Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
  • B26F3/00—Severing by means other than cutting; Apparatus therefor
  • B26F3/04—Severing by squeezing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23D—PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23D15/00—Shearing machines or shearing devices cutting by blades which move parallel to themselves
  • B23D15/12—Shearing machines or shearing devices cutting by blades which move parallel to themselves characterised by drives or gearings therefor
  • B23D15/14—Shearing machines or shearing devices cutting by blades which move parallel to themselves characterised by drives or gearings therefor actuated by fluid or gas pressure
  • B23D15/145—Shearing machines or shearing devices cutting by blades which move parallel to themselves characterised by drives or gearings therefor actuated by fluid or gas pressure actuated by explosion
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/0006—Cutting members therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
  • B26D7/22—Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/32—Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D9/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships
  • B67D9/02—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids when loading or unloading ships using articulated pipes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
  • F42B3/006—Explosive bolts; Explosive actuators
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/04—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member
  • B26D1/06—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates
  • B26D1/08—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/0006—Cutting members therefor
  • B26D2001/002—Materials or surface treatments therefor, e.g. composite materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D5/00—Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
  • B26D5/08—Means for actuating the cutting member to effect the cut
  • B26D5/12—Fluid-pressure means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
  • B63B2021/003—Mooring or anchoring equipment, not otherwise provided for
  • B63B2021/004—Quick release elements in mooring connections
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T83/00—Cutting
  • Y10T83/525—Operation controlled by detector means responsive to work
  • Y10T83/541—Actuation of tool controlled in response to work-sensing means
  • Y10T83/544—With trip-switch in work-sensing mechanism
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T83/00—Cutting
  • Y10T83/667—Tool carrier or guide affixed to work during cutting
  • Y10T83/68—Entirely work supported

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a safety device in applications requiring means for releasing the mechanical connection by cable or rope of a set of two elements, in particular in an explosive environment.
• the invention can be used to secure the operation of marine loading / unloading arms of ships carrying liquid or gaseous fuel, such as LNG or oil tankers, particularly in off-shore applications.
• liquid or gaseous fuel such as LNG or oil tankers
• the invention is however not limited to this application alone, and can for example also be used in other applications, to release in explosive medium the mechanical connection by cable or rope between two elements, and for example the mooring or anchoring link of a floating element, such as, in particular, an offshore platform, a methane tanker or an oil tanker.
• a floating element such as, in particular, an offshore platform, a methane tanker or an oil tanker.
• the document FR-A-2 854 156 describes a set of loading / unloading fluid products, comprising a balanced loading / unloading arm installed at a first location and having a pipeline compass mounted by the one of its ends on a base and provided at the other end thereof with a connection system adapted to connect the line compass to a coupling means installed at the second location.
• This assembly further comprises a cable connected on the one hand to means integral with the base and adapted to subject the cable to a constant voltage and adapted to be connected, on the other hand, to the second location (the manifold of the ship) . It further comprises guiding means adapted to cooperate with the cable so as to guide the connection system along a path materialized by said cable to bring the connection system in a connection position to the coupling means.
• FIG. 1 adapted from document FR-A-2 854 156, shows an example of cable guiding means fitted to a loading arm 1 of natural gas. liquefied. This one is composed of:
• a spool 8 with a male receiver cone and means for fixing the cable is a spool 8 with a male receiver cone and means for fixing the cable.
• the purpose of the cable guide means is to progressively apply the movements of the boat related to the presence of waves or waves to the loading arm during the connection time on the manifold of the boat.
• the cable 4 is kept under constant tension so as to guide the end of the arm towards the manifold of the boat 9.
• the arm 1 is in "freewheeling" and is guided only by the cable 4.
• Cable 4 is kept energized between the manifold of the boat 9 and the base 10 of each arm. This tension is applied thanks to the constant tension winch 2 placed at the base of the base 10.
• This winch uses a hydraulic motor which is fed by a constant hydraulic pressure. If the distance between the boat and the pier increases, the winch will let the cable run while keeping the cable taut. If the distance between the boat and the pier decreases, the winch will wind the cable always maintaining constant tension in the cable.
• the guide wire In case of emergency disconnection, the guide wire is unwound from the winch drum of the arm and falls into the water. However, in case of mechanical locking of the winch at constant tension, the cable remains hooked at both ends and the cable can not unwind. If the boat continues to move with the waves or to move away due to a large drift, the force applied to the manifold of the boat is absolutely no longer controlled and can exceed very much the threshold allowable for these manifolds. If there is a mechanical blockage of this type, the risk is to damage the manifolds of the boat before the cable breaks.
• an automatic cable disconnector which has the ability to cut the guide wire regardless of the operating phase of the loading arm (connection or disconnection of the arm on the manifolds of the boat, loading or unloading).
• This system comprises means for detecting the position of the boat, means for detecting the tension of the cable, at least one alarm system controlled by electronic means and a remotely controllable cable disconnector and having means for positioning the cable.
• cable likely to scroll.
• it is possible to cut a cable according to the abnormal conditions of attitude, that is to say, position of the boat and cable tension, that is to say in abnormal conditions of the boat's flotation due to a very high resistance due to the object attached to the end of the cable, such as the fishing net.
• cable disconnectors US 6,878,024 B1 discloses a hydrostatic release system for slicing a cable securing a floating object to a maritime machine, when the latter is immersed to a predetermined depth.
• WO 2007/096335 A1 discloses a pyrotechnic cable disconnector, by means of a hollow charge, having a section of "V" transverse structure and a partially annular shape, so as to partially surround the piece of circular section to be sectioned and comprising means for priming the hollow charge and means for positioning the circular section piece to be sectioned with respect to the hollow charge.
• Other pyrotechnic disconnectors are described in US 5,177,317 A, WO 94/25212 A1 and US 6,349,474 B1.
• All the aforementioned pyrotechnic disconnectors of the prior art implement an explosive charge for the triggering of the pyrotechnic shear, and are not suitable for use, without risk of explosion, in an area with conditions of explosive atmosphere. It was therefore inconceivable until today to seek to use a pyrotechnic disconnector to automatically cut a mechanical link, in an explosive atmosphere, such as in particular the cable of a loading / unloading arm of a LNG tanker and / or oil tanker, or the mooring or anchoring link of an oil or gas platform, an oil tanker, or an LNG tanker.
• the present invention is aimed primarily at proposing a new technical solution that can be used in an explosive environment, and that automatically and reliably releases, without risk of explosion, a mechanical cable connection or rope between two elements, in particular in case of excessive tension exerted on the mechanical link.
• the technical solution of the invention should preferably meet the requirements of the European directive "94-9-CE ATEX”.
• the invention relates to a device for automatically releasing a mechanical connection by cable or rope between two elements, in a zone having explosive atmosphere conditions; said device comprises:
• a mechanical assembly in the form of an enclosure which is adapted to be traversed by a cable or rope and which encloses at least one disconnector comprising a chisel associated with an anvil and means for moving the chisel with respect to the anvil for the cutting the cable or rope, cable positioning means or rope for passing the cable or rope between the anvil and the chisel, and means for measuring the tension of the rope or rope, - Control and control means (12) for automatically controlling the tripping of the disconnector, the chisel of the disconnector, being in an anti-spark material.
• the invention relates to a device for automatically releasing a mechanical connection by cable or rope between two elements, in a zone having explosive atmosphere conditions; said device comprises:
• a mechanical assembly in the form of an enclosure which is adapted to be traversed by a cable or rope and which encloses at least one disconnector for cutting the cable or rope, means for positioning the cable or rope, and measuring means cable tension or rope,
• the device is subdivided into at least two chambers: a main chamber which is adapted to be traversed by the cable or rope and which contains at least said disconnector, said cable or rope positioning means and said cable tension or rope tensioning means, and at least one adjacent lateral expansion chamber, the inner wall separating the main chamber from said lateral expansion chamber being provided with a plurality of orifices and serving as a flame guard.
• the device mentioned above may further comprise in combination one or more of the following features:
• the anvil is in an anti-spark material
• the device comprises one or more fixed guides which allow guiding in the enclosure of the cable or rope and which are in an anti-spark material;
• the anti-spark material is a copper-beryllium alloy (Cu-Be); the anti-spark material is a metal chosen from the following group: brass, bronze, copper-nickel alloy, copper-aluminum alloy, titanium;
• the disconnector is a pyrotechnic disconnector
• the control and control means (12) allow the automatic tripping of the disconnector, based on the measurement of the voltage in the cable or rope, when a predetermined threshold voltage is reached;
• the chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet of the cable or rope, the two holes being equipped with rollers, preferably PTFE, configured to limit the entry of air or external gas inside the enclosure;
• the enclosure is subdivided into at least two chambers: a main chamber which is able to be traversed by the cable or rope and which encloses at least said disconnector, said positioning means of the cable or cordage and said measuring means (16) cable tension or rope, and at least one adjacent lateral expansion chamber, the inner wall separating the main chamber from said chamber lateral expansion device being provided with a plurality of orifices and acting as a flame shield;
• the enclosure is subdivided into at least three chambers: the main chamber, which is capable of being traversed by the cable or cord, and which encloses at least said disconnector, said cable or cord positioning means and said voltage measuring means; cable or rope (4), and two lateral expansion chambers contiguous and on either side of the main chamber, each inner wall separating the main central chamber of each of the two lateral expansion chambers being provided with a plurality of holes and acting as a flame shield;
• said orifices of each flame-resistant inner wall of each lateral expansion chamber have a diameter of less than 15 mm;
• each lateral expansion chamber comprises a flame-resistant outer wall provided with a plurality of orifices which allow the lateral chamber to communicate with the outside;
• each outer wall (P ') flame shield of each lateral expansion chamber have a diameter less than 15 mm; said openings of each outer wall (P ') flame shield of each lateral expansion chamber are initially obstructed by plugs during the phase of cable tension measurement before a possible tripping of the device;
• the disconnector comprises a chisel (25) associated with an anvil and means for moving the chisel relative to the anvil for cutting the cable or rope, the chisel being in a non-sparking material;
• the means for measuring the tension of the cable or rope are configured so that the cable or rope exerts on said measuring means a radial force proportional to the tension of the rope or rope;
• the means for measuring the tension of the cable comprise a central pulley as well as two pulleys framing the central pulley, which ensure a constant angle between the cable and the central pulley upstream and downstream of said central pulley, and a dynamometric system located inside the axis of the central pulley; said dynamometric system comprises two strain gages;
• control and control means are located outside the enclosure, are connected to said mechanical assembly, preferably by a wire connection, and are able to be positioned outside the zone having explosive atmosphere conditions; .
• the invention further relates to a safety system for loading / unloading vessel arm carrying liquid or gaseous fuel, said arm being equipped with a mechanical connection system and cable guidance of said arm, called more simply cable guide means, for connection / disconnection to a manifold of said vessel, said system comprising a previously referred device for automatically releasing the aforementioned cable mechanical connection.
• the aforementioned security system further comprises in combination one or more of the following features: - the cable guide means comprises a constant voltage winch located at an end where the cable is secured to the arm;
• said mechanical assembly of the device for automatically releasing the mechanical connection by the abovementioned cable is secured to a base of the arm or to the winch with constant tension;
• Said mechanical assembly is at the same electrical potential as the winch or the ship.
• the invention also relates to: - the use of the device referred to above to automatically cut a mechanical connection cable or rope between two elements in a zone with explosive atmosphere conditions; - use of the device referred to above to automatically cut the cable of a loading / unloading arm of a ship; the use of the device referred to above to automatically cut a connection linkage or anchoring of a floating element, under conditions of explosive atmosphere; - Use of the device referred to above to automatically cut a docking or anchoring connection of a floating element, such as an oil or gas platform, a tanker, or a tanker.
• Figure 1 schematically shows an example of liquefied natural gas loading arm, installed on a pier to load and unload a LNG carrier and equipped with a cable guide means.
• Figure 2 shows the same loading arm equipped with the cable guide means and provided with the safety device according to the present invention, consisting of a mechanical assembly for measuring and positioning the pyrotechnic disconnector, station on the cable along the loading arm of Figure 1 and an acquisition and control unit located outside the hazardous area.
• Figures 3A, 3B show detailed views of the mechanical part of the safety device of the present invention.
• Figure 3C is a longitudinal sectional view of the enclosure of another alternative embodiment of the safety device of the present invention.
• Figures 4A and 4B show an exemplary embodiment of the pyrotechnic disconnector used according to the invention, respectively before and after firing said disconnector. Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
• the present invention provides a safety equipment 11, 12, 13 comprising an automatic pyrotechnic disconnector that can be used in an explosive atmosphere and is equipped with a cable tension measuring element and means for cutting the cable if the measured voltage of the cable exceeds a predetermined critical threshold.
• this safety equipment is mounted on the cable of a loading arm of a tanker type tanker and / or LNG carrier , and automatically cut the cable of this arm if the measured voltage of the cable exceeds a predetermined critical threshold that may lead to damage to the loading arm or the vessel carrying the fuel.
• the measurement of the voltage of the cable is carried out continuously. If the cable tension therefore exceeds a predefined value, the device sends the cutting order of the cable.
• This cutting is advantageously carried out using either a pyrotechnic cable disconnector or a pyrotechnic cable cutter, or again using any hydraulic, electrical or pneumatic disconnector.
• the safety equipment comprises not only a mechanical assembly 11 for measuring and positioning the pyrotechnic disconnector along each loading arm but also an acquisition unit, control and control 12 advantageously located and preferably outside the potentially explosive area (see Figure 2).
• the connection between the mechanical assembly 11 and the control and control unit 12 is preferably a wired connection 13, but could also be a wireless connection.
• the mechanical assembly 11 will advantageously have the same electrical potential as the winch with constant voltage 2.
• FIG 3A shows a longitudinal section of the mechanical device of the invention installed station on the cable 4.
• This device comprises an enclosure 21 subdivided into a main chamber 21a and two lateral chambers 21b, 21c for expansion of the gas.
• the main chamber 21a respectively contains pulleys 15A, 15B, 15C for guiding and positioning the cable, a torque axis 16 in the form of two strain gauges located inside the axis of the pulley, a fixed guide 17 for guiding the cable, PTFE rollers 18, a pyrotechnic disconnector 19 with an anvil 20.
• Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of the same device. This is shown with its attachment means 22 to the loading arm.
• Control of the disconnector The signals delivered by the strain gauges of the dynamic axis 16 are characteristic of the mechanical tension in the cable 4 and are processed by the remote control and control unit 12.
• This control and control unit 12 comprises electronic control means for automatically comparing the measured voltage with a predefined threshold, and control means connected to the disconnector 19 and for automatically controlling the tripping of the disconnector 19 for cutting the cable 4 if the tension of the cable detected by the load axis 16 exceeds the predefined threshold.
• the pyrotechnic disconnector 19 is preferably a pyrotechnic shear commonly used to cut cables in the industry.
• a pyrotechnic shear is preferably used which will not allow the hot gas to escape to the outside (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).
• the pyrotechnic shear for example consists of a hollow cylindrical body 23 and an anvil 20.
• the first end of the body 23 contains the powder cartridge 24 and the other end is opposite the cable 4 to be sectioned .
• the hollow cylindrical body contains the burin 25 which will sever the cable 4 when it is projected on it by the blast.
• the hot gas 27 is confined in the body 23 of the shears, at the rear of the chisel 25 ( Figure 4B).
• FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C Several barriers have been provided in the device of the invention to prevent the device from communicating a deflagration to the outside environment in the event of pyrotechnic cutting of the cable (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C):
• the openings on the outside are reduced by means of PTFE rollers 18.
• the size of the passage openings of the cable is advantageously adapted to the type of gas mixture;
• the chisel 25, and preferably the anvil 20 of the pyrotechnic disconnector are chosen in anti-spark material; preferably, this non-sparking material is a special copper alloy (CuBe2). This specific alloy makes it possible to avoid any risk of sparks inside the device during the impact of the chisel 25 on a metal element, and in particular on the cable and on the anvil 20. This therefore prevents the ignition of the gas that might be there;
• These holes 26, 26 ' are preferably hermetically blocked by plugs in order to prevent the fresh mixture of explosive gases (air / methane) from entering them during the phase of measurement of cable tension before a possible tripping. of the device.
• the main central chamber 21a which is in communication with the outside limited by the inlet and outlet ports of the cable, is positioned between two lateral gas expansion chambers 21b, 21c which are contiguous with the main chamber 21a and located on either side of the main chamber 21a. These will serve to relax the flue gas, to reduce their temperature below the self-ignition temperature of the explosive gas mixture, before their ejection to the outside. They are in communication with the central chamber 21a by flamethrower plates P with holes 26 whose function has been described above. In FIGS.
• the orifices 26 are preferably hermetically blocked by removable plugs 26a.
• the device therefore behaves as an explosion-proof enclosure and resists the explosion of explosive gas mixture possibly found inside.
• each lateral expansion chamber (21b, 21c) also comprises an external wall P 'pierced with a plurality of orifices 26' which make it possible to communicate the side chamber with the outside, and evacuate if necessary too high gas pressure inside the side chamber.
• these orifices 26 ' are dimensioned so that the outer wall P' also acts as flame arrestor.
• these orifices 26 ' may not be provided, the outer wall P 'being in this case a sealed wall.
• each outer wall P' are preferably hermetically blocked by removable plugs 26 ', to prevent the fresh mixture of explosive gas (for example air / methane) does not penetrate from the outside into the corresponding lateral chamber 21b or 21c by passing through the orifices 26 'during the cable voltage measurement phase before a possible tripping of the device.
• the fresh mixture of explosive gas for example air / methane
• the presence of the explosive atmosphere is the first significant differences, hence the establishment of different explosion-proof barriers mentioned above.
• the cable tension measurement is performed using three pulleys and not two, which allows the central pulley to receive a radial force proportional to the tension of the cable.
• the voltage sensor is a set of two strain gauges placed inside the axis of the central pulley.
• the pyrotechnic disconnector is different because of the nature of the environment.
• the alert modes are different since the information is not visible by the men present in the control cabin, the cutting being done automatically beyond a certain threshold of voltage.
• the disconnector 19 is not necessarily a pyrotechnic disconnector whose chisel moving means 25 with respect to ⁇ anvil 20 would be constituted by the propelling means of the powder cartridge-type 24.
• the chisel 25 and optionally the anvil 20 are made of an anti-spark material, the latter is not necessarily a copper-beryllium alloy (Cu-Be), but can also be one of the following metals: brass, bronze, copper-nickel alloy, copper-aluminum alloy, titanium.
• the main chamber 21a of the device in which the cable 4 passes may comprise one or more fixed elements for guiding the cable 4, such as the aforementioned guide 17, against which the cable is rubbing.
• these fixed guide elements are also made of a spark-proof material.
• the control and control unit 12 is not necessarily located outside the chamber 21 of the device. In another variant, the control and control unit 12 may be in the form of an electronic circuit placed inside the chamber 12 of the cutting device, and in particular inside the main chamber 21a.
• the device of the invention may more generally be used to automatically cut a mechanical connection by cable or rope between two elements, in a zone having explosive atmosphere conditions.
• the device of the invention can be used to automatically cut a docking or anchoring connection of a floating element, in potentially explosive atmosphere conditions, such as in particular a mooring link or anchoring of a floating element, of the oil or gas platform type, oil tanker, methane tanker.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
• Testing Or Calibration Of Command Recording Devices (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

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• 2008
  • 2008-10-23 FR FR0805871A patent/FR2937628A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2009
  • 2009-10-22 FR FR0957416A patent/FR2937570B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-10-23 WO PCT/FR2009/001239 patent/WO2010046569A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-10-23 US US13/125,646 patent/US20110232469A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-10-23 EP EP09755935A patent/EP2349660A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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