FR2605253A1 - FUTAGE INSTALLATION - Google Patents

Abstract

Barrelling installation for the conditioning of products having different compositions. The installation comprises a pump (6) having a rinsing circuit (46) providing for the circulation of scrapers (100, 101). Application to barrelling of lubricants.

Description

 The present invention relates to a cask installation for packaging products of different compositions, these products circulating in a network of pipes which is cleaned after each passage of one of said products.

 It is known to use scraping systems to clean industrial installations which include a network of pipes, valves and the like, in which products of different composition must circulate. This cleaning is for example used in oil conditioning installations, known under the name of drums.

 To clean these installations, a scraper is used which circulates in the pipes under the effect of a control fluid, generally consisting of compressed air (nitrogen).

 Such a scraper is for example described in German patent application no. 3,032,532 filed on August 29, 1980 by H. SKIBOWSKI. These installations include valves and other devices which allow the passage of the scrapers.

 An important problem to be solved in these installations is that of pumping. It is indeed impossible to clean a pump with a scraper. It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide an installation of this type which allows rapid and automatic cleaning of the pump, this cleaning including a rinsing operation and a draining operation.

 To do this, the installation according to the invention comprises at least one reservoir for storing the product to be put in, a barreling head, a main pipe connecting said reservoir and said barreling head and comprising a scraper, and a pump, and it is characterized in that the pump is connected to the main pipe by a downstream side valve and an upstream side valve and a bypass circuit comprising a central valve, the two side valves and the central valve allowing the pigs to pass through the pipe main, the side valves allowing either the isolation of the pump or its connection to the main pipeline.

 According to an additional characteristic, the pump comprises an external cleaning circuit constituted by a cleaning loop and a reinjection pipe in the main pipeline for connecting the cleaning loop to the main pipeline via a reinjection pump.

 The installation according to the invention preferably comprises a second scraper and a positioning means for positioning a scraper downstream of the downstream side valve and the second scraper upstream of the upstream side valve. This positioning means advantageously consists of a blocking valve located downstream of the downstream side valve and a column of a liquid product which extends to said blocking valve from a position located upstream of the upstream valve .

 More preferably, the installation comprises a starting means making it possible to send either one or two scrapers into the pipeline and comprising a means for injecting compressed air, as well as a central injection nozzle allowing the starting and propulsion of a scraper and a side injection nozzle allowing the departure of either one or two scrapers. Finally, it also preferably includes a means for injecting rinsing product, located substantially at the same level as the central means for injecting compressed air.

 According to another embodiment, the installation according to the invention comprises at least two drumming heads mounted in series on the main pipe and an inlet means allowing the storage of two scrapers and their re-shipment to the means of flow, said flow means and said flow means being located in close proximity to each other and interconnected by an isolation valve.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given in an illustrative and in no way limiting manner with reference to the appended drawings in which - FIG. 1 represents an installation according to the invention, - FIGS. 2a and 2b represent a valve ring, - Figures 3a and 3b show a pinch valve, - Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of
the invention.

 FIG. 1 shows an installation according to the invention with a single drumming head.

 The installation comprises a main pipe (1) connecting product tanks (2, 3, 4) to a cask head (5) via the pump (6) of the upstream valve (7) and the downstream valve (8). Each reservoir 2, 3, 4) is connected to the piping (1) by means of a valve (10) shown in FIG. 2A and 2B.

 This valve (10) known to those skilled in the art under the designation of ring valve, comprises a main tube (11) connected to the pipe (1) by the two flanges (12) and (13) and a tube d intake (15), connected to the tank by the flange (16). Diametrically opposite to the intake manifold, the valve comprises a control assembly (17) comprising a chamber (20) in which a piston (21) moves secured by its rod (22) to a disc (23). This disc (23) is provided with a circular opening (24) whose diameter is very slightly greater than that of the scraper (100). The intake manifold (15) opens into the main manifold via a light (30) in which the disc (23) slides between the open position of the valve, FIG. 2a and the closed position, FIG. 2b.

 In the open position, FIG. 2a, the circular opening (24) faces the light (30) so that the fluid coming from the intake manifold (15) can penetrate into the main manifold according to arrows (31) and (32). In this same position, the scrapers cannot circulate since they are blocked by the upper part of the disc.

 In the closed position, FIG. 2b, the disc is in the high position and its lowest part is embedded in the light (30) so as to close it and prevent any communication between the intake manifold and the main manifold, but in then authorizing the passage of the scraper.

 The bypass circuit (40) comprises the two valves (8) and (7), the main loop (41) and the connection pipes (42) and (43), a valve (45) and a loop (46) of cleaning consisting of the pipes (47) and (48), the two valves (49) and (50). A pipe (51) connects this loop to the valve (8) via a pump (60).

 The valves (7) and (8) are known to those skilled in the art under the name of sleeve valves and are more precisely represented in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

 The valve represented in FIG. 3a comprises a main tube (61) connected to the pipe (1) by the flanges (62) and (63) and a secondary tube (65) connected to one of the tubes (42) and (43) by the flange (64).

The tubing (65) opens into the main tubing via an annular chamber (66) in which the sleeve (67) can slide so as to come opposite a window (68) or d 'a clearance zone (70). In the open position, FIG. 3a, the sleeve (67) faces the clearance zone (70) so that the pipes (61) and (65) are in communication. In the closed position, FIG. 3b, the sleeve (67) faces the window (68) and the two pipes are insulated. Both in the open position and in the closed position, the scraper (100) can circulate.

 The valves (49) and (50) are solenoid valves of the conventional type, while the valves (45) and (102) are solenoid valves which allow either the passage of the fluid and the scraper (100) or the blocking both. These valves are known to those skilled in the art under the name of a full-flow ball valve and will not be the subject of a further description. The valves (7) and (8) are each provided with a tube (104) and (105) and with a valve (103) and (101) which allow them to be placed in an atmosphere.

 Upstream of the tanks (4, 3 and 2), the installation comprises a device (110) for storing and controlling two scrapers (100) and (111).

 This device (110) is schematically represented in FIG. 1, it consists of a chamber (115) of length slightly greater than the length of the two scrapers, this chamber being closed by one of its ends (116) and connected to the tubing. (1) by its second end (117). The chamber (110) comprises a first pipe (120) connected to a pipe (121) for the admission of air, provided with a solenoid valve (122). The same pipe (120) is also connected to a pipe (123) and to the solenoid valve (124) for decompression. In the central part, the chamber (110) comprises the piping (130) also connected to a piping (131) and to the solenoid valve (132) for the admission of air and to the piping (133) and the valve (134) for decompression. At the same level as that of the piping (130), the chamber (110) also comprises a piping for injecting rinsing products (140) connected to a rinsing tank (141) by through the pump (142) and the solenoid valve (143).

 At its other end, the installation is connected to the drumming head (5). The drumming head (5) opens into a chamber (150) similar to the chamber (110) and which can therefore contain two scrapers (100) and (110). This chamber (150) is provided with an air intake pipe (151) and a decompression pipe (152), each being controlled by a solenoid valve (153) and (154). In its central part, the chamber (150) is connected to the air intake pipe (161) and to the decompression pipe (162), each comprising a solenoid valve (163) and (164).

 In this end, the piping (1) comprises three articulations (170), (171), (174) which allow the height (overhang) of the chamber (150) and therefore of the drumming head (5). In addition, these joints of course allow the passage of the scrapers.

 The installation thus represented operates in the following manner.

 In a first step, called the waiting step, the two scrapers (100) and (111) are stored in the room (110), which will be called the departure station. Below the casing head (5), a container (175) is placed.

 In the next phase, the cashing operation, we first choose the container from which we will fill the container (175). For the selected tank, the valve (10) is placed in its open position, that is to say the position in which the contents of the tank (4) can be transferred inside the main piping. The valves (7) and (8) are also placed in their open position, that is to say the position in which the tube (65) is placed in communication with the tube (61), the valve (45) is closed. ), the valve (102) is opened. The pressurization of the pump (6) allows the suction of the product to be put in and its delivery to the boring head (5).

In a manner known per se, the pump (6) is a variable flow pump (direct current), the speed of rotation of which is controlled as a function of the filling rate of the container (175). This order can be done very easily from a continuous weighing of this container.

 After this drumming operation, it is necessary to carry out a scraping step. In the case where the tank used is empty, to carry out the scraping operation, the valve (10) is closed so as to isolate the tanks from the piping (1). The pump (6) is drained through the loop (46) of the pump (60) and the piping (51) and the product thus collected is reinjected into the valve (8). The valve (45) being placed in the open position, the valve (102) being held in its open position, we can now proceed to the scraping operation. This is controlled from the chamber (110) by injection of compressed air either at the level of the central piping (130), in this case a single scraper is sent, or at the piping (120), in In this case, the two scrapers are sent simultaneously, but the first scraper (100) and then the second scraper (111) can also be sent first. At the end of installation, the two scrapers (100 and 111) are received in the room (150) or the arrival station. By injecting air into the piping (151) in the chamber (150) the two scrapers are returned to their departure station.

 In the case where the tray used was not empty at the end of the baking operation, the procedure is as follows. The valve (10) corresponding to the tank used is placed in its open position (shown in Figure 2a). The scraper (100) coming from the departure station (110) will abut against the disc (23) and thus discharge the product contained in the tubing (1) towards the corresponding tank via the tubing (15) .

Then the valve (10) is placed in its open position which allows the free passage of the scrapers. We then proceed as in the previous case.

 In the next step, we will rinse the installation and the pump. First of all, the valves (7) and (8) being closed, the displacement of the first scraper (100) is controlled, at the same time injecting of rinsing product contained in the tank (141) by action on the pump ( 142) and injection through the piping (140). When the scraper (100) has moved a certain distance, the movement of the scraper (111) is controlled, so that the rinse aid moves in the installation under the combined action of the two scrapers. The distance between the two scrapers (100 and 111) is determined so that, when the valve (102) is closed, the scraper (111) is blocked upstream of this valve, the second scraper (110) is located upstream of the valve (7) and the pressure behind the second scraper is maintained. When these valves (7) and (8) are opened, the entire installation between the two scrapers is now bathed by the cleaning liquid. The pump (6) is turned using the loop formed by the pipes (42, 43, 44), and the sleeve valves (7) and (8). After a certain time of flushing of the pump, the flushing fluid is reinjected into the valve (8) by the piping (51) and the pump (60) after the valves (7) and (8) have been closed. By reopening the valves (102) and by reinjection of control fluid at the level of the chamber (110) the two scrapers as well as the rinsing fluids are evacuated towards the inlet chamber (150). The rinsing fluid contained between the two scrapers (110) and (111) is recovered by the barrel spout.

 The advantage of this installation lies essentially in the possibility that it offers to be fully automated and to be able to be rinsed completely, including the pump (6). In addition, this installation makes it possible to carry out these rinsing operations while minimizing the volume of contaminates, that is to say downgraded products which are returned to manufacturing, and leading to a reduction of up to 99 %.

It also makes it possible to carry out in a very safe manner operations of drumming starting from products of different composition and in very fast times by reduction of the dead times.

 FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention according to which the installation is complete and allows the use of a constant pressure pump, of several barrel heads, each barrel head being adjusted by opening control between a high flow position and a low flow position.

 This installation has the advantage of being able to carry out the drums of three drums using a single pump, this drumming being done with very high precision.

 In order to achieve this looped installation, the arrival stations (150) and (110) are located in close proximity to one another and connected to each other by a regulating valve allowing the pressure to be adjusted.

 In the same way as in FIG. 1, the installation shown in FIG. 4 comprises the tanks (2, 3, 4) connected to the main piping (1) by the valves such as (10). It also includes a pump (170) connected to the pipeline (1) by the valves (7) and (8), the pipes (171) and (172). The pump (170) also includes the draining and rinsing circuit constituted by the pipes (173, 174) and the pump (175). The boring heads (180, 181, 182) are mounted in series on a straight part of the pipe. This assembly is articulated by means of the articulations (190, 191, 192, 193, 194 and 195) so as to be able to be moved vertically while allowing the passage of the scrapers at these articulations.

 Each barrel head is scrapable, that is to say it has an internal main tube placed along the axis of the main pipe (1). This main tubing has an internal diameter equal to that of the main pipe. The casing pipes which open into the main pipes are, in this example, fixed. But one could provide an installation in which these injection pipes are telescopic, which eliminates the need for joints (190, 191, 192, 193, 194 and 195).

 In addition, each casing head such as (180), (181) or (182) has two positions for opening their casing pipes. A first position which corresponds to a large flow and a second position which corresponds to a small flow.

 In operation, the control valve (160) is open and the pump (170) is adjusted to a constant pressure which is mainly determined by the viscosity of the product to be vented. In a first phase, the cask spouts are adjusted to their high flow position.

 This first phase ends at a specific time which corresponds to a fairly high filling rate of the barrels, of the order of 90 to 95%. This instant can be determined by the operator or by a weighing system placed under one of the drums or by any suitable system. At this time, all the cask heads are closed and then opened again, but in their low flow position. The second filling phase therefore begins and the pressure inside the main pipe (1) is restored by the pump (170) and then adjusted according to a measurement representing the filling rate, this measurement originating for example from scales. placed under the barrels, by action on the regulation valve.

 At the end of the operation, when the barrels are filled, the pump is stopped and the barrel drums are closed.

 By this method, it is possible to obtain a fairly high filling precision, of the order of 100 g for a drum containing 200 kg of products, this precision being of the same order as that of the scales usable for measuring the weight of the drums.

 When the drumming operation is finished, the installation is scraped and then rinsed.

 At the start of the operation, a scraper (110) is stored in the departure station while a second scraper is stored in the arrival station (150). The scraper (110) is sent into the installation by injection of compressed air as explained with reference to FIG. 1, while the boring head (180) is in the open position and the heads (181) and (182) are in the closed position, the valve (160) being closed.

 The product pushed by the scraper is evacuated by the barreling head (180). When the scraper (110) is in the barrel head (180> or at its immediate upstream end, its movement is stopped by stopping the injection of compressed air. The barrel head (181) is open. displacement of the scraper is re-initiated by injection of compressed air and the product contained in the installation between the head (180) and the head (181) is evacuated by the drumming head (181). as soon as the scraper is in the boring head (181) or in its immediate upstream proximity, the injection is stopped, the injection head (182) open. This injection head (182) comprises a blocking device allowing the scraper to be blocked inside, this device being constituted by a tongue mounted to slide inside the casing spout and which allows the scraper to be blocked upstream of the injection pipe while allowing evacuation of the product by it.

 When the injection head (182) is opened, the blocking device is put in place so that, after controlling the movement of the scraper by air injection, the scraper comes to lock on the tongue and is maintained there by the action of the pressure created by the injection of compressed air, this injection being maintained during the continuation of the operations.

 Once the scraper (110) is thus immobilized, the scraper on standby at the arrival station (150) is pushed towards the barrel spout (182) by injection of compressed air so that the product contained in the installation between the arrival station (150) and the spout (182) is evacuated by the spout (182) as the scraper moves.

 Then, the installation is rinsed in the same manner as that of FIG. 1. The valve (160) is closed and the rinsing liquid is recovered in the chamber (150) by the tubing (196).

 To carry out these installations, any known scraping device, any ring type valve or known sleeve type valve can be used. Also, any known means of detecting the position of the scraper will be used, the most suitable being a magnetic detector.

Claims (12)

1 - Drum installation for packaging  of products of different compositions including  minus a reservoir (2,3,4) for storing the product at  casing, a casing head (5) and a pipe  main (1) connecting said tank and said head  drumming and comprising a scraper (100), said  pipeline being fitted with a pump (6), characterized  in that the pump (6) is connected to the pipeline  main (1) by a downstream side valve (8) and a  upstream side valve (7), and a bypass circuit  (40) fitted with a central valve (45), the two valves  side (7,8) and the central valve (45) allowing the  passage of the scrapers, the side valves allowing  either the isolation of the pump (6) from the  main pipeline (1), i.e. its connection. 2 - cask installation according to claim 1,  characterized in that the pump (6) has a circuit  cleaning exterior consisting of a loop  cleaning (46) and a hose (51) for reinjection into the  main pipe to connect the loop of  cleaning the main line by  via a reinjection pump (60). 3 - Installation according to claim 1, characterized in  which it includes a second scraper (111) and a  positioning means (102) for positioning a  scraper (100) downstream of the downstream side valve (8) and  the second scraper (111) upstream of the side valve  upstream (7). 4 - Installation according to claim 3, characterized in  what the positioning means is constituted by a  blocking valve (102) located downstream of the valve  downstream side (8) and a column of a product of  liquid which extends to said blocking valve  from a position upstream of the upstream valve  (7).  5 - Installation according to claim 4, characterized in  that said liquid product is a rinsing product.  6 - Installation according to claim 4, characterized in  what it includes a starting means (110) allowing  ~ send in the pipeline either one (100) or two  scrapers (100,111).  7 - Installation according to claim 6, characterized in  what the starting means include means (121,131)  compressed air injection.  8 - Installation according to claim 7, characterized in  that the injection means comprises a nozzle  central injection (130) allowing the start and  propulsion of a scraper (100).  9 - Installation according to claim 7, characterized in  that the injection means comprises a nozzle  lateral injection (120) allowing the departure of either  only one (100) or two scrapers (100,111). 10 - Installation according to claim 7, characterized in  what the starting means includes means (140)  of rinse aid injection, located substantially  at the same level as the central injection means (130)  compressed air. 11 - Installation according to claim 1, characterized in  what it includes at least two barrel heads  (180.181) mounted in series on the pipe  main (1) and an inlet means (150) allowing  the storage of two scrapers and their return to  the starting means (110), said starting means and  said means of arrival being located nearby  immediate to each other and linked together by a  isolation valve (160). 12 - Installation according to claim 11, characterized in  what each of the barrel heads (180,181,182) is  provided with a means for closing or  the opening and in that the casing head (182) located on the side of the inlet means (150) comprises a locking means allowing the scraper to immobilize while allowing the product to be discharged by said head. baking.