ES2224427T3 - FLEXIBLE, WATERPROOF SACK FOR SUSPENSION LOAD TESTING. - 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

Flexible, waterproof bag for load testing in suspension.

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

To perform tests of proper functioning of lifting and handling equipment, such as cranes, hoists, winches, rolling bridges, at the factory or on the terrain, or even on offshore platforms (marine), etc. the use of heavy loads is known for reconstitute normal or abnormal conditions of use and make necessary measurements for the tests.

However, the storage and transfer of inert and massive loads, such as metal masses, both in the same site as from one site to another, they are particularly difficult and expensive.

For this reason, he has imagined using loads in form of containers filled with water so that the filling and the emptying can be done on the ground, and can be manipulated easily said containers when empty before and after of the essays.

To further improve the space conditions, it has been imagined to use flexible and waterproof bags, particularly as described in the patent
EP-0 018 075.

In this document, a bag is described for suspension load test that includes a waterproof cover maintained by straps distributed regularly, each of the which presents an upper end destined to join with means of suspension of the sack and its other end, called inferior, to join a joint ring common to all straps and arranged under the bag, while a means of emptying is provided.

In this known system, filling can be performed by the open top of the bag, while the emptying is done by a fixed external evacuation tube at the bottom of the bag and whose free end can also be hooked on top of the bag.

The evacuation tube is sealed in the cover and it turns out that this one, due to its shape and the way it is fixed, it presents the risk of being torn off during bag manipulations, thus causing risks of rough and undesirable emptying of said sack.

It is clear that such accidental emptying, in addition to eventual water damage would lead to a total load imbalance that may have consequences serious.

In addition, such a system prevents being able to support the bag with load on the ground, which can be annoying for certain tests, especially during the course of overload.

A sack described in the GB-2 072 351 A, equipped with a device emptying in the form of a large inner tube that flows into the outer by its lower end, the latter being able to be endowed of openings that can be closed that communicate with the interior of The cover of the bag. Such a system needs, above all, a actuation of the internal openings that can be operated from the outside.

The document US-A-4 640 328 describes such a sack as defined in the preamble of the independent claim one.

The inventor has sought a simple and solid system that eliminates or limits the risks of unwanted emptying, at the same time that possibly allows to support the bag with load.

To this end, a sack according to the invention is especially remarkable because the means of emptying and / or filling includes at least two pieces fixed to each other and arranged in the inside and outside of the bag, respectively, while planned an annular housing in one of the two pieces to accommodate the connecting ring of said belts and that at least one conduit of emptying and / or filling crosses the two pieces from one side to the other and the cover to open inside the bag and towards the outside through a shut-off valve.

If the expression "emptying and / or filled ", is because the current means allow to have a sufficient supply pressure to fill these types of bags below, so that the same medium can be used for Two functions

It is understood that, in this way, there is no longer any outer tube, except for the one that will possibly join at the time of emptying or filling and only at that time (except if it occurs a direct drain through the valve).

In this way, the risks of starting the tube disappear, while it is also understood that the form of fixing the emptying and / or filling means is effective, since it they use the true means of securing the load constituted by the straps.

In addition, it is also understood that it can be supported Easily load bag.

Advantageously, the drain duct and / or filling is angled on the outer part so that it presents its outward end, directed in a plane practically horizontal when the bag is suspended.

According to one embodiment, the pieces of the emptying and / or filling medium are fixed together, so tight and narrowing the lower ends of the straps, while the housing for the connecting ring is constituted  by an annular groove arranged in one of the pieces.

In this case, for example, the drain duct and / or filling is immersed in the outer part and goes through a corresponding drill arranged in the inner part, while that the tightness of the fixation of the pieces of the means of emptying and / or filling is guaranteed by two joints arranged between the lower part and the cover and between the latter and the piece outside, respectively.

Preferably, then, the means of valve actuation is accessible by printing hollow

In addition, the invention also provides that at least another duct can be arranged in the emptying and / or filling medium in order to guarantee, from the outside, measurements in the inside the bag, such as measuring the filling level, the temperature, etc., which could not be considered with the technique above from the emptying means.

The additional measuring duct can also be equipped with a disturbance attenuator at its end of the inside the bag.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the outer part of the emptying and / or filling medium includes a flange annular that is fixed to the inner part, which is presented also in the form of an annular flange, by means of annular discs with an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the ring of union and separated from each other by at least one tubular crossbar, while the housing of said connecting ring is provided between the annular discs and the emptying and / or filling duct is formed in part by a tube fixed tightly between the flange of the outer part and the inner part, being fixed on said flange of the outer part the other part of the conduit of  emptying and / or filling, as well as the shut-off valve.

Preferably then, between the disks annular of the outer part, an annular disk is provided intermediate with an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the union ring, whose housing is constituted by the end of the three discs, guaranteeing the intermediate disc a centering of said connecting ring.

Advantageously, the waterproof cover is tight between the inner piece and one of the annular discs of the outer piece, forming all of it on the outer periphery of its tight part, at least one fold that guarantees a possibility of movement in said cover.

The invention will be well understood with the reading of the description that follows and which refers to the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows in elevation a bag according to the invention, full,

- Figure 2 is a bottom view of the bag of figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a sectional view (except for valve elements) of the means for emptying and / or filling the bag Figures 1 and 2 on a larger scale,

- Figure 4 is a section according to IV-IV of figure 5, of the type of figure 3, but according to another embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 5 is a section according to V-V in figure 4, without the shut-off valve.

The sack represented in the drawings presents with charge, that is to say filled with water (or naturally from another liquid), a general pear shape (figure 1) and includes a cover 1 waterproof, open here on top and held or Supported by 2 straps distributed regularly.

The straps 2 each have rings (or eyelets) at each end, one of the rings being intended to be fixed to a means of suspension provided, for example, of a hook or similar (not shown) and the other being provided ring to catch on a connecting ring 3 or the like, flexible or rigid and common to all belts, arranged under the sack (figures 2, 3 and 4).

The belts 2 are kept on the cover 1, for example, using sleeves 4, but it is understood that the straps 2 are the ones that guarantee the securing of the load and prevent cover breakage 1.

In marine terms, you could, for example, name the belts 2 "slings" and the union ring 3 a "strobe."

The means 5 for emptying and / or filling according to the invention includes, as shown more particularly by Figures 3 and 4, two pieces 5a, 5b arranged at the bottom of the bag, inside (piece 5a) and outside (piece 5b) of the cover 1, respectively.

In part 5b, a conduit 10 of emptying and / or layered filling, as represented in the Figures 3 and 4, so that it can be practically extended in the horizontal when the bag is suspended, as is depicted in figure 1, while opening outwards by means of an isolation or shut-off valve 11 arranged in said part 5b, a valve that is provided on the outside with a splice 12 fast.

The conduit 10, as the Figures 3 and 4, crosses the cover 1 and the inner part 5a equipped with a drill 13, and passes practically through the ring center 3.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the pieces 5a, 5b tighten the ends of the belts 2, while an annular housing 6 is arranged in one of the pieces, in in this case the outer part 5b, to accommodate the ring 3 of Union.

Pieces 5a, 5b are fixed together, by example, by assembly screws such as 7, while that the tightness between the pieces is guaranteed by gaskets 8 and 9 arranged in this case between the cover 1 and the piece 5th interior (joint 8) and between said cover 1 and part 5b exterior (joint 9, in this case annular and arranged in a housing of said piece), respectively. However, in this embodiment, the conduit 10 is obtained, for example, directly during the molding of part 5b and through the joint 8.

The medium 5 is also provided with at least one other conduit 14, as shown again in Figure 3, also bent, arranged in pieces 5a and 5b thereof so that the conduit 10 and therefore also includes a valve 15  of closure, a splice 16, while going through part 5a inside through a drill 17.

In addition, the end of the conduit 14 opposite its splice 16, is provided with an attenuator device 18 of disturbance (diaphragm, venturi, ...).

Valves 11 and 15 can be operated by hollow prints 19 and 20 respectively, to which you can accessed, for example, by wells 21, 22 provided in the part 5b and seen with dotted lines in Figure 2, the maneuvering means keys with or without torque start lever of forces

The embodiment of figures 4 and 5 can prefer the fact that above all it allows to guarantee a certain freedom of movement of the roof, with equal the tensions exerted on it.

In this embodiment, in part already described previously, the inner part 5a is presented in the form of a annular flange whose central part emptied 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 part 5a inside with two annular discs 24, 25 with a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the connecting ring 3 and separated each other by two tubular crossbars 26, 26 ', being able to be advantageously at least a part of these pieces of material synthetic, particularly for reasons of weight and tightness

In this embodiment, the housing of the union ring 3 is made by the ends of the two discs 24, 25, as shown in Figure 4, which also shows a intermediate annular disc 27, with an outside diameter smaller than inner diameter of the connecting ring 3, which is arranged between the crossbars 26, 26 'and thus guaranteeing a centering of said ring 3.

Continuing with this embodiment, the layered conduit 10 is formed in part by a tube 28 fixed of tight way between the flange 23 of the outer part 5b and the piece interior 5a, the other part of the conduit 10 being fixed, in right angle, as well as the shut-off valve 11 as shown Figure 4 on said flange 23, in this case the valve 11 by a key 32 with lever.

To fix the flange 23 on the part 5a, uses, for example, a certain number of bolts, such as 29 (figures 4 and 5), distributed regularly, while for fix the valve on the flange 23, for example, bolts are used 30 distributed as shown in Figure 5.

In addition, in this embodiment, you can Note that on the outer periphery of the tight part of the cover 1, this forms a fold 1 'which guarantees in this way, as already mentioned, a possibility of mobility for said cover.

It is understood that the sack represented may this way lean easily on the ground, even full of water, directly or, more particularly for the embodiment of Figure 4, by means of a foot such as (31) represented in the figure 4.

In addition, it is noted that the medium 5 is fixed perfectly on solid elements of the bag, without forcing the cover, both when empty and full, and avoid any additional external accessory.

It is also understood that emptying and / or filling they can be easily made by hooking to joint 12.

As for conduit 14, represented in the Figure 3, allows, when hooking any means to the splice 16, take measurements, for example the filling level (by pressure measurement) or similar, from the outside. The device 18 disturbance attenuator arranged, on the other hand, here in right angle, allows measurements to be made despite disturbances generated during a filling and / or emptying for example.

Claims (10)

1. Flexible and waterproof bag for suspension load testing, comprising a waterproof cover (1) maintained by regularly distributed belts (2), each of which has an upper end intended to join with bag suspension means and its another end, called lower, to join a joint ring (3) common to all belts and arranged under the bag, while a means (5) for emptying the bag is provided, characterized in that the means (5) for emptying and / or filling comprises at least two pieces (5b, 5b) fixed to each other and arranged inside and outside the bag, respectively, while a housing is provided in one (5b) of the two pieces to accommodate the ring (3) for joining said belts and because at least one duct (10) for emptying and / or filling passes from one side to the other the two pieces (5a, 5b) and the cover (1) to open inside the bag and outwards by means of a shut-off valve (11). 2. Bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the drainage and / or filling duct (10) is angled on the outer part so that it has its outward end directed in a practically horizontal plane when the bag is suspended. 3. Bag according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the pieces (5a, 5b) of the emptying and / or filling means (5) are fixedly sealed together by tightening the lower ends of the belts (2), while the housing for the connecting ring (3) is constituted by an annular groove (6) arranged in one (5b) of the pieces. 4. Bag according to claim 3, characterized in that the drain and / or filling line (10) is immersed in the outer part (5b) and passes through a corresponding hole (13) arranged in the inner part (5a). 5. Bag according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the tightness of the fixing of the two pieces (5a, 5b) of the emptying and / or filling means (5) is guaranteed by two joints (8, 9) arranged between the inner part (5a) and the cover (1) and between the latter and the outer part (5b), respectively. 6. Bag according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least one other conduit (14) is provided in the emptying and / or filling means (5) to guarantee, from the outside, measurements inside the bag. 7. Bag according to claim 6, characterized in that the additional measuring conduit (14) is provided with a disturbance attenuator (18) at the end of the inside of the bag. Sack according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the outer part (5b) of the emptying and / or filling means (5) comprises an annular flange (23) which is fixed to the inner part (5a), the which is also in the form of an annular flange, by means of annular discs (24, 25) with an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the connecting ring (3) and separated from each other by at least one tubular cross member (26, 26 ') , while the housing of said connecting ring (3) is provided between the annular discs (24, 25) and that the emptying and / or filling conduit (10) is partly formed by a tube (28) fixed so airtight between the flange (23) of the outer part (5b) and the inner part (5a), the other part of the drain and / or filling duct (10) being fixed, as well as the closing valve (11) on said flange (23) of the outer part (5b). 9. Bag according to claim 8, characterized in that an intermediate annular disk (27) with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting ring (3) is provided between the annular discs (24, 25) of the outer part (5b). whose housing is constituted by the end of the three discs (24, 25, 27), the intermediate disc (27) guaranteeing a centering of said connecting ring (3). 10. Bag according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the waterproof cover (1) is tight between the inner piece (5a) and one (24) of the annular discs of the outer piece (5b) forming all of it in the outer periphery of its tight part, at least one fold (1 ') that guarantees a possibility of movement in said cover (1).