptying and/or filling conduit (10) passes right through the two parts (5a, 5b) and the envelope (1) to open inside the bag and outwards by means of a stop valve (11).

Description

The invention relates to a flexible and waterproof bag for load testing in suspension.

To carry out tests of correct operation of the lifting devices and handling, such as cranes, hoists, winches, overhead cranes, in the factory or on site, or on an off shore platform, etc., it is known to use heavy loads to restore normal or abnormal conditions of use and take measurements necessary for testing.

However, the storage and transfer of inert and massive loads such as that metallic masses, both on site and from one site to another, are particularly difficult and expensive.

This is why we imagined using loads in the form of containers filled with water so that filling and emptying can be done on place, said containers being easy to handle empty before and after the tests.

To further improve the size, we imagined using flexible bags and waterproof like in particular those described in patent EP-0 018 075.

In this document, a bag for suspension load test is described. comprising a waterproof envelope supported by regularly distributed straps each of which has an upper end intended to be connected to means for hanging the bag and its other end, called the lower end, connected to a ring of connection common to all the straps and arranged under the bag, while a means of emptying the bag is provided.

In this known system, filling can be carried out from the open top of the bag while emptying is carried out by means of an external evacuation pipe fixed in the lower part of the bag and the free end of which can also be hung on the top of the bag.

The evacuation pipe is sealed in the envelope and it turns out that, from by its shape and the way it is fixed, presents a risk of tearing during handling bags thus creating risks of sudden and undesirable emptying said bag.

It is clear that such accidental emptying, in addition to possible damage by water, would cause an imbalance in the total load which could have consequences serious.

In addition, such a system prevents being able to place the loaded bag on the ground, which may be inconvenient for some tests, especially during overload tests.

We also know a bag described in document GB-2 072 351 A, provided with a emptying device in the form of a large internal tube which opens to the outside by its lower end, the latter being provided with closable openings which communicate with the inside of the bag envelope. Such a system requires in particular a control of the interior openings operable from the outside.

Document US-A-4 640 328 describes a bag such as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The inventor sought a simple and solid system which eliminates or limits the risks of unwanted emptying while possibly allowing the bag to be placed charge.

To this end, a bag according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that the drain and / or filling means comprises at least two parts fixed between them and arranged respectively inside and outside of the bag, while a housing ring is provided in one of the two parts to receive the connecting ring said straps and at least one drain and / or filling conduit passes through right through the two pieces and the envelope to open inside the bag and towards outside via a shut-off valve.

If we use the expression "emptying and / or filling", it means that the means current allow sufficient supply pressure to fill such bags from below, so that the same means can be used for both functions.

We understand that there is no longer any outside pipe, except the one that will be possibly connected at the time of emptying or filling and only at this moment (unless it is emptied directly by the valve).

In this way, the risks of the hose tearing off disappear, while also understands that the way of fixing the emptying and / or filling means is effective since we use the real means of load support constituted by the straps.

In addition, we also understand that we can easily put the bag under load.

Advantageously, the drain and / or filling duct is bent in the outer part so as to present its outwardly directed end in a substantially horizontal plane when the bag is suspended.

According to one embodiment, the parts of the emptying and / or filling means are tightly fixed together by gripping the lower ends straps, while the housing for the connecting ring is constituted by an annular groove made in one of the parts.

In this case for example, the drain and / or filling pipe is embedded in the outer part and passes through a corresponding bore in the inner part, while the tightness of the fixing of the two parts of the means of emptying and / or filling, is ensured by two seals fitted respectively between the inner part and the envelope and between the latter and the outer part.

Preferably then, the valve control means is accessible by a hollow imprint.

In addition, the invention also provides that at least one other conduit can be fitted in the emptying and / or filling means in order to ensure, from from the outside, measurements inside the bag, such as filling level measurement, temperature, etc., which was not possible with the art prior to from the means of emptying.

The additional measurement duct can also be provided at its end inside the bag of a disturbance attenuator.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the external part of the means drain and / or filling has an annular flange which is fixed to the part inner, which is also in the form of an annular flange, for through annular discs with an outer diameter greater than the diameter inside of the connecting ring and separated from each other by at least one tubular spacer, while the housing of said connecting ring is provided between the annular discs and that the drain and / or filling duct is formed in part by a tube tightly fixed between the flange of the external part and the part inside, the other part of the drain and / or filling pipe as well as the valve being fixed on said flange of the external part.

Preferably then, between the annular discs of the outer part, is provided an intermediate annular disc with an outside diameter less than the diameter inside of the connecting ring, the housing of which is formed by the end of the three discs, the intermediate disc ensuring centering of said connecting ring.

Advantageously, the waterproof envelope is sandwiched between the interior part and one of the annular discs of the outer part while forming at the periphery exterior of its clamped part, at least one fold ensuring a possibility of movement to said envelope.

• la figure 1 montre en élévation un sac selon l'invention, rempli,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous du sac de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe (sauf les éléments de vannes) du moyen de vidange et/ou de remplissage du sac des figures 1 et 2 à plus grande échelle,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 5, du type de la figure 3 mais selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une coupe selon V-V de la figure 4, sans la vanne d'arrêt.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 shows in elevation a bag according to the invention, filled,
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bag of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view (except the valve elements) of the means for emptying and / or filling the bag of FIGS. 1 and 2 on a larger scale,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view along IV-IV of FIG. 5, of the type of FIG. 3 but according to another embodiment of the invention,
• Figure 5 is a section along VV of Figure 4, without the stop valve.

The bag shown in the drawings is loaded, i.e. filled water (or of course another liquid), a general shape of a pear (Figure 1) and comprises a waterproof envelope 1, here open on the top and supported or supported by straps 2 regularly distributed.

The straps 2 each have loops (or eyelets) at each of their ends, one of the loops being provided to be fixed to a means of suspension provided for example with a hook or the like (not shown) and the other loop being intended to engage on a connecting ring 3 or similar, flexible or rigid and common to all the straps, placed under the bag (Figures 2, 3 and 4).

The straps 2 are held on the casing 1 for example by sleeves 4 but we understand that it is the straps 2 which provide support for the load and prevent the envelope 1 from bursting.

In terms of navy, one could, for example, name the straps 2 of "slings" and the connecting ring 3, a "strop".

As shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4, the draining means and / or filling 5 according to the invention comprises two parts 5a, 5b arranged in the lower part of the bag, respectively inside (part 5a) and at the outside (part 5b) of the envelope 1.

In room 5b, a drain and / or filling pipe 10 is provided. angled, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 so as to extend substantially horizontally when the bag is suspended as shown in Figure 1, while that it opens outwards via an isolation or stop valve 11 fitted in said part 5b, which valve is provided on the outside with a connector fast 12.

The conduit 10, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, crosses the envelope 1 and the inner part 5a provided for this purpose with a bore 13, passing substantially in the center of the ring 3.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the parts 5a, 5b enclose the ends of the straps 2 while an annular housing 6 is formed in one parts, here the external part 5b, for housing the connecting ring 3.

The parts 5a, 5b are fixed to each other, for example, by assembly screws such as 7, while sealing between the parts is ensured by seals 8 and 9 arranged here respectively between the casing 1 and the interior part 5a (joint 8) and between said envelope 1 and the external part 5b (joint 9, here of annular shape and arranged in a housing of said room). However, in this embodiment, the conduit 10 is, for example, obtained directly during the molding of part 5b and it crosses the seal 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the means 5 are also provided here with at least one other duct 14, also bent, fitted in parts 5a and 5b of the same way as the duct 10, and therefore also includes a stop valve 15, a connection 16, while it passes through the interior part 5a by a bore 17.

In addition, the end of the conduit 14 opposite its connector 16 is provided a disturbance attenuating device 18 (diaphragm, venturi, etc.).

The valves 11 and 15 can be actuated by recesses, respectively 19 and 20, accessible for example by wells 21, 22 provided in the part 5b and visible in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the maneuvering means being keys with or without torque recovery lever.

The embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 may be preferred because it allows in particular to ensure a certain freedom of movement of the envelope, with equalization tensions exerted on it.

In this embodiment, partly already described above, the interior part 5a is in the form of an annular flange whose hollowed-out central part constitutes the end of the conduit 10, while the outer part 5b has several elements and in particular an annular flange 23 fixed to the inner part 5a via of two annular discs 24, 25 with a diameter greater than the diameter inside of the connecting ring 3 and separated from each other by two tubular spacers 26, 26 ', at least part of these parts which can advantageously, for including weight and waterproofing issues, be made of synthetic material.

In this embodiment, the housing of the connecting ring 3 is produced by the ends of the two discs 24, 25, as shown in FIG. 4, which also shows an intermediate annular disc 27, with an outside diameter less than inner diameter of the connecting ring 3, which is arranged between the spacers tubular 26, 26 'and which thus ensures centering of said ring 3.

Still in this embodiment, the bent conduit 10 is formed in part by a tube 28 tightly fixed between the flange 23 of the outer part 5b and the inner part 5a, the other part of the conduit 10, back to square, as well as the valve stop 11 being fixed as shown in FIG. 4, on said flange 23, the valve 11 being here controlled by a lever key 32.

To fix the flange 23 on the part 5a, we use, for example, a certain number of bolts, such as 29 (Figures 4 and 5), evenly distributed while for fix the valve on the flange 23, we use, for example, bolts 30 distributed as shown in Figure 5.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it can be seen that at the outer periphery of the enclosed part of the envelope 1, this forms a fold 1 ′ which thus ensures, as already said, a possibility of mobility for said envelope.

We understand that the bag shown can easily be placed on the ground, even filled with water, directly or, more particularly for the embodiment of FIG. 4, by means of a foot such as (31) represented in FIG. 4.

In addition, we see that the means 5 is perfectly fixed on elements bag solids, without forcing on the envelope, both empty and filled, and it avoids any additional external accessories.

It is also understood that the emptying and / or filling can be carried out easily by connecting to fitting 12.

The duct 14 meanwhile, shown in Figure 3, allows by connecting any means on connection 16, to make measurements for example of the level of filling (by pressure measurement), or other from the outside. The device disturbance attenuator 18, moreover arranged here at right angles, makes it possible to carry out measures despite the disturbances generated during filling and / or a drain for example.

Claims (10)

1. Flexible and waterproof bag for suspension load testing, comprising a waterproof envelope (1) supported by evenly spaced straps (2), each of which exhibits an upper end designed to be connected to means for suspension of the bag, and its other - so-called lower - end connected to a connecting ring (3) common to all the straps and disposed under the bag, while a means (5) for emptying the bag is provided, characterised in that the means (5) for emptying and/or for filling comprises at least two parts (5a, 5b) fixed between one another and disposed respectively inside and outside the bag, while a housing is provided in one (5b) of the two parts to receive the connecting ring (3) for said straps and at least one pipe (10) for emptying and/or for filling passes right through the two parts (5a, 5b) and the envelope (1) to debouch inside the bag and on the outside through the intermediary of a stop valve (11).
2. Bag according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe (10) for emptying and/or for filling has a bend in the external part so as to present its outward end directed in a substantially horizontal plane when the bag is suspended.
3. Bag according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the parts (5a, 5b) of the means (5) for emptying and/or for filling are fixed between one another sealingly, clamping the lower ends of the straps (2), while the housing for the connecting ring (3) is constituted by an annular groove (6) formed in one (5b) of the parts.
4. Bag according to claim 3, characterised in that the pipe (10) for emptying and/or for filling is embedded in the external part (5b) and passes through a corresponding bore (13) formed in the internal part (5a).
5. Bag according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the sealing for the fixture of the two parts (5a, 5b) of the means (5) for emptying and/or for filling is provided by two seals (8, 9) arranged respectively between the internal part (5a) and the envelope (1) and between the latter and the external part (5b).
6. Bag according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that at least one other pipe (14) is provided in the means (5) for emptying and/or for filling with a view to allowing measurements inside the bag to be carried out from the outside.
7. Bag according to claim 6, characterised in that the additional measuring pipe (14) is provided with a disturbance attenuating device (18) at its end inside the bag.
8. Bag according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the external part (5b) of the means (5) for emptying and/or for filling comprises an annular flange (23) which is fixed to the internal part (5a), which also takes the form of an annular flange, through the intermediary of annular disks (24, 25) with an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the connecting ring (3) and separated one from another by at least one tubular spacer (26, 26'), while the housing of said connecting ring (3) is provided between the annular disks (24, 25), and the pipe (10) for emptying and/or for filling is formed in part by a tube (28) fixed sealingly between the flange (23) of the external part (5b) and the internal part (5a), the other portion of the pipe (10) for emptying and/or for filling and the stop valve (11) being fixed to said flange (23) of the external part (5b).
9. Bag according to claim 8, characterised in that between the annular disks (24, 25) of the external part (5b) there is an intermediate annular disk (27) with an outside diameter which is less than the inside diameter of the connecting ring (3), the housing of which is formed by the end of the three disks (24, 25, 27), the intermediate disk (27) effecting centering of said connecting ring (3).
10. Bag according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the waterproof envelope (1) is clamped between the internal part (5a) and one (24) of the annular disks of the external part (5b) while forming at least one fold (1') on the external periphery of its clamped portion, allowing said envelope (1) a possibility of movement.

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