FR2839520A1 - Storage equipment for bituminous product consists of tank and multi-path valve comprising supply orifice and two orifices controlled by valves, orifices opening into chamber inside valve body - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage equipment comprises a tank and a multi-path valve for enabling the circulation of the bituminous product. The valve comprises a supply orifice (2) and two orifices (3,4) controlled by valves (6,7) located in pairs. The orifices opening into a chamber (5) inside the valve body.

Description

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 The present invention relates to an improvement to the equipment for storing, spreading and / or transporting bituminous products.

 This material includes a tank in which the bituminous product is stored and it also includes, depending on the destination of this material, various equipment allowing the transfer of the product and / or its spreading if it is a bituminous binder for example . In all cases, this material includes specific equipment taking into account the product to be handled, in this case one or more valves which make it possible to circulate said product towards its destination.

 Whatever its condition, this product circulates very poorly and any obstacle, such as a valve for example, generates pressure losses and, when the product is heated, significant heat dispersions.

 The present invention provides, for this type of equipment, an original valve system which makes it possible to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, especially when it is necessary to use several valves to successfully circulate the product in the various equipment, depending on the destination of said product.

 According to the invention, the equipment comprises a tank for storing the bituminous product and at least one valve to allow its circulation towards its destination, and in particular at least one multi-way valve which comprises a supply orifice and two orifices controlled by valves, which valve-shaped valves, are arranged in pairs in the body of said valve, in intersecting planes, and the distance between their operating rods is less than the sum of the radii of said valves.

 Given the diameters of the orifices, of the order of 10 cm, the valve body contains a cavity in which the volume of binder is very small compared to that which it would occupy in conventional equipment comprising two valves. This design makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of this type of valve and the heat losses. In addition, it is more easily accommodated on the hardware.

 Still according to the invention, the equipment comprises at least one compact multi-way valve of cubic or neighboring shape, provided with three orifices which are arranged in three adjacent perpendicular faces: the supply orifice and the orifices provided with valves.

 According to another arrangement of the invention, and in particular in the case of a bituminous binder spreading material, by means of a spreading ramp, which material being equipped to satisfy the following conventional functions of this type of equipment: - establishment of a short circuit between the binder suction pump

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 in the tank and the return to the latter to carry out the mixing of said binder, - establishment of a long circuit between said pump and said return to tank, passing through said spreading ramp and in particular its supply pipe for the different nozzles , - establishment of a circuit for spreading the binder by means of said boom jets, which equipment according to the invention, is provided with a block uniting two compact multi-way valves, that is to say that it comprises: - a supply orifice connected to the binder suction pump in the tank, - an orifice controlled by a valve, connected to the tank for the return of said binder, - two orifices controlled by valves each connected at one end of said spreading ramp and, between these last two orifices, a bypass also controlled by a valve, which bypass and one of the orifices controlled by valves form a torque forming part of one of said valves multi-voi are compact, the other orifice controlled by valves and that connected to the tank also forming a pair of valves corresponding to the other multi-way valve; for each pair of valves, the operating rods are crossed and the distance separating these rods is less than the sum of the radii of the valves of said pair. Again, the size of such a block is particularly small and the volume of binder in the internal cavity of the block is very small.

 According to a first embodiment, the block of multi-way valves is in the form of an assembly of two compact multi-way valves each comprising a supply port and a pair of valve orifices, the bypass being constituted through one of the valve ports of one and the free port of the other multi-way valve.

 According to an alternative embodiment, the block of multi-way valves is in the form of a single monobloc parallelepipedal part, the bypass being disposed substantially in the center of said block.

 Still according to the invention, and in particular in the case of bituminous binder spreading material, which material comprises means for carrying and maintaining said binder in the liquid state, and in particular the means consisting of a heat generator like an oil burner, a coil which extends into the bottom of the storage tank and in which the hot and smoke gases circulate, and a chimney disposed at the outlet of the coil, located near said generator, which equipment comprises a block of compact multi-way valves disposed between said heat generator and said chimney, on the rear face of the storage tank.

 The invention will be further detailed with the aid of the following description and the appended drawings, given for information only, and in which:

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 - Figure 1 shows a compact multi-way valve, in perspective, particularly suitable for the storage, spreading and / or transport of bituminous product; - Figure 2 shows the multi-way valve of Figure 1, still in perspective from another angle, showing the three faces each provided with an orifice; - Figure 3 shows the multi-way valve in section, showing the particular arrangement of the valve-shaped valves and in particular the relative positions of the operating rods of these valves; - Figure 4 shows the installation of valves on a bituminous binder spreading material, which block and the material in question are shown schematically; - Figure 5 shows a compact multi-way valve block for performing the various functions of the valve group detailed in Figure 4; - Figure 6 is a sectional view along 6-6 of the block shown in Figure 5; - Figure 7 shows schematically an alternative arrangement of the valves and in particular of one of the valve stems, making it possible to minimize the size of the valve; - Figure 8 is a section along 8-8 of Figure 6; - Figure 9 is a rear view of a bituminous binder spreading vehicle, showing the location of the compact multi-way valve block, at the rear of the storage tank; - Figure 10 shows, partially, side view, the rear part of the tank and in particular the location of the compact multi-way valve block.

 Figures 1 to 3 show a compact multi-way valve consisting of a body 1 of cubic or neighboring shape. This body 1 has three orifices 2, 3 and 4 also marked E, S1 and S2. These three orifices are arranged in three different planes perpendicular and adjacent to the body 1; they are visible simultaneously as shown in Figure 2.

 These orifices 2, 3 and 4 are open to the chamber 5 arranged inside the body, which chamber in fact corresponds to the various holes drilled in the body.

 Port 2 corresponds to an inlet port E, or to the valve supply. This orifice is free and communicates directly with the internal chamber 5 of the body 1.

 The orifices 3 and 4 are each controlled by a valve: the valve 6 also identified C1 for the orifice 3 and the valve 7 also identified C2 for the orifice 3.

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 These valves, in the form of a valve, are arranged inside the chamber 5.

They can be operated manually or as shown in the figures by a conventional system of the pneumatic cylinder type.

 The valve C1 is operated by a jack 8 and the valve C2 is operated by a jack 9.

 These valves C1 and C2 are arranged in different planes perpendicular to each other and they are operated by means of their rods 11 and 12 respectively which pass through the body; these rods 11 and 12 are interposed between the valve itself and their jacks.

 The rods 11 and 12 intersect in the body 1 of the valve. The distance D between these rods as shown in Figure 3, is relatively small to allow a reduction in the size of the valve. This distance D between the rods 11 and 12 is less than the sum of the radii R1 and R2 of the valves C1 and C2 respectively. These two rods are perpendicular to the axis of the orifice E.

 The assembly and disassembly of the valves relative to the block 1 remains possible thanks to the lateral release of the valve whose rod is located on the side of the orifice E.

 Note, FIG. 3, that the chamber 5 inside the body 1 of the valve is obtained by the various boreholes and in particular the drilling of the inlet orifice E, the passage borehole and the placement of the valve C1 and drilling valve C2.

 It can be seen more precisely in FIG. 3, that this drilling of the valve C2 comprises a cylindrical part 13 corresponding to the orifice 3 and a cylindrical part 14 of a larger diameter for the passage of the valve C2.

 Between the two cylindrical parts 13 and 14, there is the seat 15 of the valve C2.

 The same type of drilling is carried out for the valve C1 and the orifice 2.

 Still in FIG. 3, the valve C2 is shown in the inactive shutter position, separated from its seat 15. The piston 16 of the jack system 9 is subjected to pressure, on the side of the rod 12, counteracting the effect of the spring 17 located outside of said piston.

 Note that in the absence of pressure on either side of the piston 16, it is the spring 17 which allows the automatic closing of the valve C2.

 The cylinder system 8 used for the valve C1 is identical.

 This multi-way valve is very compact due to the position of the two orifices 3 and 4 which are very close to the orifice 2. This design makes it possible to reduce the volume of the product contained in the body of the valve and also makes it possible to avoid significant heat losses for bituminous products.

 This multi-way valve represented in FIGS. 1 to 3, receives for example at its input E a bituminous product of the binder type for example, which product is

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 then oriented towards two destinations by a selection of valves C1 or C2 corresponding to the outlet ports S1 or S2. Thus, the product or binder can return from one of its outlets to the storage tank and, thanks to the other outlet, be sent for use, such as for example spreading on the ground.

 The following figures detail the use of this type of compact multi-way valve in a particular application such as for example the spreading of bituminous binder which in fact comprises a combination of two compact multi-way valves as detailed above.

 FIG. 4 shows, diagrammatically, a material for spreading bituminous binder comprising a storage tank 20 for this bituminous binder, installed for example on a vehicle chassis not shown, which binder is sent by means of a circulation pump 21 and a set of valves 22, towards a spreading ramp 23.

 The binder stored in the tank 20 is fluidized by heating by means of a heat generator constituted for example by a burner 24 represented by a simple cross on the rear face 25 of the tank. The hot and smoke gases circulate in a coil 26 which extends in the bottom of the tank 20 over its entire length for example, and are then always evacuated to the rear part 25 of the tank, via a chimney 27.

The set of valves called in the following text valve block 22 makes it possible to establish several modes of circulation of the bituminous binder on this type of material.
During the rise in temperature of the bituminous binder in the tank 20, the pump 21 is used to circulate this binder and carry out a sort of mixing.

 The binder is removed by suction 28, inside the tank at an appropriate point and the pump 21 circulates the binder through the valve block 22 to return it to the tank 20 and thus achieve by means of a short circuit, mixing the binder.

 A valve V4 is installed at the outlet of the block 22 to allow the binder to return to the tank 20.

 This valve block 22 also makes it possible to establish a long circuit for circulating the binder in the tubing 32 of the spreading boom 23 in order to avoid any stagnation of the binder in the boom when it is inactive.

 To obtain this circulation in the ramp, we note the presence of two valves V1 and V3 at block 22. The valve V1 which is located on the side of the pump

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 21, directly after the input E of the block 22, is connected to the end 31 of the ramp 23 and in particular to the tube 32 for supplying the nozzles.

 A valve V3 is placed before the valve V4 which allows the binder to return to the tank 20. This valve V3 is connected to the other end 33 of the spreading boom 23.

 To establish this long circuit of the binder, through the ramp 23, a valve V2 acting as a bypass is interposed to close the short circuit and divert the binder through the valve V1 causing it to flow in the ramp 23 then through the valve V3 towards the return 29 in the tank 20.

 To carry out the spreading of the binder by the nozzles 34, it is possible to use either the valve V1, or the two valves V1 and V3, the valve V2 being open and, as the case may be, the valve V4 is closed.

 The valve block 22 detailed in the following figures uses the principle of the multi-way valve of the type of that shown in Figures 1 to 3, by bringing together two valves of this type.

 Two possibilities are conceivable for joining these valves: either an assembly of two elementary valves, or the use of a monobloc assembly bringing together two bodies 1 in the same room as shown and detailed in Figures 5 and 6 below.

 This body 10 of the valve block is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped consisting of a first part marked A on the right of Figures 5 and 6 and a second part B on the left. In each part A and B we find the elements detailed previously in Figures 1 and 2, namely two valves arranged in different planes and in particular perpendicular planes and another orifice arranged in an adjacent plane and perpendicular to the other two, and in particular in a plane which is parallel to the operating rods of said valves.

 Thus, in more detail, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the part A of the block 10 comprises an orifice 41 for the supply of the block which is connected to the pump 21; orifice is located on the front 42 of the block 10 and allows the introduction of the binder in the chamber 5.

 This chamber 5 comprises two valves: the valve 46 also identified C1 which corresponds to the valve V1 in FIG. 4. This valve C1 places the chamber 5 in communication with the end 31 of the spreading ramp 23.

 Still in this chamber 5 of part A, a second valve 47 also identified Cb, puts part A of block 10 into communication with part B.

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 This part B of the block 10 also includes, so to speak, an inlet 48 also marked E which corresponds to the passage controlled by the valve 49 of the bypass also identified Cb. This input E of part B communicates the chamber 5 of this part B with the chamber 5 of part A.

 In this chamber 5 of part B there is a valve 50 also identified C3 which corresponds to the valve V3 in FIG. 4. This valve C3 controls the communication between the chamber 5 of part B and the end 33 of the ramp d spreading 23.

 Still in this chamber 5 of part B, there is a valve 51 also identified Cr which allows the return of the binder in the tank 20. This valve Cr corresponds to the valve V4 of FIG. 4.

 The outlet 52 also marked S at the valve Cr is located on the face 53 of the block 10 which is parallel and opposite to the face 42 in which the inlet is located.

 The orifices corresponding to the valves C1 and C3 are located in the lower face 54 of the block 10 and each receive the connecting pipes with the ends 31 and 33 of the ramp 23 respectively.

 The valve Cb which acts as a bypass corresponds to the valve V2 in FIG. 4.

 By combining two elementary multi-way valves corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 3, a particularly compact block of valves is obtained, the binder receiving volume of which is reduced to its simplest expression, which volume results from the machining and positioning of the valves.

 These valves C1 and Cb in the part A of the block 10 have operating rods separated by a particularly reduced distance D. The rods are crossed and separated by a distance D as small as possible and even, as shown in FIG. 7, reduced to the simplest expression, that is to say that this distance D is zero. One of the operating rods, in particular the rod of the valve C3 is shaped with an oblong opening which allows the passage of the valve rod Cr. This particular assembly can be adapted on part A of block 10 and on each elementary multi-way valve, of the type of that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

 Figures 9 and 10 show the valve block 10 installed at the rear of a vehicle and in particular at the rear of the tank, positioned between the burner 24 and the chimney 27. The compactness of this valve block 10 allows to install it directly on the tank 20 between the burner and the chimney, thus freeing up a considerable space on this rear part of the vehicle.

 Note the pump 21 which supplies the block 10 directly as well as the pipes 61 and 63 which connect the outlet orifices of the valves C1 and C3 to the spreading boom 23.

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 The valves C1 and C3 are operated by means of the pneumatic systems 71 and 73 which are arranged above the block 10.

 The bypass valve is operated by the pneumatic system 74 installed on the right of the block 10 as also shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9.

 The valve Cr which allows the return to the tank, is operated by the pneumatic control system 75 located on the front of the block, next to its inlet E as shown also in FIGS. 5 and 8.

 The diameter of the orifices on the body 1 or on the block 10 is of the order of 100 mm. It corresponds to the diameter of the tubes in which the binder circulates. The volume of the chamber 5 of the body 1 or of the two chambers of the block 10 is therefore relatively large and its very significant reduction due to the grouping of the valves in the same body makes it possible to reduce and even to halve the volume occupied by the binder in the valve block relative to a block consisting of juxtaposed valves providing the same functions as the block 10 detailed above.

Claims (6)

- CLAIMS - 1.- Equipment for storing, spreading or transporting bituminous product, comprising a tank for storing said product and at least one valve to allow the circulation of the latter according to its destination, characterized in that it comprises at least one compact multi-way valve which comprises a supply orifice and two orifices controlled by valves, which valves, in the form of a valve, are arranged in pairs in the body of said valve, in intersecting planes, and the distance (D) between their operating rods is less than the sum of the radii of said valves.  2. - Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one compact multi-way valve of cubic or neighboring shape, provided with three orifices arranged in three adjacent perpendicular faces: the supply orifice and the orifices provided of valves, the axes of said valves being perpendicular to the axis of the supply orifice.  3. - Material according to claim 1, and in particular material for spreading bituminous binder, by means of a spreading ramp (23), which material being equipped to satisfy the following conventional functions of this type of material: - establishment of a short circuit between the binder suction pump (21) in the tank (20) and the return therein to effect mixing of said binder; - establishment of a long circuit between said pump (21) and said return to the tank, passing through said spreading ramp (23) and in particular its tubing (32) for supplying the different nozzles, - establishment of a circuit for spreading the binder by means of said boom jets (23), which material comprises a block uniting two compact multi-way valves according to claim 2, which block comprises: - a supply orifice connected to the pump d suction (21), - an orifice controlled by a valve (Cr) connected to the tank (20) for the return of the binder, - two orifices controlled by valves (C1, C3), each connected respectively to the ends (31, 32) of said spreading ramp (23) and, between these two valves (C1, C3), - a bypass also controlled by a valve (Cb), which bypass with the valve (C1) a torque arranged in the part (A) of the valve block, the other valve (C3) and the valve (Cr) connected to the tank forming equal ement a couple of valves arranged in the second part (B) of said block, the distance between the actuating rods of the valves of each couple is less than the sum of the radii of said valves of the couple.  4. - Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the compact multi-way valve block is in the form of an assembly of two compact multi-way valves each comprising a body (1) provided with a supply orifice and <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  a pair of valves, the bypass being constituted by one of the valves of one of the bodies and the supply orifice of the other body.  5. - Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the compact multi-way valve block is in the form of a one-piece parallelepipedal part comprising two parts, the bypass valve (Cr) being disposed substantially in the center of said separating block said parts (A) and (B).  6. - Equipment according to any one of claims 3 to 5, and in particular provided with means for carrying and maintaining the bituminous binder in the liquid state, which means consist of a heat generator of the burner type (24) , a coil (26) which extends into the bottom of the storage tank (20) and in which the hot and smoke gases circulate, and a chimney (27) disposed at the outlet of the coil near said generator, characterized in that it comprises a compact block of multi-way valves arranged between said heat generator (24) and said chimney (27), on the rear face (25) of said storage tank.