FR2467334A1 - Liquid tight joint for petroleum container feed pipe - has conical flexible membrane which seals pipe inserted in orifice - Google Patents

Abstract

The hole (7) in the top of the container (3) is covered with a watertight plate (5). A conical membrane (4) is fitted into a hole (8) in the plate (5) and clamped in place. The filling or cleaning pipe (2) is inserted through an orifice (11) of the membrane so that a seal is formed between the pipe and the rim (12) of the membrane. The acute angle of the cone ensures an increase in the effectiveness of the joint as the pressure within the container increases during filling, or cleaning. To prevent the pipe creasing a support frame (15) with guide rollers may be mounted on the cover plate (5).

Description

 The present invention essentially relates to a new sealing gasket for filling or cleaning containers or containers such as oranges containing petroleum products.

During these operations, the pipes supplying the cleaning liquids or solutions are generally introduced through lateral or upper holes, of variable dimensions, but more frequently sufficient to allow escape during the duration of the handling.
> the gases by removing the volume of the latter being partially occupied by the liquid) or by extension under the thermal effect of the hot cleaning liquid, for example f these gases being able to be toxic, harmful, explosive, and present a real for the environment of operator technicians, installations.

 - liquids by projection of automatic cleaning devices. These solutions can present dangers of several kinds: thermal burns, chemical burns, chemical attack on materials, environmental pollution, high humidity, dangerous for electronic equipment.

 The object of the present invention is to provide a table seal between a flexible or rigid, mobile or fixed pipe for filling or cleaning a container, and said container. This solution should preferably be of a particularly simple design.

 According to the present invention, this solution consists of a new seal for the pipe for filling or cleaning receptacles or containers such as cisterns or tanks containing petroleum products, of the type comprising a membrane comprising a orifice for the passage of said pipe, the edge of the orifice bears in leaktight manner on said pipe, the external end of the membrane being integral with the wall of said container, characterized according to the present invention in that, in order to reinforce the seal to make it reliable when the pressure increases inside said container, said membrane comprises, between the edge of the orifice and its external end secured to the wall of the container, a portion of wall inclined towards the interior of the container whose general profile defines a acute angle relative to the axis of the orifice, oriented towards the outside of the container and substantially coinciding with the axis of the pipe this level, so that q ue this inclined portion allows, especially during cleaning of the reciter, to strengthen the pressure of support of the membrane against the pipe under the effect of an increase in pressure inside the container.

 According to a preferred iodine embodiment, this membrane has at least partially a substantially frustoconical profile, the top of the truncated cone being inside the container.

 According to an alternative embodiment of this membrane, this has an accordion profile, the aforementioned inclined wall portion, the general profile of which defines an acute angle relative to the axis of the orifice oriented towards the outside being the portion preponderant inclination of the membrane.

 According to yet another variant, the membrane consists of a substantially planar disc whose diameter of the orifice in the unassembled state is substantially less than the external diameter of the pipe, the aforementioned inclined portion being formed in the state assembled by the region of the disc adjacent to the orifice which is curved towards the interior of the container when the pipe is introduced through the orifice. Preferably, the diameter of the orifice is less than at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, than the external diameter of the pipe.

 Advantageously, the seal can be constituted by two aforementioned membranes juxtaposed.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly in the light of the explanatory description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings representing several presently preferred embodiments of the present invention given simply by way of illustration and which therefore cannot in any way limit its scope.
- Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a wall of a container, for example of a tanker of an oil tank whose opening is provided with a seal according to the present invention for the passage of a filling pipe or cleaning the container;
- Figure 2 is a view of the joint alone according to the arrow II in Figure 1
- Figure 3 shows in partial section another embodiment of a seal according to the present invention; and
- Figure 4 shows yet another embodiment of a seal according to the present invention.

 With reference to FIG. 1, a seal 1 for sealing a pipe 2 for filling or cleaning a container 3 or container such as a tank or a tank containing petroleum products, comprises a membrane 4 and, in the example shown , a support element 5 mounted, by intermedial fastening systems 6 shown in FIG. 2, on the wall 3 of the container so as to seal 11 opening 7 of the container 3. The membrane 4 is for example mounted on a opening of the support element 5 by means of fixing elements 9, 10. In the example shown, the membrane 4 naturally includes an orifice 11 for passage of the pipe 2, the edge 12 of which bears in leaktight manner on the pipe 2. The outer end 14 of the membrane 4 is integral with the wall 3 of the container (by means of the support element 5).

 According to the present invention, this membrane comprises between the edge 12 of the orifice II and its external end 14 a portion 13 of wall inclined towards the interior of the container whose general profile defines an acute angle C relative to the axis XX of the orifice 11, oriented towards the outside of the container as indicated in FIG. 1 and coinciding substantially with the axis of the pipe at this level, so that this inclined portion allows, in particular during cleaning of the container, to reinforce the pressing pressure of the membrane against the duct when the pressure increases inside the container.

 This gives perfect sealing of the mixed seal when the pressure increases inside the container 3.

 In Figure 1 there is shown a system 15 for supporting the pipe 2 inside the container 3 bearing on the support element 5 so as to avoid bending of the pipe 2 which could damage said pipe 2 or hinder the passage of the fluid circulating in the pipe 2. To allow the positioning of this system 15, the support 5 has for example the special shape represented in FIG. 2 according to which the seal is eccentric relative to the support element 5 (see FIG. 2 ).

 According to a preferred embodiment, represented in FIG. 1, the membrane 4 has at least - in part a substantially frustoconical profile, the top of the ash trunk being inside the container 3.

 According to an alternative embodiment of the membrane, represented in FIG. 3, the membrane 20 has an accordion profile, the aforementioned inclined wall portion whose general profile defines an acute angle f relative to the axis XX of the orifice 22, oriented outwards, being the predominant inclined portion 21 of the membrane. In this accordion profile, the membrane has a portion 23 making an obtuse angle t with respect to the axis XX oriented towards the outside, this portion having a surface less than the surface of the inclined portion 21 * During an increase pressure inside the container 3, the inclined portion 21 will further support the portion 23 against the pipe 2, thus ensuring a perfectly blind seal.

 With reference to FIG. 4, another variant has been shown according to which the membrane is constituted by a substantially flat disc 25 whose diameter of the orifice 26, in the unassembled state, is substantially less than the external diameter of the pipe. 2. In this case, the aforementioned inclined portion is formed in the assembled state, as shown, by the region 27 adjacent to the orifice 26 which is curved towards the inside of the container 3 when the pipe 2 is introduced. through the orifice 26. Thus, during an increase in pressure inside the container 3, the region 27 will be applied even more against the pipe 2 and as this region is pushed back towards the outside, it will take more and more pressure to repel it more will be outside. This gives a perfect seal. Of course, it is possible to couple a second membrane 28 identical to the membrane 25 to further increase the seal. Preferably, the diameter of the orifice 26 in the unassembled state is less than 10% less water, advantageously at least 30 g than the external diameter of the pipe 2.

 Of course, other modifications can be made to this membrane without departing from the spirit of the invention.

 In this regard, it should be noted that the membrane is chosen from a material offering the best characteristics of weight and chemical resistance., - this membrane preferably being made of elastomer.

 Thus, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown which have been given only by way of example. The invention therefore includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if these are carried out according to the spirit and implemented in the context of the claims which follow.

Claims (5)

 1. Sealing of a filling pipe or of: cleaning of receptacles or containers such as cisterns or tanks containing petroleum products, of the type comprising a membrane comprising a passage orifice for said pipe whose edge of the orifice takes sealingly pressing on said pipe, the outer end of the membrane being integral with the wall of said container, characterized in that, in order to reinforce. tightness to make it reliable even when the pressure increases inside said container, said membrane comprises between the edge of the orifice and its external end secured to the wall of the container, a wall portion inclined inwards of the container whose general profile defines an acute angle with respect to the axis of the orifice, oriented towards the outside of the container and substantially coinciding with the axis of the pipe at this level, so that this inclined portion allows, in particular when cleaning the container, reinforce the pressure for pressing the membrane against the pipe.  2. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned membrane has at least partially a substantially frustoconical profile, the top of the cane trunk being inside the aforementioned container.  3. A seal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that this membrane has an accordion profile, the aforementioned inclined wall portion, the general profile of which defines an acute angle relative to the axis of the orifice. oriented outwards, being the predominant inclined portion of X membrane.  4. A seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is constituted by a substantially planar disc whose diameter of the aforementioned orifice in the unassembled state is substantially less than the external diameter of the pipe, the inclined portion aforementioned being formed in the mounted state by the region of the disc adjacent to the orifice which is curved towards the interior of the container during the introduction of the pipe through the orifice.  5. A seal according to claim 4, characterized in that the diameter of the orifice, in the unassembled state, is at least 10% less, preferably at least 30%, than the external diameter of the driving.